These buttery, flaky French Palmiers: Crispy Caramelized Puff Pastry Cookies Recipe
Palmiers are classic French cookies made from flaky, buttery puff pastry caramelized with sugar. These delicate, crispy golden cookies offer a perfect balance of sweetness and crunch, and are surprisingly easy to make at home with just a few ingredients and simple steps.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 42 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American, French
Ingredients
Scale
Ingredients
- 2 cups sugar
- 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 sheets puff pastry, defrosted
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit to ensure it’s hot enough for quick caramelization of the sugar on the cookies.
- Prepare Sugar Mixture: Combine the sugar and kosher salt in a bowl to create a sweet, lightly salty mixture that will add flavor and help caramelize the puff pastry. Pour 1 cup of this mixture onto a flat work surface.
- Roll Out First Puff Pastry Sheet: Unfold one sheet of puff pastry onto the sugar on the work surface. Then, pour half a cup of the sugar/salt mixture evenly over the top of the pastry. Using a rolling pin, roll the dough until it is a 13 by 13-inch square, pressing the sugar into the pastry on both sides.
- Fold the Pastry: Fold the sides of the square dough toward the center so each side reaches halfway to the middle line. Fold these two folded sides again so they meet exactly in the center, creating layers. Finally, fold one half over the other like closing a book, resulting in six layered dough.
- Slice the Dough: Cut the folded dough into slices approximately 3/8-inch thick. Place each slice cut-side up on baking sheets lined with parchment paper, spacing them evenly.
- Repeat with Second Sheet: Repeat the rolling, folding, and slicing process with the second sheet of puff pastry, arranging the slices on baking sheets lined with parchment paper.
- Bake Palmiers: Bake the cookies for 6 minutes until the bottoms are caramelized and brown. Using a spatula, carefully turn each cookie and bake for an additional 3 to 5 minutes to caramelize the other side.
- Cool the Cookies: Transfer the baked palmiers to a cooling rack. Allow them to cool completely to achieve optimal crispiness before serving.
Notes
- Ensure the puff pastry is well chilled but pliable to prevent tearing while rolling.
- Use parchment paper on baking sheets to prevent sticking and for easy cleanup.
- Watch the palmiers carefully while baking to avoid burning due to the high oven temperature.
- For variation, sprinkle cinnamon with the sugar mixture for a flavorful twist.
- Store baked palmiers in an airtight container to keep them crisp.
Keywords: Palmiers recipe, French cookies, puff pastry cookies, caramelized sugar cookies, easy dessert
