What is a palmier?

If you’re hoping to become a master of the baking and pastry arts, then you  have to learn how to make good palmiers. Also known as elephant ears, shoe-soles, palm trees or palm leaves, palmiers are delicious pastries that can be served for breakfast or dessert. Wise Geek notes that palmiers, due to their nickname, should not be mistaken for the fried dough that is known as elephant ears as well. The source further notes that in French, the name of the cookie simply means palm tree, and that the treat gets its name for resembling a palm leaf. Luckily, these tasty snacks are easy to make at home and don’t require many ingredients. Whether you’ve been baking for years or are giving it a try for the first time, palmiers are the perfect place to start.

How to make palmiers 
Below is a basic recipe for making palmiers, courtesy of Simply Recipes.

Ingredients

• A generous portion of granulated sugar
• Puff pastry
• Parchment paper

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Method 

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. On your work surface, sprinkle about a quarter cup of sugar evenly. Spread the puff pastry out over approximately a square foot, and then add an additional 1/4 cup sugar on top of the dough. If you choose to include additional spices, add them at this time.

From opposite ends of the dough, roll each side inward toward the center, so it looks like a scroll. Gently press the dough together where the rolls meet and then allow it to chill for at least half an hour in the refrigerator. If you are doing multiple rolls, repeat this entire process.

Using a sharp knife, cut the roll into 1/2 inch slices. Then sprinkle sugar on each side of the formed palmiers. Apply pressure to each individual pastry to ensure that the rolls stick together and don’t unravel in the oven. Place the palmiers on baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Make sure to provide a significant amount of space between each pastry, as they will increase in size during cooking time. Simply Recipes advises not baking more than a dozen at a time.

Place the baking tray in the center of the oven. Bake each batch of palmiers for approximately 10 to 15 minutes. After removing the pastries from the oven, allow each batch at least 10 minutes to cool. These snacks can be served on their own, and also go well with coffee or tea.