Indulge in the heavenly layers of a Classic Napoleon! 🍰✨ This French pastry, also known as Mille-feuille, is a masterpiece of flaky puff pastry and velvety crème pâtissière. It's the perfect dessert for any special occasion or a delightful weekend treat. Get ready to impress with this elegant and utterly delicious recipe! 😋
A Napoleons recipe is a culinary art form, celebrated for its exquisite layers of crispy, golden puff pastry alternating with rich, creamy pastry cream. This dessert is a timeless delight that promises a luxurious texture and a sophisticated flavor profile in every bite.
Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Roll out the puff pastry sheets to about 1/8-inch thickness. Prick the pastry all over with a fork to prevent it from rising too much. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until golden and crisp. Cool completely.
In a saucepan, heat the milk until it simmers. In a separate bowl, whisk together the sugar, cornstarch, and egg yolks until pale. Slowly pour the hot milk into the egg mixture while whisking constantly. Return the mixture to the saucepan and cook over medium heat, whisking until it thickens. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla and cold butter until smooth. Press plastic wrap directly onto the surface of the cream and chill for at least 1 hour.
Once the pastry and cream are chilled, cut the pastry into 3-inch by 4-inch rectangles. You should have three rectangles per Napoleon. Place one layer of pastry on a serving plate, spread a generous amount of pastry cream over it, and top with a second layer of pastry. Repeat with another layer of cream and the final pastry layer.
Dust the top of each Napoleon with powdered sugar. For a classic look, you can also drizzle with a simple sugar glaze or melted chocolate. Serve immediately to enjoy the crispy pastry!
Servings 8
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
For best results, ensure your pastry cream is completely chilled before assembling. This helps it hold its shape.
Use a sharp serrated knife to cut the puff pastry after it's baked to get clean layers. 🔪
This dessert is best served fresh on the day it's assembled to maintain the crispiness of the pastry. ⏳
You can make the pastry and cream a day ahead and store them separately in the fridge. 🤫