Description
Palmiers, also known as Elephant Ears, are delicate, crispy, and buttery French pastries made from puff pastry and sugar. These sweet, caramelized treats are simple to prepare, requiring just a few ingredients and resulting in a delightful crispy texture perfect for teatime or dessert.
Ingredients
Scale
Ingredients
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 lb puff pastry (2 sheets of store-bought puff pastry, thawed according to package instructions)
- 1/8 tsp fine sea salt
- Parchment paper to line the cookie sheet
Instructions
- Prepare your workspace. Lightly dust your clean working surface with a bit of granulated sugar to prevent sticking and to add extra caramelization to the palmiers.
- Roll out the puff pastry. Unfold and gently roll each sheet of thawed puff pastry to smooth out any creases, ensuring it’s an even thickness.
- Sprinkle sugar and salt. Evenly sprinkle half of the sugar and the fine sea salt on the puff pastry surface. Use a rolling pin lightly to press the sugar into the dough for better adherence.
- Fold the pastry. Starting from one long edge, fold the dough inward to the center, then fold the opposite edge inward so both folds meet in the middle. Finally, fold one side over the other like closing a book, creating a long, narrow strip with layered sugar inside.
- Chill the dough. Wrap the folded dough in plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes to solidify the folds and make slicing easier.
- Slice the pastry. Using a sharp knife, cut the chilled dough into approximately 1/4-inch thick slices to form the palmiers’ distinctive butterfly shape.
- Prepare for baking. Place the sliced palmiers flat on a parchment-lined baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart to allow for spreading during baking.
- Bake the palmiers. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Bake the palmiers for 10 minutes until golden brown and caramelized, then flip them to the other side and bake for an additional 5 minutes for even crispness.
- Cool and serve. Remove the palmiers from the oven and transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely before serving. They will crisp up further as they cool.
Notes
- Make sure your puff pastry is fully thawed before using to avoid cracking while rolling.
- Using a sharp knife is crucial to get clean edges in each palmier slice.
- Keep the folded dough chilled before slicing to maintain shape during cutting.
- Palmiers can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 days to retain crispness.
- You may sprinkle cinnamon or use brown sugar for a different flavor profile.
