Palmiers, often known as elephant ears, are a classic French pastry that charms with its simplicity and elegance. Made from a single sheet of puff pastry sprinkled generously with sugar and expertly folded, these treats bake up to a golden, caramelized perfection. Their heart-shaped, crisp texture makes them a visually appealing and deliciously indulgent treat.
Why You'll Love This
The allure of Palmiers lies in their delightful crunch and the caramelized sugar that forms during baking, offering a perfect balance of sweetness and buttery flavor. These pastries are not only easy to prepare with ready-made puff pastry but also endlessly adaptable, making them a quick favorite for both baking novices and experienced cooks.
Perfect Occasion
Palmiers are perfect for serving at high tea, as a sweet snack during gatherings, or as a light dessert after a meal. They are also excellent as edible gifts, packaged in a beautiful box with a ribbon, especially around holidays or special occasions.
Decoration Tips
For a beautiful presentation, you can dust the Palmiers with powdered sugar right after baking. To make them even more special, consider dipping half of each palmier in melted chocolate and allowing them to set on parchment paper. This adds an extra layer of decadence and can be customized with white, milk, or dark chocolate.
- Ingredients:
- 1 sheet of ready-made puff pastry
- Granulated sugar, as needed for sprinkling
- Instructions:
- Preheat your oven to 200°C (392°F).
- Roll out the puff pastry into a rectangle on a surface generously sprinkled with sugar.
- Sprinkle more sugar over the top of the pastry to cover it evenly.
- Start folding the pastry: Fold the long sides of the rectangle towards the center so they go halfway to the middle. Fold them again so the two folds meet at the center of the dough. Then fold one half over the other half as if closing a book, creating a long, thin rectangle.
- Place the folded pastry in the freezer for 15 minutes to firm up, which makes slicing easier.
- Remove the pastry from the freezer and cut it into 1/2-inch thick slices.
- Arrange the slices on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, spacing them well apart as they will spread during baking.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes, or until the palmiers are golden brown and caramelized. Halfway through, flip each palmier to ensure even browning on both sides.
- Allow the palmiers to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Enjoy!