I always have the best of intentions as far as holiday baking goes. Although I don’t have much of a sweet tooth anymore, I still love to hook it up for all the sweeties of the land.
However, I freely admit to you that I am also a bit of a perfectionist. And when the walnuts in my Christmas cookies tasted a little…off… I stubbornly refused to gift them. Since there was no way in hell I was going to throw them away, into my freezer they went.
And still are.
All 5 dozen of them.
Ya want one? I’ve got plenty.
So when considering a lil’ Valentine’s Day confection, I knew it had to be quick, virtually fool-proof, and of course delicious.
French Palmiers for the win!
Requiring only 3 ingredients, typically these heart-shaped puff pastry cookies, also called Elephant Ears, taste like cinnamonny-love-air-crunch. But they are are also literal sugar bombs, made so by the 2 plus cups of white sugar typically used.
There’s no way I am gifting anything with 2 cups of processed sugar unless it feeds an army. Maybe two armies.
Had to go to work adapting the classic recipe.
Admittedly, it wasn’t rocket science. I just gradually decreased the sugar in each batch until I found what works for my palate. For me, 1/3 cup of sugar was plenty. These cookies retain their light crispiness but won’t send your blood sugar spiraling.
Are they healthy? Don’t kid yourself. There’s still a good amount of white flour and butter involved in that puff pastry.
But as a treat? Sure!
Moderation, lovelies. Moderation is good.
Took me a lifetime to learn it, but I did eventually.
Two of these bad boys with a cup of coffee is more than decadent enough.
These festive Palmiers are so fast & easy there’s still plenty of time to whip up a batch for your collective sweeties.
Happy Love Day!
**There are a million recipes out there for these cookies, including one by Ina Garten, but the one on Jessica Gavin’s food & recipe site is my fav because she gives all the ins & outs of working with puff pastry & illustrates exactly how to fold your pastry to get the cutie pie heart shape.
Leave a Reply