Cocktail Cheddar Pepper Palmiers

Palmiers are French pastries in the shape of palm leaves. This miniaturized savory version is made with cheese and a hint of black pepper, and make an ideal accompaniment to a glass of wine.

If you have worked with puff pastry before, there's nothing to this recipe.  If you haven't, this is a good one to start.  Just remember to think of double doors when you fold the pastry...they should meet but not overlap.  That is the hardest part for most people to understand.  The rest is like baking sliced cookie rolls.


Makes 60 cocktail sized palmiers


Ingredients


1 1/4 cup finely grated sharp Cheddar; 3 1/2 ounces

1/4 cup finely grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese

2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 puff pastry sheets (from a 17.3-ounce package); thawed if frozen


Directions


Toss Cheddar, Parmigiano-Reggiano, pepper, and salt in a bowl.

Sprinkle 1/4 cup cheese mixture onto a work surface. Unfold 1 pastry sheet and place over cheese. Using a rolling pin, flatten the dough into a 10-inch square, then sprinkle 1/2 cup cheese mixture all over top of pastry, pressing lightly to adhere. Fold sides of 2 ends to meet in center, then fold once more into center and press ends together. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and chill until firm, about 1 hour (or freeze 15 to 30 minutes). Repeat with remaining cheese and second sheet of pastry.

While dough chills, preheat oven to 400F with racks in upper and lower parts of oven. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper.

Working with 1 piece at a time (keep remaining chilled until ready to use), unwrap pastry and cut, seam side up, into 1/4-inch-thick slices, arranging them 1 inch apart on baking sheets. Bake, turning palmiers over and switching position of pans halfway through, until golden and pastry is cooked through, 18 to 22 minutes total. Transfer palmiers to rack to cool. Repeat cutting and baking remaining pastry on cooled sheets.


Make ahead: Dough can be assembled up to 3 days ahead. Palmiers can be baked 1 day ahead and kept in an airtight container at room temperature.



Photography: Flat Art Studios.com / Stylist: Abigail Donnelly
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