Alligator Jaws Pastry with Cherry Buttercream Frosting

3 alligator jaw pastries with marischino cherries on a white plate.

5 from 8 votes

Alligator Jaws Pastry with Cherry Buttercream Frosting

Alligator Jaws Pastry is an amazing triangle-shaped glazed pastry filled with delicious cherry buttercream frosting. You know this recipe is calling you!

Prep Time30

Cook Time5

Total Time35

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Cherry, Doughnuts, Frosting

Servings:

Calories: 1339kcal

Author: Erica Walker

Ingredients

For the Dough:

1 tablespoon Yeast
1/8 cup water warm
3/4 cup milk lukewarm
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 egg
3 tablespoons shortening
3 cups flour
Vegetable oil for frying

For the glaze:

1/4 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups powdered sugar

For the Cherry Buttercream Frosting:

6 maraschino cherries from a jar
2 tablespoons juice from maraschino cherries from the jar
1/2 cup butter softened to room-temperature
1 pound powdered sugar

Instructions

For the Dough:

Dissolve yeast in water in a mixer. In a separate bowl, combine milk, sugar, salt, eggs, shortening and add to yeast water.
Slowly add flour and mix on low until dough is smooth and elastic.
Cover with a clean dish towel and let it rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour.
Roll dough out on a floured surface until it is about 1/2 inch thick. Cut into tall triangles (about 2-3" wide by 4" tall)
Place on a cookie sheet allowing enough room to let them rise. They rise for about 30 min.
Prepare glaze while rising (see below).
Heat vegetable oil to 375 degrees. Slowly transfer the triangles with spatula to the hot oil and fry 30 seconds each side until lightly golden brown.

Glaze:

Combine milk and vanilla in a medium saucepan and heat over low heat until warm. Sift confectioners' sugar into milk mixture. Whisk slowly, until well combined.
Remove the glaze from the heat. Dip fried triangles into the glaze, 1 at a time, and set on a draining rack placed in a half sheet pan until cooled.

For the Cherry Buttercream Frosting:

In a food processor, process the cherries with the cherry juice (about 5 pulses).
Place the processed cherries in a mixing bowl and combine with butter and about 1 cup powdered sugar.
When well combined and smooth, add remaining powdered sugar a little at a time until you reach a good frosting consistency.
Add more cherry juice if it gets too dry.

To Assemble:

Cut each triangle horizontally from the smallest point of the triangle to the back being careful not to cut it all the way through, making it look like an "alligator jaw".
Open the "jaws" and spoon a good spoonful of frosting between each half and spread evenly. Place top half back down and serve.

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