Strawberry Palmiers Recipe 55

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:

• DIRECTIONS FOR THE PALMIERS: Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper or plain brown paper; set aside. On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough (or sheet of purchased pastry) into a 14x10-inch rectangle. Combine sugar and cinnamon; sprinkle over pastry rectangle. Lightly press sugar mixture into the dough. Roll the 2 short sides, jelly-roll style, to meet in the center. Turn pastry roll over and cut crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices. If the roll is too soft to slice easily, chill it in freezer for a few minutes. Place slices 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets. Bake in a preheated 375 degrees F oven for 15-20 minutes, or till golden and crisp. Remove from baking sheet and cool on a rack. FOR THE CREAM AND GARNISH: In a heavy medium saucepan stir together sugar, flour, and salt. Slowly stir in half-and-half or light cream. Cook and stir over medium heat till mixture is thickened and bubbly. Cook and stir 1 minute more. Gradually stir about 1 cup of the hot mixture into beaten egg yolks. Return all to saucepan. Cook and stir 2 minutes more. Remove from heat. Stir in vanilla. Transfer pastry cream to a bowl. Cover surface with plastic wrap and cool just till warm without stirring. To assemble, spread about 2 tablespoons of pastry cream over one side of half of the palmiers. Arrange sliced strawberries over pastry cream. Top each with another palmier. Garnish each palmier with a dollop of pastry cream and a whole berry. Active Time: 20 Minutes Total Time: 35 Minutes Yield: Makes about 15 palmiers These palm-shaped pastries, known as palmiers, are layered with a vanilla-flavored pastry cream and fresh strawberries.