Mille-foglie, also known as Napoleon or vanilla slice, is an iconic French pastry that has captured the hearts of dessert enthusiasts worldwide. This delectable creation consists of layers of crispy puff pastry, luscious pastry cream, and a delicate dusting of powdered sugar. Its name, meaning "a thousand leaves" in Italian, aptly describes the intricate layers that give this dessert its signature texture and irresistible charm.
The Mille-foglie journey begins with the puff pastry, a culinary masterpiece in its own right. This dough is meticulously folded and rolled, creating hundreds of delicate layers that puff up during baking, resulting in a golden, flaky pastry that shatters at the first bite. The pastry cream, the heart of the Mille-foglie, is a symphony of flavors, combining milk, sugar, eggs, vanilla, and flour into a velvety, smooth filling that complements the crispy pastry perfectly.
To assemble this culinary masterpiece, sheets of puff pastry are baked until golden brown, then generously layered with the luscious pastry cream. The Mille-foglie is then chilled to allow the flavors to meld and the pastry to soften slightly. The final touch is a delicate dusting of powdered sugar, adding a touch of sweetness and elegance to this already irresistible dessert.
In this article, we present you with a collection of Mille-foglie recipes that showcase the versatility and creativity of this classic dessert. From the traditional French Mille-foglie to modern interpretations with unique flavors and ingredients, these recipes will guide you through the process of creating this delightful pastry at home.
Whether you're a seasoned baker looking to perfect your Mille-foglie skills or a home cook seeking an impressive dessert to wow your guests, this article has something for everyone. So, gather your ingredients, preheat your oven, and embark on a culinary journey that will leave your taste buds dancing with joy.
MILLE FEUILLE (NAPOLEON PASTRY SHEETS)
You don't need to make your own dough when frozen puff pastry sheets work just fine. The key is keeping the dough flat when baking which we do by 'docking' it, or pricking all over with the tines of a fork. These crispy, buttery sheets are the first step in making your own Napoleons.
Provided by Chef John
Categories 100+ Everyday Cooking Recipes
Time 55m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 2
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with a silicone sheet.
- Separate dough at the seams into 4 squares and place on prepared baking sheet. Score the dough all over with the tines of a fork to prevent it from rising too much when baking. Lightly sprinkle dough sheets with white granulated sugar.
- Cover with a sheet of parchment paper and 3 sheets of aluminum foil. Nest another baking sheet on top to apply some pressure to the dough while it bakes.
- Bake in preheated oven 15 minutes; remove top pan and foil and gently peel off the parchment paper. Return pan to oven and bake until pastry is beautifully browned, 10 to 15 minutes. (Optionally, you can bake about 7 minutes after uncovering, then flip sheets over and bake until brown on the other side, another 7 minutes.)
- Transfer to cooling rack and cool completely before cutting.
- Square the sheets by trimming uneven edges off sheets using a sharp serrated knife with light sawing motion to keep the pastry from breaking. Cut each rectangle crosswise into 3 equal smaller rectangles. Use 3 small rectangles per pastry.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 683 calories, Carbohydrate 57.3 g, Fat 46.7 g, Fiber 1.8 g, Protein 8.9 g, SaturatedFat 11.8 g, Sodium 305 mg, Sugar 3 g
MILLEFOGLIE WITH GRAPPA CREAM AND RHUBARB
Categories Milk/Cream Egg Dessert Bake Rhubarb Grappa Phyllo/Puff Pastry Dough Pastry Gourmet Vegetarian Pescatarian Peanut Free Tree Nut Free Soy Free Kosher
Yield Makes 8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 18
Steps:
- Make custard:
- Bring 2 cups milk with salt to a boil in a 3-quart heavy saucepan. Meanwhile, whisk together yolks, sugar, flour, cornstarch, and remaining 1/4 cup milk in a bowl. Add one third of hot milk to yolk mixture in a slow stream, whisking, then add to milk remaining in saucepan, whisking.
- Bring custard to a boil over moderate heat, whisking, and boil, whisking, 2 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in butter until melted, then stir in grappa. Transfer custard to a bowl and chill, its surface covered with wax paper, until cold, at least 1 hour.
- Cook rhubarb while custard chills:
- Simmer rhubarb, water, sugar, and grappa in cleaned 3-quart heavy saucepan, uncovered, stirring gently once or twice, until rhubarb is tender but not falling apart, about 4 minutes. Set pan in a bowl of ice and cold water and let stand 2 minutes to stop cooking.
- Slowly pour rhubarb mixture into a sieve set over a bowl. Return syrup to saucepan, reserving rhubarb, and boil until reduced to about 1/2 cup, about 10 minutes. Keep rhubarb and syrup, covered, at room temperature until ready to use.
- Prepare pastry while rhubarb cooks:
- Preheat oven to 400°F.
- Unfold 1 puff pastry sheet and gently roll out into a 14-inch square with a rolling pin on a lightly floured surface. Transfer to a buttered large baking sheet and prick all over with a fork. Repeat with remaining sheet.
- Bake in upper and lower thirds of oven, switching position of sheets halfway through baking, until pastry is puffed and golden, about 15 minutes total. Cool on baking sheets on racks.
- Trim edges of pastry with a large serrated knife. Cut each sheet into 12 (3-inch) squares and break pastry scraps into small shards.
- Assemble millefoglie:
- Beat cream (for custard) in a bowl with an electric mixer until it just holds soft peaks. Whisk custard to loosen, then fold in whipped cream gently but thoroughly.
- Dollop 2 rounded tablespoons of grappa cream on each of 8 dessert plates and top with half of rhubarb. Cover cream and rhubarb on each plate with a pastry square. Make another layer with remaining grappa cream, rhubarb, and pastry squares, then top with pastry shards. Sift confectioners sugar evenly over each serving and drizzle with syrup.
Tips:
- Use high-quality ingredients, especially for the puff pastry. This will make a big difference in the final product.
- Make sure your puff pastry is very cold before you roll it out. This will help it to stay flaky.
- Roll out the puff pastry thinly, about 1/8 inch thick. This will help it to cook evenly.
- Bake the puff pastry sheets until they are golden brown and crispy.
- Make the pastry cream ahead of time so that it has time to cool and thicken.
- Use fresh berries or fruit for the filling. This will give the mille-feuille a bright and flavorful taste.
- Assemble the mille-feuille just before serving so that the pastry cream doesn't have time to soak into the puff pastry and make it soggy.
Conclusion:
Mille-feuille is a classic French dessert that is perfect for any special occasion. With its flaky puff pastry, creamy filling, and fresh fruit, it's sure to impress your guests. While it may seem like a challenging dessert to make, it's actually quite simple if you follow the steps carefully. With a little practice, you'll be able to make mille-feuille like a pro!
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