Cinnamon Puff Pastry Palmiers Recipe

If you’re on the hunt for a fuss-free yet irresistibly delicious treat, my Cinnamon Puff Pastry Palmiers Recipe is going to become your new best friend in the kitchen. These sweet, crisp, and caramelized bites are shockingly easy to whip up, requiring just a handful of ingredients and minimal prep time. Trust me, once you try this recipe, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without these flaky cinnamon delights—perfect for a cozy afternoon snack or an impressive last-minute dessert!

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Ingredients You’ll Need

These ingredients come together so beautifully—each plays a vital role. The buttery puff pastry gives incredible flakiness, while the cinnamon and sugars add warm sweetness with a crunchy twist. I always recommend using turbinado sugar for its coarse texture; it really elevates the caramelization and crunch.

• Puff Pastry Sheets: Store-bought sheets make this recipe approachable and foolproof—just thaw them properly as per the package directions.
• Turbinado Sugar: Coarse sugar that adds the best caramelized crunch on the outside.
• Light Brown Sugar: Adds a deeper molasses undertone that pairs perfectly with cinnamon.
• Ground Cinnamon: The star spice that delivers that cozy cinnamon-sugar flavor you crave.
• Salt (optional): Just a pinch to balance out the sweetness and intensify the flavors.

Variations

I love how flexible this Cinnamon Puff Pastry Palmiers Recipe is. Don’t be shy to make it your own! A few tweaks here and there let you match your mood or dietary needs perfectly.

• Nutty Upgrade: Sprinkle some finely chopped pecans or walnuts inside before folding—I tried this last holiday season and my family went crazy for the extra crunch.
• Chocolate Drizzle: After baking, drizzle melted dark or white chocolate over the palmiers for an elegant finish and a touch of decadence.
• Spiced Variations: Experiment with adding a pinch of nutmeg or cardamom to the cinnamon-sugar mix for a warmer, more complex flavor profile.
• Gluten-Free Option: Look for gluten-free puff pastry in your grocery store for a celiac-friendly version that still gets that irresistible flakiness.

How to Make Cinnamon Puff Pastry Palmiers Recipe

Step 1: Prep Your Oven and Sugars

First things first: preheat that oven to 425°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat—trust me, sticky caramel is no joke! In a small bowl, whisk together the light brown sugar, ground cinnamon, and salt. This blend is the key to the flavor pop, so make sure it’s well mixed.

Step 2: Sugar ‘Press’ the Puff Pastry

Now, sprinkle half a cup of turbinado sugar evenly on your clean work surface. Lay one sheet of thawed puff pastry over this sugar bed, then lightly roll over the dough with a rolling pin—this presses the coarse sugar into the pastry, giving you that signature crunch. Don’t skip this step, or it won’t be quite the same!

Step 3: Layer on the Cinnamon Sugar Mix

Generously sprinkle the brown sugar-cinnamon mixture over the puff pastry sheet you just prepared. Even coverage is key here so every bite has that wonderful sweet-spicy punch. Then, fold the edges of the dough towards the center halfway, and fold them again so the two sides meet perfectly in the middle. Finally, fold one half over the other like closing a book—this is where the shape magic happens!

Step 4: Repeat the Process with the Second Sheet

Go back and do the exact same technique with your second sheet of puff pastry. This recipe makes a lovely batch, so having two sheets means more crispy, cinnamon-packed goodness.

Step 5: Slice into Perfect Palmiers

Use a very sharp knife to cut the folded dough into thin, ¼ inch slices. I like to take my time here for clean cuts—ragged edges just aren’t as pretty or consistent when baking. Arrange them on your prepared baking sheet, leaving around two inches between each slice; these will puff up and spread a bit.

Step 6: Bake, Flip, and Bake Again

Bake your palmiers for 6 minutes until you see just a hint of golden color on top. Here’s the trick I discovered after my first batch: remove them and carefully flip EACH palmier over using a thin spatula. This ensures even caramelization on both sides. Pop them back into the oven for another 4-5 minutes until they’re deeply golden and caramelized. Let them cool completely—that’s when they crisp up perfectly!

How to Serve Cinnamon Puff Pastry Palmiers Recipe

Garnishes

I like to dust mine lightly with powdered sugar for a pretty touch, especially if serving for guests. Sometimes I’ll also sprinkle a few flakes of coarse sea salt right before baking to counterbalance the sweetness—a little salty-sweet surprise that’s addictive!

Side Dishes

These palmiers pair beautifully with a warm cup of coffee or tea. For breakfast or brunch, don’t hesitate to serve alongside fresh fruit or a simple yogurt parfait. I’ve also enjoyed them as an elegant finger-food dessert with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side.

Creative Ways to Present

For special occasions, try arranging the palmiers in a festive wreath on a large serving platter or stacking them in a pretty jar for gifting. I once wrapped a batch in parchment paper tied with twine as little edible gifts for my neighbors, and they loved the personal touch.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Store your finished palmiers in an airtight container at room temperature. I find they keep their crispness best when kept out of the fridge—any moisture there can soften the flaky layers. They usually last up to 3 days, but trust me—they rarely hang around that long!

Freezing

If you want to keep palmiers longer, you can freeze them before baking. After shaping and slicing, lay them on a parchment-lined tray, freeze until solid, then transfer to a zip-top bag. Bake them frozen, adding a couple of extra minutes to the cook time—perfect for quick sweet treats whenever the craving strikes.

Reheating

To refresh leftovers, pop palmiers in a preheated oven at 350°F for 3-5 minutes. This revives their crispness and caramelized crunch much better than the microwave, which tends to make them soft.

FAQs

Final Thoughts

I absolutely love how this Cinnamon Puff Pastry Palmiers Recipe turns out every single time—sweet, crunchy, and bursting with that comforting cinnamon flavor we all crave. When I first tried making palmiers, I struggled with dough clumping and uneven cooking, but once I learned the folding and flipping tricks, it became a kitchen staple. I’m confident you’ll find these little delights just as addictive and easy to make. Give them a try—you might just surprise yourself with how effortlessly impressive you can be!

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