Delight in the art of baking with French palmiers with quick puff pastry, a recipe that transforms simple ingredients into an exquisite treat.
These crunchy, delicious delights, also known as French hearts or elephant ears, are a testament to the magic of baking.
The beauty of this recipe lies in its simplicity and the quickness with which you can make these delightful pastries.
With just 15 minutes of preparation, you can create a puffy, flavorful batch of palmiers.
The process begins by rolling out the puff pastry on a sugar-coated work surface.
Then, with a gentle yet firm hand, you fold the pastry from the top and bottom towards the center.
After allowing it to rest in the freezer for 30 minutes, the pastry is ready to be cut into slices and baked to golden perfection.
Whether you’re an experienced baker or trying this for the first time, the ease with which these palmiers come together is astounding.
No need to worry if you don’t have pre-made puff pastry at hand; this easy french palmiers with quick puff pastry recipe allows you to cool down and start fresh with homemade quick puff pastry, ensuring every bite is as satisfying as it is effortless.
What Are Palmiers?
Palmiers, a classic French cookie, are a delight for anyone with a sweet tooth.
These sweet and buttery treats, often termed as palm trees due to their resemblance to a palm leaf, are a staple in French confectionery.
The name Palmiers, pronounced “pal-mee-ei”, captures their elegant and delicate nature.
Each bite offers a crisp, chock-full of butter texture that seems to just melt in your mouth.
These cookies are perfect for a proper English tea time, best enjoyed with a cup of earl grey tea, lightened with half-and-half and sweetened with a spoonful of honey.
Their buttery richness makes them irresistible, often leading to a binge-eat session.
What Are Palmiers Made Of?
Despite their impressive appearance, Palmiers require only two ingredients. This simplicity adds to their allure, making them delicious in their unadorned form.
However, you can spruce up these cookies with a variety of spices and dried fruits for a savory twist.
Some popular variations include adding a tablespoon of cinnamon or nutmeg, or a half cup of chopped currants, cranberries, or dates.
For a savory version, you can omit the sugar and spread a generous layer of poppy seed filling, or replace it with pesto or tapenade and a heaping pile of freshly grated parmesan cheese.
Serve them as an appetizer or alongside a charcuterie plate.
If you’re craving something like baklava but don’t have the time or patience, try a quick spin on the treat by adding chopped pistachios and a generous drizzle of honey.
How To Make Sugar Palmiers?
Crafting sugar palmiers with quick puff pastry is a delightful baking adventure.
Begin by placing the puff pastry in the freezer for about 30 minutes; this ensures it’s very cold and easier to handle.
Once chilled, it’s time to make your palmiers. Start by generously coating your work surface with sugar.
Carefully roll out the pastry into a rectangle measuring approximately 12×10 inches (30×25 cm), keeping the long side facing front.
Then, evenly cover the top with the remaining sugar, using a rolling pin to gently press the sugar into the dough.
Trim the bottom and sides if necessary to achieve a nice rectangle. Now, fold about 1.75 inches (4.5 cm) from the top edge and the same from the bottom edge towards the center.
Repeat this folding process two times from both top and bottom, ensuring they meet almost in the center with a little gap in the middle.
Fold one side over another. Let the pastry rest again in the freezer until it is very cold.
Then, slice the dough into 0.4-inch (1 cm) thick slices, and place them on a baking sheet about 2 inches (5 cm) apart as they will spread during baking.
Bake these slices at a high temperature for 7 minutes until they are caramelized on the bottom, then flip them and bake for an additional 7 minutes or until they turn golden brown.
Enjoy your freshly made, crisp french palmiers with quick puff pastry.
French Palmiers With Quick Puff Pastry
Ingredients
- Homemade Quick Puff Pastry (about 330 grams)
- 105 grams (or ½ cup) of regular white sugar
Instructions
- First, prepare your quick puff pastry following your favorite recipe. Once it’s ready, put it in the freezer for half an hour.
