Enjoy this super simple dessert with just three easy ingredients! Matchsticks are a beloved Aussie bakery treat made with crispy flaky puff pastry with sweet strawberry jam and whipped cream.
Why We Love This
Matchsticks are a beloved family favourite. Super simple to make, they remind us of vanilla slice – but even easier!
Perfect as an emergency dessert when friends or family drop in, or those nights when you want a little sweet treat with minimal effort. They’re also a great way to use up leftover puff pastry from other dishes like sausage rolls or party pies.
Matchsticks travel well so are great for picnics, BBQs, tailgating and potlucks. They’re also super fun to make with kids and teach them the essential baking skills they’ll remember for the rest of their lives – thanks Nan. 😉
Related: Nan’s Sultana Cake / Coffee Scroll Biscuits
What are Matchsticks?
Matchsticks are a traditional bakery treat popular in Australia. Since they’re so easy to make, they quickly became a retro Aussie homemade dessert.
They’re usually made with whipped cream and strawberry jam sandwiched between two pieces of baked puff pastry. A recipe doesn’t get much simpler than that.
Some matchsticks recipes bake the pastry in layers to stop them rising so much, but we prefer the old fashioned method of baking them separately and allowing them to rise and puff up, the way Sarah’s Nan taught her.
Where We Learned This
Sarah’s Nan taught her to make her matchsticks recipe when she was 6 years old, and they’ve been a family favourite ever since. She used to love making them together to bring over for family dinners or parties. They’re perfect for dessert or with a cup of coffee as a sweet afternoon treat.
P.S. For another fast family favourite dessert, try Sarah’s mum’s Quick Eton Mess!
What You’ll Need
- Puff Pastry – Thaw the pastry pieces on your kitchen bench for 5-10 mins before slicing.
- Cream – Use thickened / heavy cream instead of pouring cream so it will hold its shape. You can sweeten it with a little icing sugar and vanilla essence before whipping if you like, although we think they’re sweet enough with just the jam.
- Jam – This recipe is traditionally made with strawberry jam, but you can use any jam you like! Our favourite subs are apricot, blueberry or fig and cinnamon!
- Icing Sugar – Optional garnish to make them look a little more decorative.
How to make Cream & Jam Matchsticks:
- Pre-heat the oven to 180°C / 360°F. Slice puff pastry sheets into quarters, then slice each piece into half again, so you have 8 rectangular pieces. Transfer onto lined baking trays (leaving 2.5 cm / 1 inch gaps between) and bake for 12-15 mins until puffed and golden brown. Transfer to a cooling rack and cool down completely (around 5 mins).
- Meanwhile, whip the cream for 1-2 mins until light and fluffy. Optional: For a sweetened cream, add 1-2 tbsp icing sugar and 1 tsp vanilla essence before beating.
- Turn half of the cooled pastry slices upside down – these will be your bases. Spread with strawberry jam and whipped cream, then sandwich with remaining puff pastry slices.
- Optional: Garnish with icing sugar.
Wandercook’s Tips
- Pastry Slices – These will puff up quite a bit while baking. Always use baking paper to stop them sticking to your baking tray. Let them cool completely so the whipped cream doesn’t melt when you assemble the matchsticks.
- Don’t Over-Whip – Or you may accidentally turn your cream into butter! 1-2 mins should be more than enough.
- Soften the Jam – Microwave in a small dish for 10-20 seconds to make it more spreadable.
- Eat Outside – That flaky pastry can make a mess if you’re not careful!
FAQs
Matchsticks are best enjoyed on the day you make them, that way the pastry will stay crispy and flaky. However, they will last a day or two if kept in an airtight container in the fridge. It’s a good idea to store the pastry separate from the whipped cream and jam so they stay as crispy as possible.
Variations
- Play with Shapes – Make them as squares, circles or any other shape you feel like playing with. Make smaller shapes for smaller serving sizes.
- Fillings – Swap the jam for Nutella, cookie butter or chocolate sauce. You could even fill them with chocolate mousse or the vanilla custard / dessert mix from vanilla slice.
- Add a Fruit Layer – Add thinly sliced strawberries, raspberries, kiwi fruit or banana for an upgraded version!
- Pastry Glaze – Brush pastry slices with milk and sprinkle with sugar before baking to give them a decorative glazed effect.
- Make Them Thinner – Bake in layers to stop them rising as much. Alternatively, bake as normal and gently pull or slice apart to make two pieces, then fill as normal.
For more simply impressive desserts, try these next:
★ Did you make this recipe? Please leave a comment and a star rating below!
Ingredients
- 2 puff pastry sheets
- 300 ml thickened cream / heavy cream
- 2 tbsp strawberry jam
Optional:
- 3 tbsp icing sugar 2 tbsp for the cream if you want to sweeten, and 1 tbsp if you want to garnish
- 1 tsp vanilla essence
Instructions
- Pre-heat the oven to 180°C / 360°F.
- Slice puff pastry sheets into quarters, then slice each piece into half again, so you have 8 rectangular pieces. Transfer onto lined baking trays (leaving 2.5 cm / 1 inch gaps between) and bake for 12-15 mins until puffed and golden brown. Transfer to a cooling rack and cool down completely (around 5 mins).2 puff pastry sheets
- Meanwhile, whip the cream for 1-2 mins until light and fluffy. Optional: For a sweetened cream, add 1-2 tbsp icing sugar and 1 tsp vanilla essence before beating.300 ml thickened cream / heavy cream
- Turn half of the cooled pastry slices upside down – these will be your bases. Spread with strawberry jam and whipped cream, then sandwich with remaining puff pastry slices.2 tbsp strawberry jam
- Optional: Garnish with icing sugar.
Video
Recipe Notes
- Pastry Slices – These will puff up quite a bit while baking. Always use baking paper to stop them sticking to your baking tray. Let them cool completely so the whipped cream doesn’t melt when you assemble the matchsticks.
- Don’t Over-Whip – Or you may accidentally turn your cream into butter! 1-2 mins should be more than enough.
- Soften the Jam – Microwave in a small dish for 10-20 seconds to make it more spreadable.
- Eat Outside – That flaky pastry can make a mess if you’re not careful!
- Play with Shapes – Make them as squares, circles or any other shape you feel like playing with. Make smaller shapes for smaller serving sizes.
- Fillings – Swap the jam for Nutella, cookie butter or chocolate sauce. You could even fill them with chocolate mousse or the vanilla custard / dessert mix from vanilla slice.
- Add a Fruit Layer – Add thinly sliced strawberries, raspberries, kiwi fruit or banana for an upgraded version!
- Pastry Glaze – Brush pastry slices with milk and sprinkle with sugar before baking to give them a decorative glazed effect.
- Make Them Thinner – Bake in layers to stop them rising as much. Alternatively, bake as normal and gently pull or slice apart to make two pieces, then fill as normal.
Nutrition
2 Comments
Denise Irvine
12/02/2024 at 11:25 amFive star for sure. It was so easy to make , delicious, yummy
My husband loved it
Will be making it again. I saved it in my favourites
D
Wandercooks
12/02/2024 at 11:50 amOh thank you Denise! So happy you’re husband enjoyed them too. Thanks for sharing 😀