Five Spice Pecan Plum Empanadas
Empanadas de Ciruela y Nuez
Recipe Yield
10 empanadas
Cooking time
50 minutes
Rate this recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour plus more for dusting
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- Pinch of kosher or coarse sea salt
- 12 tablespoons (1 1/2 stick) unsalted butter diced
- 1 egg
- 3 tablespoons sour cream
- 1/2 pound plums pitted and diced (about 1 1/2 cups)
- 1/4 pound apricots pitted and diced (about 3/4 cup)
- 1/2 cup pecans finely chopped
- 1/4 cup dark brown sugar or shredded piloncillo
- 1 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch
- 1 1/2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lime juice
- 1/8 teaspoon five spice powder
- 1 egg beaten for brushing
- Granulated sugar for dusting or you may use turbinado or dark brown sugar
- Dulce de leche or cajeta to drizzle on top or on the side for dipping (optional)
To Prepare
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar and salt. In a small bowl, beat together the egg and sour cream.
- With your fingers, combine the butter into the dry ingredients until it resembles a coarse meal (it should be crumbly). Rinse your hands and pour the beaten egg and sour cream into the large bowl with the crumbly butter mixture. Mix with a spatula until it comes together into smooth malleable dough. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least an hour.
- In a large bowl, combine the plums, apricots, pecans, brown sugar, cornstarch, lime juice and five spice powder and mix well.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Generously flour your kitchen counter and rolling pin. Roll out the dough about a to 1/4- to 1/8-inch thickness. Cut the dough into rounds about 4-inches in diameter. Repeat the rolling and cutting process with any leftover dough scraps until you have used up all your dough. Place a heaping tablespoon of the plum filling in the middle of each circle to make chubby empanadas, brush around the edges with the beaten egg and fold to make a half moon, gently pressing with your fingers to close the edges. Finally, use the back of a fork to seal the dough without breaking it.
- Line a couple baking sheets with parchment paper and arrange the empanadas on them, as you may need to bake 2 batches or use 2 baking sheets. Brush the tops of the empanadas with the beaten egg and sprinkle with sugar.
- Bake the empanadas for 20 minutes or until they are golden brown. Serve warm or cooled and, if desired, drizzle with dulce de leche or cajeta.
Comments
25comments inFive Spice Pecan Plum Empanadas
Sara Krauthamer
Aug 21
The plum and apricot empanadas sound yummy, but you didn’t specify if you used dry or fresh fruit since both of these ingredients can be purchased both ways although both fresh fruits are seasonal and can only be found in Spring for apricots and Summer for plums .
Pati Jinich
Sep 05
For this recipe I use fresh plums and apricots Sara 🙂
Yvette
Aug 19
Happy Friday Pati!
Love watching your show & creating wonderful flavors for my family. Apricots & plums, fresh? Do you think dried apricots, plums(prunes) & cranberries(my idea)would change the consistency too much? Soaking them first? Thanks for the insight. 🙂
Pati Jinich
Sep 05
Yes Ivette, I used them fresh, but using dried might work if as you say soak them first, how about in a bit of brandy or in a simple syrup?
Marie
Aug 18
Yummy
Pati Jinich
Sep 05
Yes!
Grant
Feb 06
Hello Pati,
Love the show. For the five spice pacan plum empanadas…..Should the butter be room temperature or cold from the fridge when adding to the dry ingredients?
Pati Jinich
Feb 08
Cold works much better to make the dough flakey Grant 😉
Debbie Villanueva
Jun 05
Can i use sweet cream unsalted butter?
Pati Jinich
Jun 12
I don’t see why not Debbie; let me know how the empanadas come out 😉
Diane
Mar 04
Would you please tell me what is in the 5 spice powder
Pati Jinich
Mar 04
Of course Diane, five spice powder is a mix of cinnamon, cloves, fennel, star anise, and peppercorns 😉
Farida ali
Feb 22
HI Patti love your show I watch every week I will love to meet you
Pati
Feb 23
Thank YOU Farida.
Olivia
Jul 13
Can you substitute non-fat, low-fat sour cream or yogurt?
I love your show; I enjoy it even when I don’t attempt the recipes. I have, however, been searching for an empanada recipe so will try yours. Thanks!
Pati
Jul 14
Give it a try Olivia, let me know how it goes!
Mary Cantu
Jul 13
Can we make empanadas de calavaza using part of this recipe? I love your shows. You’re the best.
Pati
Jul 14
Yes, of course!
Anna Phan
Jul 05
Hola Pati!
These look delicious. My 3 yr old son and I were watching your show and he loves how you speak to the camera as if you are speaking to the viewer. He said, “I wish we could go to her house and eat those!” Thank you for helping me foster a love in him of both cooking and Mexican food!! We can’t wait to make these together. 🙂
Pati
Jul 07
Hi Anna, Your son sounds adorable! So happy he is cooking with you!! 🙂
Linda
Jun 05
Hola Pati,
My friends and family enjoyed the empanadas. They were delicious.
Bonnie
Apr 28
First, I really enjoy your show. Second, my daughter is graduating college in a few weeks and I would like to know if these Empanadas can be frozen, as I do not have the time to prepare them at the time I need them. Thank you for taking your time to respond.
Pati
Apr 28
Hello Bonnie,
Yes you can! Make them and freeze them in a sealed bag with as little air as you can. You may layer them with parchment paper, or plastic wrap, between them. When you are ready to bake them, just bring out of the freezer for about 15 minutes before sticking them in the oven.
Ester
Mar 08
pero que Empanadas! Viva Pati
Pati
Mar 08
Que bueno que te gustaron, Ester!