Unveiling the Charm of Palmiers

Jump to Recipe Jump to Video This website might have affiliate links and advertisements to provide recipes. Read the disclosure policy. Palmiers, also known as "palm trees" in French, are a delightful pastry shaped like a palm leaf. They have a buttery, flaky texture that’s simply irresistible when enjoyed fresh out of the oven. French baked goods are truly amazing. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can also try your hand at making some fresh and delicious macarons or kouign amann! Palmiers, also referred to as palm hearts, pigs ears, or elephant ears, are heart-shaped pastries that are sure to win you over, no matter what you call them. They are easy to make, requiring just a single sheet of puff pastry, granulated sugar, and a sprinkle of coarse sugar. Is there anything better than a simple dessert? When these pastries come out of the oven, they are light, flaky, and wonderful, with a beautiful coating of caramelized sugar on top. One bite, and you’ll be hooked! Palmiers are the kind of pastries that are easy to make but impossible to resist. Yes, you heard that right – it only takes 3 ingredients to whip up these flaky delights! Next time you’re at the store, grab a pack of refrigerated puff pastry sheets – you won’t regret it. The star of our show is the sheet of puff pastry! Puff pastry dough, made with layers of buttery goodness, is what gives these treats their irresistible texture. As it bakes, the layers puff up, creating a light and airy pastry that practically melts in your mouth. Granulated sugar plays a crucial role in transforming our palmiers into sweet delights. During baking, the granulated sugar caramelizes, creating a delicate and slightly crunchy crust. Coarse sugar adds that extra element of texture and sparkle to the palmiers. These larger sugar crystals don’t fully dissolve during baking, leaving behind pockets of sweet surprise. Making palmiers is one of the few French pastry recipes that is actually foolproof. You can’t mess these palmier cookies up. Here’s how to achieve that buttery, flaky goodness: Preheat the oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit and line two sheet pans with parchment paper. Dust a clean surface with granulated and coarse sugar, place the puff pastry on top, dust with more granulated sugar and lightly with coarse sugar, then use a rolling pin to roll out the dough just until the sugar is pressed into it. Fold each side of the puff pastry in twice until they meet in the middle, sprinkle with more sugar, fold in one more time so the two sides touch, use a sharp knife to cut the log into 24 slices each about ¼ inch thick, place the cookies onto the baking sheets leaving 2 inches between them, bake for 6 minutes, remove from the oven, flip each cookie over, and bake for 4-6 minutes longer until deeply golden brown, then let cool completely before serving. Here are a few simple ways to customize your palmiers to your liking: Adjust the sweetness by adding additional sugar as needed. These cookies can be more or less sweet according to your preference. For additional flavor, try mixing ½ teaspoon of ground cinnamon with the granulated sugar before using. You can also try using brown sugar instead of white sugar. Palmiers should be pretty dark in color when finished baking. The sugar melts and caramelizes as they cook, giving the cookies that dark brown color without burning them. You can also make your palmiers savory by swapping out the sugar for parmesan cheese, roasted garlic and butter, or pesto sauce! While palmiers are best eaten fresh, you can store leftover cookies at room temperature in an airtight container or wrapped in plastic wrap for 3-4 days. Puff pastry is a versatile ingredient that can be used in many recipes. Here are a few more dishes made with layers of golden, flaky goodness: Raspberry Baked Brie, Simple and Delicious Sausage Rolls, French Onion Tart, and Cheese Danish.