Spiced Date and Almond Swirl Buns: A Deliciously Aromatic Treat
These Spiced Date and Almond Swirl Buns are a perfect combination of sweet, spiced, and nutty flavours, wrapped in golden puff pastry. Whether you’re looking for a teatime treat, a breakfast indulgence, or a snack to impress guests, these buns tick all the boxes. The star ingredients—dates, cardamom, and almonds—blend beautifully to create an irresistible filling, making these buns a must-try for any home baker.
If you love baking with puff pastry, you will also love my cookbook Everything Is Better with Puff Pastry, which is available to order here. It is packed with sweet and savoury recipes designed to make the most of this wonderfully versatile dough, from elegant desserts to easy everyday bakes.
For a different twist on this flavour combination, you can also try my Date Cinnamon Buns, which offer the same sticky, spiced sweetness with a slightly warmer, more familiar spice profile.
Scroll down for the printable recipe with exact measurements.
Simple Ingredients, Big Flavours
Simple Ingredients, Big Flavours
What makes these Date and Cardamom Swirl Buns so special is how a handful of simple ingredients come together to create something deeply aromatic, rich, and indulgent. Each element has a role to play in building flavour and texture:
- Dates: Naturally sweet and sticky, they form the base of the filling, creating a rich, caramel-like paste that melts into the pastry as it bakes.
- Cardamom: Warm, fragrant, and slightly citrusy, it lifts the sweetness of the dates and gives the buns their distinctive spiced aroma.
- Almonds: Already toasted and lightly crushed, they add a gentle crunch and nutty depth that balances the soft, sweet filling.
- Milk: Helps blend the dates into a smooth, spreadable paste and softens the intensity of the spice.
- Puff pastry: Buttery, flaky, and light, it wraps everything together, baking into crisp layers that contrast beautifully with the soft filling.
- Egg wash and icing sugar: The egg wash gives the buns their glossy, golden finish, while a light dusting of icing sugar adds the final touch of sweetness.
Individually, these ingredients are simple and familiar. Together, they create a pastry that feels luxurious, comforting, and bakery-worthy, all with minimal effort.
Date and Cardamom Swirl Buns: Easy to Make, Stunning Results to Make, Impressive to Serve
Making these Spiced Date and Almond Swirl Buns is a delightful and straightforward process. Begin by preparing your date and cardamom filling. Blend the pitted dates, ground cardamom, and milk into a smooth, spreadable paste.
Next, unfold your puff pastry sheet and evenly spread the date mixture over it.
Sprinkle the crushed almonds over the paste to add a delicious crunch.
Fold one-third of the pastry toward the centre, then fold the other side over, meeting in the middle
Fold in half once more to create a neat rectangle.
Cut the folded pastry into 2cm strips.
Gently stretch each strip, twist it 3-4 times, and roll it into a spiral shape.
Place the shaped buns into a greased muffin tin, brush them with the egg wash, and bake until golden.
The final result is a tray of beautifully golden, flaky buns that look as good as they taste.
Versatile and Customisable
These buns are also highly customisable. If you prefer a milder cardamom flavour, you can easily adjust the amount. You could even experiment with different spices like cinnamon or nutmeg. For an extra indulgent touch, try drizzling the buns with a glaze instead of icing sugar.
You May Also Like
For a quick video tutorial check out our Instagram or head to YouTube for a slow step-by-step visual guide. If you loved these Date and Cardamom Swirl Buns, be sure to explore our other sweet puff pastry recipes like:
- Date and Gorgonzola Puffs
- Pistachio Puffs,
- Creamy Raspberry Bites,
- Passion Fruit Curd and Strawberry Puffs,
- Fig Puffs with Goat Cheese
- Fudgy Brownies
for more flaky, delicious treats!
Description
These Spiced Date and Almond Swirl Buns are a delightful combination of sweet, sticky dates, aromatic cardamom, and toasted almonds, all wrapped in buttery puff pastry. Easy to make and perfect for breakfast or a teatime treat, these golden buns are finished with a dusting of icing sugar for a touch of sweetness!
Ingredients
Instructions
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Preheat your oven to 190°C (fan).
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Using a mortar and pestle, crush the cardamom pods. Discard the husks and grind the seeds into a fine powder.
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In a food processor, blend the pitted dates, cardamom powder, and milk into a smooth, spreadable paste. If the mixture is too thick, add a little more milk to achieve the right consistency.
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Unroll the puff pastry sheet and evenly spread the date mixture over the entire surface. Sprinkle the crushed almonds on top.
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Fold one-third of the pastry toward the centre, then fold the other side over, meeting in the middle. Fold in half once more.
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Cut the folded pastry horizontally into 2cm strips.
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Gently stretch each strip, twist it 3-4 times, and roll it into a spiral bun shape.
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Place the buns into a greased muffin tin.
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Whisk 1 egg yolk with 1 tbsp milk, then brush over the buns before baking for a golden finish.
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Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the buns are golden brown.
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Once baked, let them cool slightly, then dust with icing sugar if desired.
Equipment
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 12 ServingCalories:235.89kcalTotal Fat:13.63gSaturated Fat: 3.02gTrans Fat: 0gCholesterol:12.76mgSodium:70mgPotassium:190.11mgTotal Carbohydrate:26.46gDietary Fiber: 2.38gSugars: 11.86gProtein:3.91gVitamin A: 8.38IUVitamin C: 0.1mgCalcium: 39.56mgIron: 1.14mgVitamin D: 0.14IUVitamin E: 1.67IUVitamin K: 4.77mcgThiamin: 0.13mgRiboflavin: 0.16mgNiacin: 1.6mgVitamin B6: 0.06mgFolate: 10.49mcgVitamin B12: 0.05mcgPhosphorus: 65.01mgMagnesium: 30.82mgZinc: 0.48mg
Note
For best results, use cold puff pastry straight from the fridge to ensure it bakes up flaky and crisp.
If using frozen puff pastry, make sure to fully thaw it in the fridge before unfolding to avoid cracks.
Work quickly with the pastry to prevent it from becoming too soft, which can make it harder to handle and affect the texture when baked.
The cardamom flavour is quite strong in these buns, so if you prefer a milder taste, reduce the amount of cardamom.
If baking on a sheet instead of a muffin tin, the buns may spread and won’t be as uniform in shape.
Every oven varies, so keep an eye on the buns as the baking time may differ slightly.
