By Palmiers are classic French pastries known for their beautiful heart or “elephant ear” shape. They are light, flaky, buttery, and coated with caramelized sugar. Despite their elegant appearance, palmiers are surprisingly easy to make at home using ready-made puff pastry. This recipe explains the complete step-by-step process to help you achieve bakery-style palmiers with perfect crispness and golden color.
Ingredients (Makes 20–24 Palmiers)
- Puff pastry sheet – 1 (store-bought, thawed but cold)
- Granulated sugar – ½ cup
- Butter – for greasing (optional)
- Vanilla essence – ½ teaspoon (optional)
- Cinnamon powder – ½ teaspoon (optional, for flavored palmiers)
Step 1: Preparing the Work Surface
Clean and dry your kitchen counter or rolling surface. Sprinkle 2–3 tablespoons of sugar evenly on the surface instead of flour. Using sugar instead of flour is essential because it caramelizes during baking and gives palmiers their signature crunch and golden glaze.
Place the cold puff pastry sheet on the sugar-coated surface. Puff pastry should be cold, not soft, to maintain distinct layers.
Step 2: Rolling the Puff Pastry
Lightly sprinkle some sugar on top of the pastry sheet. Using a rolling pin, gently roll the pastry into a rectangle of even thickness. Do not press too hard, as this may damage the layers of butter inside the pastry.
If desired, sprinkle vanilla essence or cinnamon powder evenly while rolling to add extra flavor.
Step 3: Folding the Pastry (Classic Palmier Shape)
Visually divide the pastry rectangle vertically into three equal sections.
- Fold the left edge inward toward the center
- Fold the right edge inward toward the center
Now fold the left side again toward the center and repeat with the right side. At this stage, both sides should almost meet in the middle.
Finally, fold one side over the other, like closing a book. This creates the classic heart-shaped spiral when sliced.
Press lightly to seal, but do not flatten.
Step 4: Chilling the Pastry
Wrap the folded pastry log in cling wrap and refrigerate for 20–30 minutes. This step is very important because chilled pastry holds its shape better while cutting and baking.
Step 5: Cutting the Palmiers
Preheat your oven to 200°C (390°F).
Remove the chilled pastry from the fridge. Using a sharp knife, cut the log into slices about ½ inch thick. Each slice will open up into a heart shape.
Dip each cut side lightly into sugar to ensure even caramelization.
Step 6: Arranging on Baking Tray
Line a baking tray with parchment paper or lightly grease it. Place the palmier slices on the tray, leaving enough space between them as they expand during baking.
Do not overcrowd the tray.
Step 7: Baking the Palmiers
Place the tray in the preheated oven and bake for 10–12 minutes. Once the bottom side turns golden brown and caramelized, remove the tray and flip each palmier carefully using a spatula.
Return the tray to the oven and bake for another 8–10 minutes until the other side is equally golden and crisp.
Watch closely in the final minutes, as sugar can burn quickly.
Step 8: Cooling and Crisping
Remove the palmiers from the oven and immediately transfer them to a wire rack. They will be slightly soft at first but will become extra crisp as they cool.
Allow them to cool completely before storing or serving.
Serving Suggestions
Palmiers can be enjoyed:
- With tea or coffee
- As a light dessert
- As a tea-time snack
- With chocolate dip or fruit compote
They taste best fresh but can be stored in an airtight container for 3–4 days.
Tips for Perfect Palmiers
- Always work with cold puff pastry
- Use sugar instead of flour for rolling
- Chill before cutting for clean shapes
- Flip during baking for even caramelization
- Watch carefully to avoid burning
Variations You Can Try
- Cinnamon Sugar Palmiers – Add cinnamon to sugar
- Chocolate Palmiers – Spread melted chocolate before folding
- Savory Palmiers – Use cheese, herbs, or pesto instead of sugar
- Nut Palmiers – Sprinkle crushed almonds or hazelnuts
Conclusion
Palmiers are proof that simple ingredients can create elegant, bakery-style pastries at home. With just puff pastry and sugar, you can make crisp, golden, caramelized palmiers that look beautiful and taste irresistible. By following the folding, chilling, and baking steps carefully, you’ll achieve perfect texture and shape every time.
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