Mini Elephant Ears Recipes

Steps:

• In small saucepan over medium heat, combine milk, salt, 2 tablespoons sugar and shortening. Heat until shortening melts and sugar dissolves. Remove from heat and let cool to lukewarm, 110 degrees F (43 degrees C). Sprinkle in yeast and let sit until foamy.
• Transfer mixture to large bowl, and stir in flour to make a dough. Knead until smooth, cover and let rise 30 minutes.
• In a large heavy skillet or deep fryer, heat 1 inch of oil to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Roll out 1 to 2 inch balls of dough into thin sheets. Fry sheets 1 to 2 minutes on a side, until puffed and golden. Drain on paper towels.
• Combine cinnamon and 6 tablespoons sugar. Sprinkle over warm pastries. Serve.

Steps:

• Pulse flour and salt in a food processor until combined. Add butter and pulse until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add sour cream and pulse until mixture holds together when pinched. Knead dough on a work surface to bring together, then flatten into an 8-by-6-inch rectangle. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate until firm, at least 1 hour and up to overnight.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a small bowl, stir together sugar and cinnamon; sprinkle half of mixture evenly on work surface. Let dough stand at room temperature until pliable. Cut in half; place one half of dough on sugared surface. With a floured rolling pin, roll into a 14-inch square. Spread half of jam onto dough, leaving a 1/4-inch border all around. Starting from one side, tightly roll dough toward center, incorporating sugar. Repeat, rolling other side to meet first roll in middle. Freeze 15 minutes.
• With a serrated knife, cut dough crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices. (Refrigerate dough as needed if it gets too soft to slice.) Arrange slices 2 inches apart on parchment-lined baking sheets.
• Bake 10 minutes. Carefully flip palmiers with an offset spatula and bake until golden, about 6 minutes more. Let cool on sheets 1 minute, then transfer to a wire rack; let cool completely. Repeat with remaining sugar mixture and dough. Cookies can be stored in an airtight container, between sheets of waxed paper, up to 1 week.

Steps:

• Thaw the dough at room temperature for about 2 hours. Heat oil in an electric skillet or deep-fat fryer to 375°. Combine the sugar and cinnamon; set aside. , Stretch each piece of dough into a flat ear shape. Fry, a few at a time, for 1-1/2 minutes per side or until browned. Drain on paper towels. Brush with butter; sprinkle with cinnamon-sugar.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees.
• Combine 1/2 cup of the sugar and kosher salt and pour it over a flat surface such as a wooden board or marble slab. Unfold the sheet of puff pastry onto the sugar mixture.
• Combine 1/2 cup of the sugar and the cinnamon and spread it evenly on the puff pastry. This is not about sprinkling, it's about an even covering of sugar. With a rolling pin, lightly roll the dough until it's a 13-inch square and the sugar is pressed into the puff pastry on top and bottom. Fold the sides of the square toward 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 one 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.
• Bake the cookies for 6 minutes, or until caramelized and brown on the bottom, then turn with a spatula and bake for another 3 to 5 minutes, until caramelized on the other side. Transfer to a baking rack to cool.

Steps:

• Dissolve yeast in water. Add milk, sugar, salt, shortening and 2 cups flour; beat until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough. , On a floured surface, knead until smooth and elastic, 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl; turn once to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour. , Punch down and shape into 15 ovals, 5-1/2-in. round by 1/8-in. thick. Heat 3-4 in. of oil to 375° in deep-fat fryer. Fry ovals, one at a time, 3 minutes per side or until golden brown. Drain. Mix sugar and cinnamon; sprinkle over warm pastries.