Directions

1. Step 1

   Preheat the oven to 200°C, fan forced.

2. Step 2

   Add the flour to a dry pan and toast on low heat for 5 minutes.

3. Step 3

   Mix the flour, ground walnuts, margarine, vanilla, sugar, and salt together until it reaches a crumb-like texture.

4. Step 4

   Cut one pastry sheet lengthwise and lay it flat on a floured surface. Spread the filling over the whole surface of the pastry sheet. Roll it up into a log (not too thick).

5. Step 5

   Fold the roll from one end to the other, on top of each other (will look like two logs piled on top of each other).

6. Step 6

   Dust a sharp knife in some extra flour. Use the floured knife to cut the log from one end towards the middle (but not all the way to the centre — about 1/3 of the way down the log). Then make a similar cut from the other end toward the middle (again, not all the way through). So the centre of the long remains uncut.

7. Step 7

   Now to get the butterfly shape, fold back the top 2 cuts outward and do the same to the bottom 2 cuts.

8. Step 8

   Coat the exposed pastry with melted margarine and bake for 20–25 minutes or until golden brown.

9. Step 9

   When out of the oven, the gata can be brushed very lightly with maple syrup for an extra touch of glossy sweetness!