I’m always intrigued by hundred-year-old recipes that include drawings of the finished product since such recipes are few and far between. So when I recently came across a drawing of a beautifully presented recipe for a raspberry dessert called Patties en Surprise in a 1919 advertisement for Minute Tapioca, I decided to give it a try. This dessert is basically puff pastry cut into rounds, and filled with a raspberry and tapioca filling.
Here’s the picture and original recipe:
The verdict: Raspberries Patties en Surprise is a very pretty dessert. The filling is delightfully refreshing with a vibrant, fruity flavor. I had left-over filling after I used all the puff pastry rounds, so I spooned the left-overs into a small dishes – and it was even better than when served with the pastries. I will definitely make the filling again – I may (or may not) make the pastry portion of this recipe again.
Since the original recipe did not provide directions for making puff pastry, I bought a package of puff pastry at the store when I made this dessert rather than making puff pastry from scratch (though I realize this is not a fully authentic way to approach this recipe). Here’s the recipe updated for modern cooks:
Raspberry Patties en Surprise
2 cups water
1/2 cup Minute Tapioca
1 pint (2 half-pint boxes) red raspberries, crushed (approximately 1 cup pulp)
1/2 cup sugar
1 package puff pastry (2 sheets)
Raspberry Filling: Using high heat, bring water to a boil in a saucepan; reduce heat to medium and stir in tapioca. Continue cooking while stirring constantly until the tapioca is clear (about 5 minutes); stir in raspberry pulp (including juice) and sugar. Continue cooking and stirring an additional two minutes, then remove from heat and put the mixture into a bowl. Chill in the refrigerator for at least three hours.
Pastry Shells: Preheat oven to 400° F. Unroll puff pastry sheets, and cut rounds (approximately 4-inches in diameter) using a cookie cutter (or an inverted water glass can be used as a cutter). Place on a lightly greased baking sheet. Using a smaller round cutter (about 1 1/2 inches in diameter) cut another circle in the center of the large circles of puff pastry dough. (Press firmly when cutting the small circles. It is okay if it goes all the way through. It is more problematic when assembling this recipe if the small circles aren’t cut deeply enough than if they are cut all the way through.). Bake 20 minutes or until puffy and lightly browned. Remove pastries from baking sheet. Allow to cool before serving.
To Assemble: For each pastry, gently remove the top portion of the small pastry circle. Spoon the chilled raspberry tapioca mixture into the center of the pastry. Put the circular “cap” back on the pastry.
A Hundred Years Ago 
What a pretty dessert.
I used to make tapioca a lot in my early years of cooking–this looks like a more “grown-up” version. Very pretty indeed!
Wow, this looks good! It seems like the perfect dessert to have on a hot summer day.
And I don’t blame you one bit for using store-bought puff pastry. Why not use a shortcut instead of heating up your kitchen at this time of the year?! 🙂
These look lovely! Your becoming quite the chef. 😀 I would cheat too and just buy the pastry. If your like me … you don’t need a large amount to make as there’s just a few around to enjoy them.
Yum!
I don’t care for tapioca, but I bet this would be good if I used a vanilla pudding instead!
It does look lovely and sounds very refreshing. I think I would also just make the filling!
They look delicious! Love the drawing!