Classic Palmiers Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
• Combine the sugar and kosher salt. Pour 1 cup of the sugar/salt mixture on a flat surface such as wooden board or marble. Unfold each sheet of puff pastry onto the sugar and pour 1/2 cup of the sugar mixture on top, spreading it evenly on the puff pastry. This is not about sprinkling, it's about an even covering of sugar. With a rolling pin, roll the dough until it's 13 by 13-inches square and the sugar is pressed into the puff pastry on top and bottom. Fold the sides of the square towards the center so they go halfway to the middle. Fold them again so the two folds meet exactly at the middle of the dough. Then fold 1 half over the other half as though closing a book. You will have 6 layers. Slice the dough into 3/8-inch slices and place the slices, cut side up, on baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Place the second sheet of pastry on the sugared board, sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 cup of sugar mixture, and continue as above. (There will be quite a bit of sugar left over on the board.) Slice and arrange on baking sheets lined with parchment.
• Bake the cookies for 6 minutes until caramelized and brown on the bottom, then turn with a spatula and bake another 3 to 5 minutes, until caramelized on the other side. Transfer to a baking rack to cool.

Steps:

• Sprinkle half the sugar on a clean work surface. Place dough on top, and sprinkle evenly with remaining sugar.
• Using a rolling pin, gently roll out dough into a 9 1/2-by-15-inch rectangle 1/8 inch thick, being careful not to press too hard around the edges. Continually coat both sides with sugar.
• Place dough so that one of the long sides is closest to you. Using your fingers, roll dough lengthwise into a long cylinder, as tightly as possible without stretching it, as you would a roll of wrapping paper, stopping when you reach the middle. Repeat the same rolling procedure with the other long side until you have two tight cylinders that meet in the middle. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap; place in refrigerator to chill at least 1 hour.
• Unwrap dough; using a sharp knife, cut dough crosswise into 3/8-inch-thick slices. Place palmiers on an ungreased baking sheet, and firmly flatten with the palm of your hand. Cover with plastic wrap; place in refrigerator 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Place palmiers in oven, and bake 5 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 400 degrees; continue baking until pastry is golden brown and well caramelized, about 10 minutes. Remove from oven; using a thin spatula, immediately transfer palmiers to a wire rack to cool completely. Serve shiny side up.

Steps:

• Prepare the Puff Pastry.
• Sprinkle work surface with the sugar. Place the puff pastry on top and roll to a rectangle 8 by 26 inches and approximately 1/8 inch thick, continually sprinkling with additional sugar to prevent the dough from sticking.
• Working quickly but gently, roll each long end to the center of the pastry, making sure to roll tightly and evenly. Freeze rolled log for 20 minutes, until very firm but not frozen. Slice crosswise into 3/8-inch slices. Roll over each palmier with a rolling pin to lightly flatten, and sprinkle the center of each with more sugar. Place palmiers 2 inches apart on water-sprayed baking sheets. Freeze for at least 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Bake palmiers 4 to 6 minutes, until golden on the underside. Flip with a spatula, pressing down to flatten if palmiers seem to be unrolling. Bake 2 to 4 minutes more, watching carefully, until golden and crisp. Transfer to a cooling rack and cool completely.