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Valentine Palmiers 

I call these heart shaped treats Valentine Palmiers. It is an easy treat to whip up with just 2 ingredients – puff pastry (or pie dough), and a red jam like strawberry jam.

valentine palmiers arranged in a rectangular white plate with a red berry wreath nearby.

Don’t they look like cute little hearts? These were first made on a Valentine’s day when I was hard-pressed for time. These are crunchy, sweet, and takes very little work. To me, a perfect valentine’s day dessert has to be simple, elegant, and not time-consuming, because it is about enjoying a treat with someone you love and not toiling over it.

What Are Palmiers

Palmiers are elegant, sweet, and crunchy cookies. It is a classic French pastry shaped like a palm leaf. The classic shape of the cookie is compared to butterflies, pig ears, elephant ears, and even palm hearts. Essentially it is a rolled laminated dough (puff pastry) with a filling. As it cooks the puff pastry turns crunchy creating a crisp and sweet cookie.

Just 2 Ingredients

This crunchy cookie needs only 2 ingredients – puff pastry and strawberry/raspberry jam. My favorite is strawberry jam, but any red-colored jam will work here. The other ingredient,  Puff pastry sheets are the best to get the crunchy results, but pie dough or any pastry dough can make a good cookie as well.

Substitutions for puff pastry sheets will not give you the melt in the mouth, crunchy and flaky texture, but they will surely taste good.

Easy to Make

Palmiers look like a dessert that takes hours to make. It will be true if one were to make the classic puff pastry from scratch. But these are usually available in the freezer section of most major supermarkets.  Also toiling in the kitchen for hours shouldn’t be on the top of one’s To Do list on  Valentine’s day.

If you are in the mood to make pastry dough from scratch try my quick puff pastry dough. It will not have the 100s of distinct layers of classic puff pastry, but will still be layered and crunchy.

It takes about 10 minutes of prep time and another 20 minutes of cooking time.

Making the Valentine Palmiers

It starts with thawing puff pastry sheets. Thaw the puff pastry according to the package directions. It should still be cold to touch but pliable. This step is very important to manipulate the pastry sheet without breaking the layers.

While the puff pastry is thawing, scoop about 2/3 cups of raspberry jam or strawberry jam. The jam should be of spreadable consistency. If too thick add a couple of drops of water and warm to thin the jam. Mix well and cool it to room temperature. The jam should not be warm when spreading over the pastry sheet. It will cause the butter in the adjacent layers to melt creating a gummy texture.

The palmiers need a hot oven to cook right. Preheat the oven to 400° F (200° C). Keep the oven rack in the middle. 

Spread half the jam all over one side of the pastry sheet. Roll the pastry from two opposite sides to the middle. If it is difficult to roll or the pastry cracks, wait for a couple more minutes and try again. Once rolled flip the roll and slice into 1 cm thick pieces. Pinch the pieces a little to form the tip of the heart. Keep the layers a little loose to allow for proper expansion.

Carefully transfer the pastries to the cookie sheet. Arrange them about 2 inches apart. Bake at 400 ° F for about 20 to 25 minutes.

Note: Check on the pastry at about 10 minutes.  If the cookies are thinner and there was only a thin layer of jam 10 minutes will be enough cooking time.

Valentine Palmiers - Crunchy heart shaped cookies filled with jam

Serving

I serve these as is usually. In fact these get gobbled up as soon as they are cool enough to eat. But for an added treat make the Palmiers thinner – about 1/2 cm thick ness and and bake for 10 minutes and serve with vanilla ice cream.

Valentine Palmiers - Crunchy heart shaped cookies filled with jam

Valentine Palmiers 

By Syama
Palmiers are classic French cookies made with puff pastry. These ones called Valentine Palmier are filled with raspberry or strawberry jam and formed into a lovely heart shape. The puff pastry part has a lovely crunch and the berry jam complements the pastry with sweet and tart flavors.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Course Dessert, Snack
Cuisine American
Servings 18 Pieces
Calories 75 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 Puff Pastry Sheet, 9X9 square
  • 1/3 C Raspberry / Strawberry Jam

Instructions
 

  • Thaw the puff pasty according to package directions.
  • Preheat the oven to 400° F (200° C). Place the oven rack in the middle .
  • Unfold the puff pastry sheet while still a little cold . Spread the jam evenly over one side of the pastry sheet. Roll the pastry sheet from two opposite sides evenly so they meet in the middle . Flip the log formed to have the covered end on top. Cut into 1/2 inch thick slices. Place on a cookie sheet about 2 inches apart Pinch the covered side a little give the heart shape .
  • Transfer to the preheated oven and bake for 20 to 25 minutes until the jam is bubbly and the sides start to brown. (Note)
  • Remove from the oven , cool on the sheet for 2 minutes . Transfer to the cooling rack .
  • These are best eaten fresh. Otherwise store in an airtight container for 3 to 4 days .

Notes

Cooking time will be less for smaller size sheets, and thinner cookies.  Check at 10 minutes in this case. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1Cookies | Calories: 75kcal

Important: Nutrition Values are estimates. Actuals vary based on ingredients and serving size.

Tried this recipe?Mention @Oventales or tag #Oventales on Instagram

Here are a  few  other  recipes   with puff pastry sheets

Originally published on Feb, 2016.

Recipe Rating




Tina D

Thursday 13th of September 2018

Thank you for sharing this recipe Syama ! B made it yesterday and was thrilled . It turned out very pretty. She is planning t o give it another go over the weekend !