Conchita's Elephant Ears

Palmiers

 ~ Elephant Ears ~ Angel Wings ~  Moose Antlers ~

 40-45 Cookies ~ 20-minute Preparation

Although these classic cookies originated in France as Palmiers, you can nibble on their first cousins, under a variety of descriptive names, worldwide. Simple to make and even simpler to eat, Palmiers are a staple of my cookie jar.

The Ingredients:            

• 2 cups sugar
• 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
• 2 sheets puff pastry ~ You can find puff pastry with an unusually high butter content in some specialty food shops.  Although it’s 2 – 3 times more expensive than mainstream brands like Pepperidge Farm, I think the caramel produced by the extra butter adds something pretty special.

The Preparation:

• Defrost the puff pastry in the refrigerator.
• It’s easiest to work with dough that’s pliable but still quite cold.
• Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
• Mix the sugar with the salt.
• Pour half of this mixture (1 cup) on a clean, flat surface ~ countertop, marble slab.
• Spread sugar/salt mixture evenly into a square that’s approximately 14”x 14”.
• Unfold one sheet of puff pastry, placing it on top of the sugar/salt.
• Evenly spread half of the remaining sugar/salt (1/2 cup) on top of the puff pastry.
• With a rolling pin, roll puff pastry into a 13”x 13” square.
• Make sure to the press the sugar/salt into the puff pastry.  Your goal is to have all the dry ingredients pressed into both sides of the puff pastry.
• Fold two opposite edges of the pastry square so they meet in the center. (2 layers)
• Fold these same opposite edges into the center again. (4 layers)
• Fold the untouched edges together like a book.  (8 layers)
• You now have something that resembles a jelly roll folded in half.
• Slice dough into 3/8” slices.
• Place on cookie sheet, covered with parchment paper.
• Bake at 450 for about 6 minutes, until the edges and bottom begin to brown.
• Turn cookies and bake for another 3-5 mintues, until edges are caramelized.
• Cool cookies on a rack.
• Repeat process for second sheet of puff pastry.

Enjoy.  Bon appétit.  Buen Provecho.