- After freezing, take out the pastry. Spread half of your sugar evenly on your rolling surface. Roll the pastry into a rectangle shape, roughly 12 by 10 inches, with the longer side facing you. Sprinkle the rest of the sugar over the pastry. Use your rolling pin to gently press the sugar into the pastry. Now, fold the pastry: from the top, fold down about 1.75 inches, and do the same from the bottom. Repeat this folding step once more. Your folds should nearly meet in the middle. Finally, fold one half over the other.
- Put the pastry back in the freezer for another 30 minutes, or until it’s very cold.
- Time to bake! Preheat your oven to 390°F (200°C). Get your baking sheet ready by lining it with parchment paper or a silicone mat.
- Take the pastry out of the freezer. Cut it into slices about 0.4 inch thick. Place these on your baking sheet, leaving about 2 inches of space between them (they’ll expand as they bake). Bake for 7 minutes. When the bottoms are caramelized, flip them over and bake for another 7 minutes, until they turn a nice golden brown color.
Tips For The Best Sweet Palmiers Fillings
- Ensure the dough is extra cold; warm dough causes the butter to melt, affecting those flaky layers.
- If using frozen dough, thaw it for no more than 30 minutes until it’s pliable, then use it immediately to prevent melting.
- Use high-quality, specialty coarse sugar like demerara for a generous texture and bite.
- After sprinkling the first layer of sugar, press it in with a rolling pin.
- Bake the rolled and cut cookies right away to prevent the butter from melting at room temperature.
- Bake palmiers quickly at a high temperature of 450℉ for 6 minutes, then flip and continue for another 5 minutes until golden brown.
How To Freeze Puff Pastry Palmiers Savory?
Freezing palmier cookies is a convenient way to enjoy these cookies later. After cutting your palmiers, arrange them on a baking sheet and freeze.
Once frozen, remove them from the baking sheet and store in an airtight container or freezer bag.
When you’re ready to enjoy, bake them straight from frozen at 450℉ for 7 minutes, then finish baking for another 6 minutes.
FAQs About French Palmiers With Quick Puff Pastry
1. How Many Folds Should Puff Pastry Have?
For the perfect puff pastry, butter is rolled and folded into three layers, five or six times. The best puff pastry typically has 6 rolls and folds, which will produce 729 layers of flaky deliciousness.
2. Does Puff Pastry Need Yeast?
Unlike many doughs, puff pastry doesn’t require yeast, baking soda, or baking powder. Its ability to ascend to puffy heights of glory is due to the secret of steam and hundreds of paper-thin layers. The dough is a lean mix of just water and flour.
3. Does Puff Pastry Need To Rise?
Puff pastry consists of dozens of paper-thin layers of dough separated by cold butter. As it bakes, the steam created from the water in the dough and butter causes it to rise, pull apart, and create a flaky, many-layered crunch.
4. How Do You Know When Puff Pastry Is Done?
When baking puff pastry, it’s done once it’s golden and puffy, not wet and doughy. Use the time in the recipe as a guideline, and also trust your eyes. Bake it on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
5. Why Is My Puff Pastry Raw?
If your puff pastry is raw, one reason could be that the pastry layers are too thick, preventing heat from penetrating to the center. Another issue might be putting it into the oven too cold, not allowing the butter to steam and puff up the pastry properly.
6. Why Is My Puff Pastry Not Flaky?
To ensure flaky puff pastry, always preheat your oven for 15-20 minutes before baking. This helps the pastry to rise and puff evenly. Place pastries 1 inch apart. For a flaky, thin, crispy, and less puffy texture, prick the unbaked puff pastry with a fork to let steam escape during baking.
7. What Temperature Do You Cook Puff Pastry?
Bake puff pastry shells in a preheated 425° F oven, and puff pastry cups in a preheated 400° F oven for 20 minutes.
8. Can You Cook Puff Pastry From Frozen?
Frozen puff pastry is a great alternative to homemade and requires some advance planning. It needs to be thawed before baking. The best approach is to thaw it overnight in the fridge.
