Indulge in the delectable symphony of flavors with Raspberry Napoleons, a classic French dessert reimagined with a modern twist. These elegant pastries are a feast for the eyes and a delight to the palate, featuring layers of flaky puff pastry, luscious raspberry filling, and velvety pastry cream. Each bite offers a captivating interplay of textures and flavors, from the delicate crunch of the pastry to the smooth creaminess of the filling. The vibrant crimson raspberries add a burst of sweetness and tang, complemented by the rich, creamy custard. Whether you're a seasoned baker or a culinary novice, this step-by-step guide will empower you to create these impressive desserts that are sure to impress your loved ones.
From the essential puff pastry recipe, through the sumptuous pastry cream, to the vibrant raspberry filling, this article provides comprehensive instructions for crafting each component of the Raspberry Napoleons. Additional tips and variations are included to cater to diverse preferences and dietary restrictions, ensuring that everyone can enjoy these delightful treats.
HEART-SHAPED RASPBERRY NAPOLEONS
This delicious recipe for heart-shaped raspberry Napoleons, a perfect Valentine's Day dessert, is from chef John Barricelli.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Dessert & Treats Recipes
Yield Makes 2
Number Of Ingredients 4
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
- Place puff pastry on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet and poke holes all over surface using the tines of a fork; top with a second piece of parchment paper. Place 2 baking sheets on top of parchment paper to weigh down; transfer to oven. Bake until golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes.
- Remove puff pastry from oven and uncover; let cool completely. Using a 3 1/4-inch heart-shaped cookie cutter, cut six hearts from puff pastry, reserving scraps.
- Fill a pastry bag fitted with a 1/2-inch plain round tip with pastry cream. Place 1 heart-shaped piece of puff on each of two dessert plates. Pipe pastry cream over the surface of each heart, almost to the edge. Place raspberries around the perimeter of the pastry cream. Top each with a second puff pastry heart and repeat process. Top each with a third puff pastry heart.
- Crumble a little of the reserved puff pastry scraps and top Napoleons with crumbs. Dust tops with confectioners' sugar and pipe a little pastry cream in the center of each. Top with a raspberry and serve immediately.
VANILLA PUDDING RASPBERRY NAPOLEON
Steps:
- In a small bowl, gently stir together the honey, fruit spread and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla. Add the raspberries and toss to coat.
- In a medium bowl, mix together the pudding and the remaining 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract.
- To assemble, place a wafer cookie onto a plate. Place with 1 heaping tablespoon pudding and 1 heaping tablespoon raspberries and top with a second wafer cookie. Top with another heaping tablespoon pudding, another heaping tablespoon raspberries and a third wafer cookie. Top with a small dollop of the pudding and garnish with a reserved raspberry. Repeat with remaining ingredients.
RASPBERRY NAPOLEONS
You can vary your napoleons by using other berries and switching to chocolate pudding. We made this recipe with our Vanilla Pudding.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Dessert & Treats Recipes
Time 3h30m
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees. On a lightly floured surface, roll out puff pastry to a 10-by-15-inch rectangle. Transfer to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Prick pastry all over with a fork. Cover completely with another sheet of parchment paper; weight with another baking sheet (same size or slightly smaller) to prevent pastry from puffing up unevenly. Bake, occasionally pressing top sheet down, until pastry is golden, 30 to 40 minutes. Remove top sheet and parchment, and let pastry cool.
- Transfer pastry to a cutting board. With a serrated knife, carefully trim and discard edges; cut into 12 equal pieces.
- Dividing evenly, put a large dollop of pudding (2 to 3 tablespoons) on 8 of the 12 pastry pieces; top with raspberries and a little more pudding.
- Assemble napoleons on serving plates: For each napoleon, stack two pieces of pastry already topped with pudding and raspberries, then top with a plain piece. Dust lightly with confectioners' sugar.
- Make Raspberry Sauce (optional): In a small bowl, stir together 1/4 cup raspberry jam and 1 tablespoon water; pass through a fine-mesh sieve. Thin with additional water if needed.
- Garnish plate with Raspberry Sauce, if desired.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 249 g, Fat 11 g, Fiber 3 g, Protein 5 g
LEMON CREAM AND RASPBERRY PHYLLO NAPOLEONS
Categories Milk/Cream Citrus Dessert Bake Kid-Friendly Raspberry Lemon Summer Chill Bon Appétit Kidney Friendly Vegetarian Peanut Free Tree Nut Free Soy Free Kosher Diabetes-Friendly Small Plates
Yield Makes 6
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- For Phyllo Squares:
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly oil 2 large baking sheets. Stack phyllo sheets on work surface. Trim to 10 1/2-inch square (reserve scraps for another use). Place 1 phyllo square on work surface (cover remaining phyllo with plastic wrap and damp kitchen towel). Sprinkle with 1 generous teaspoon sugar. Top with second phyllo square. Brush lightly with melted unsalted butter. Sprinkle with 1 generous teaspoon sugar. Top with third phyllo square. Sprinkle with 1 generous teaspoon sugar. Cut phyllo stack into 9 equal stacked squares. Arrange stacked phyllo squares an prepared baking sheet. Repeat layering and cutting with remaining 3 phyllo sheets, sugar and butter making total of 18 stacked phyllo squares. Bake until phyllo is golden, about 10 minutes. Transfer baking sheets to racks and cool completely.
