Crispy Cinnamon Sugar Palmiers Recipe
Palmiers are delicate, buttery French pastries made from puff pastry coated in cinnamon sugar, folded into elegant palm leaf shapes, and baked until golden and caramelized. Perfect as a sweet snack or an accompaniment to coffee, tea, or dessert wine.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 27 minutes
- Yield: Approximately 36-38 palmiers 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Pastry Dough
- 1 sheet of puff pastry dough, thawed
Sugar Mixtures
- 1 cup sugar, divided
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 450°F (232°C) to ensure it reaches the optimal temperature for caramelizing the sugar on the palmiers.
- Prepare the Sugar Bed: Mix half of the sugar with the pinch of salt and spread it evenly on a clean, flat surface. This will prevent the puff pastry from sticking and add sweetness to the base.
- Place Puff Pastry: Unfold the thawed puff pastry sheet and carefully lay it on top of the sugar bed, ensuring it is fully covered.
- Add Cinnamon Sugar: Combine the remaining sugar with cinnamon and sprinkle this mixture evenly over the top surface of the puff pastry dough.
- Roll and Press Sugar: Using a rolling pin, gently roll the dough until it measures about 13 inches square, pressing the sugar mixture firmly into the dough to distribute flavors and aid caramelization.
- Fold the Dough: Fold the dough by bringing each long side in to meet at the centerline, then fold each side once more into the center, creating multiple layers. Finally, fold one half of the dough over the other, resulting in a long strip with six layers stacked.
- Slice the Dough: With a sharp knife, carefully cut the folded dough into 1-inch thick slices. Cut gently to maintain the layers and ensure the palmiers hold their shape during baking, aiming for about 36-38 slices.
- Arrange for Baking: Place each slice cut-side up on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper to prevent sticking and allow for even caramelization.
- Bake First Side: Bake the slices for approximately 6 minutes or until the bottoms are caramelized and golden brown.
- Flip and Bake the Other Side: Using a spatula, carefully flip the palmiers over and bake for an additional 3-5 minutes until the other side is also golden and caramelized.
- Cool: Transfer the baked palmiers to a wire rack to cool completely, allowing the sugar to harden and the cookies to crisp up.
- Serve and Enjoy: Once cooled, serve these crispy, sweet pastries alongside your favorite coffee, tea, or a glass of dessert wine for an indulgent treat.
Notes
- Be gentle when slicing the dough to preserve the distinct layers for a classic palmier shape.
- You can customize the sugar and cinnamon mix to taste, adding more cinnamon for a spicier note.
- Ensure puff pastry is fully thawed before beginning to avoid cracking or tearing.
- Using parchment paper is essential to prevent caramelized sugar from sticking to the baking sheet.
- Store palmiers in an airtight container at room temperature to maintain crispness.
Keywords: Palmiers, French pastry, puff pastry dessert, cinnamon sugar cookies, caramelized pastries
