Cinnamon Date Petits Fours

I enjoyed making the chocolate hazelnut dates for yesterday's post, but the only problem is I had about 15 leftover dates. OK - so I could have popped them in mouth all day long, but I decided to dust off an old book and look for recipes. The pastry gods must have been smiling on me as I opened the book and, voila!, there was a recipe for Cinnamon Date Pastries on the first page I opened to.

The book this recipe is taken from is Le Cordon Bleu Dessert Techniques.

Cinnamon Date Petits Fours:

Ingredients:

• 2/3 cup stoned and chopped medjool dates
• 2 Tbsp. finely chopped almonds
• 1 tsp. powdered sugar
• 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 2 tsp brandy
• Filo pastry sheets
• butter for finishing

Directions (yields 26 pieces):

• Make the filling by combining the dates, ground almonds, powdered sugar, cinnamon and brandy
• Cut 4" x 2" filo strips
• Fold in the long edges and brush the length with butter
• Place the filling at one end and roll up

• Brush with butter
• Bake at 350F for 10 minutes
• Cool and dust with powdered sugar