- For Lemon Cream:
- Beat cream, 1 1/2 teaspoons powdered sugar and vanilla in large bowl until medium peaks form. Whisk lemon curd in another medium bowl until smooth. Add to cream mixture. Beat to stiff peaks.
- Spread 1 generous tablespoon lemon cream on each of 6 stacked phyllo squares. Top each with 6 raspberries. Layer each with 6 raspberries. Layer each with 1 phyllo square, 1 more tablespoon lemon cream and 6 raspberries (save any remaining lemon cream for another use). Top each with 1 phyllo square. Sift powdered sugar over desserts. (Can be prepared 8 hours ahead. Cover loosely and refrigerate).
CLASSIC FRENCH NAPOLEON RECIPE - (3.9/5)
Provided by ctozzi
Number Of Ingredients 18
Steps:
- PUFF PASTRY: Preheat oven to 425°F/220°C. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper or plain brown paper; set aside. Unfold puff pastry sheet and trim edges to a 9-inch square. Cut pastry into nine 3-inch squares. Transfer pastry squares to the prepared baking sheets; prick pastry. Bake in a preheated oven for 18-23 minutes, or until golden. (Or bake according to package directions.) Carefully remove pastries from baking sheet. Cool on a rack. CREAM FILLING: 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 until mixture is thickened and bubbly. Cook and stir for 1 minute more. Slowly stir about half of the hot mixture into beaten egg yolks. Return all to saucepan. Cook and stir for 2 minutes more. Remove from heat. Stir in vanilla. Transfer mixture to a bowl. Cover surface with plastic wrap and cool just until warm without stirring. In a small mixing bowl beat whipping cream until soft peaks form. Fold whipped cream into warm pastry cream. GLAZE: In a medium mixing bowl combine confectioners' sugar and vanilla. Stir in enough boiling water to make a glaze of spreading consistency; set aside. ASSEMBLY: Use the tines of a fork to separate each pastry square horizontally into 3 layers. Note: If Using Fruit Jam or Preserves: Spread about 1 teaspoon of the raspberry or strawberry jam or preserves on each bottom layer. Spread about 1 1/2 tablespoons of the pastry cream over raspberry preserves or if not using a layer of fruit jam or preserves, spread about 1 1/2 tablespoons of the pastry cream on the bottom layer and preceed as follows: Top with middle pastry layers. Spread another 1 1/2 tablespoons of the pastry cream on each middle layer. Finally, top with remaining pastry layers. Spread glaze over top of napoleons, then drizzle with melted chocolate. Chill up to 1 hour.
CHOCOLATE AND RASPBERRY NAPOLEONS
Chocolate hearts are layered with raspberry semifreddo ("half cold" in Italian), a frozen dessert similar to ice cream.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Dessert & Treats Recipes
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Line a 9-by-13-by-2-inch baking pan with parchment paper. Set aside. Place raspberries (if using fresh raspberries, reserve 1/2 cup for garnish) in a medium skillet over medium heat. Simmer until raspberries begin to break down and liquid is released, 4 to 5 minutes. Transfer raspberries to a food processor, and puree, about 20 seconds. Pass through a fine sieve. Set aside to cool.
- Fill a large bowl with ice and water; set aside. Bring a stockpot 1/4 full of water to a boil. Let simmer. In a medium stainless-steel bowl, whisk together egg yolks, 2 tablespoons sugar, corn syrup, and kirsch or champagne; place over simmering water. Whisking constantly, cook until mixture thickens (when whisk is lifted over the mixture, the ribbonlike trail it leaves on the surface should hold its shape for 1 or 2 seconds), about 4 minutes. Transfer bowl to the ice-water bath; whisk mixture while it cools. Add 3/4 cup raspberry puree to mixture; whisk to combine. Set aside.
- In an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat egg whites on high speed until frothy, about 30 seconds. While mixer is running, gradually add remaining 6 tablespoons sugar; beat until very stiff, 2 to 2 1/2 minutes. Transfer mixture to a bowl. Beat cream with whisk attachment until stiff; fold into egg whites.
- Fold raspberry mixture into egg whites and cream. Pour the mixture into the prepared baking pan; cover with plastic wrap. Transfer to the freezer; freeze until hardened, at least 4 hours. This can be prepared up to 2 days in advance.
- To make the raspberry sauce, stir superfine sugar into the remaining raspberry puree (about 2 tablespoons). Refrigerate until ready to serve.
- To serve, use a heart-shaped cookie cutter (2 1/2 inches across at the widest point) to cut out 4 hearts from the semifreddo. Divide the raspberry sauce between 2 dessert plates. Place a chocolate heart, off center, on top of the raspberry sauce. Place a semifreddo heart on each chocolate heart and repeat layering until there are 3 layers of chocolate and 2 layers of semifreddo, ending with a chocolate heart. Garnish with the reserved fresh raspberries (if using), sift confectioners' sugar over the raspberries, if desired.
Tips:
- Make sure your puff pastry is thawed and ready to use before you start assembling the Napoleons.
- If you don't have any raspberry jam, you can use another type of fruit jam or preserves.
- You can also use fresh raspberries in the filling, but be sure to wash and dry them thoroughly before using.
- If you want a more decadent Napoleon, you can add a layer of whipped cream or ice cream between the layers of pastry and filling.
- Be sure to chill the Napoleons for at least 30 minutes before serving, so that the filling has time to set.
Conclusion:
Raspberry Napoleons are a delicious and elegant dessert that are perfect for any occasion. They're easy to make and can be customized to your own liking. So next time you're looking for a special dessert, give Raspberry Napoleons a try.
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