Palmiers are a classic, homemade French-style pastry made with flaky puff pastry and a sweet cinnamon sugar swirl. This easy dessert recipe is perfect for parties, holidays, or anytime you want a quick, delicious treat with amazing flavor.
These Palmiers are one of those bakery-style treats that feel fancy but come together with very little effort. Crispy, flaky layers of puff pastry wrapped around sweet cinnamon sugar make them completely irresistible.
If you love desserts that deliver big flavor with minimal ingredients, this recipe is for you. Premade frozen puff pastry does most of the heavy lifting, which means you get beautiful results without spending hours in the kitchen. No need to go to a French Patisserie or bakery when you can make at home in no time.
These palmiers are great for entertaining because they bake quickly and make a generous batch. They are perfect for dessert platters, coffee breaks, or holiday Christmas cookie trays.
Serve them warm or at room temperature and watch them disappear fast.
What Are Palmiers
Palmiers are a classic French pastry made from puff pastry and sugar, baked until golden, crisp, and beautifully caramelized. Palmiers is short for “feuille de palmier” (palm tree leaf) and can also be known as pig’s ear, elephant ear, palm heart, palm leaves, cœur de France, French hearts, and other names.
What I Love About This Recipe
- I love how simple the ingredient list is. Just puff pastry, sugar, and cinnamon turn into something that tastes gourmet and bakery-worthy. It is proof that you do not need complicated ingredients for an amazing dessert. The flavor is classic and always a crowd favorite.
- The texture of these palmiers is absolutely perfect. They bake up light, flaky, and crisp with caramelized cinnamon sugar on the outside. Every bite has that satisfying crunch followed by buttery layers. They taste incredible fresh from the oven.
- These are such a great make-ahead option. You can roll and chill the pastry in advance, then slice and bake when you are ready. That makes them perfect for parties or busy days. Fresh-baked pastries with very little stress are always a win.
- I also love how versatile this base recipe is. You can change the spices or keep them classic. They work just as well for casual snacking as they do for special occasions.
Equipment You May Need
- Parchment Paper – Optional, but helps prevent sticking and makes cleanup easy.
- Baking Sheets – Needed for even baking and crisp edges.
- Small Bowl – Used to mix the cinnamon sugar.
- Rolling Pin – Helps roll the puff pastry evenly.
- Plastic Wrap – Used to chill the rolled pastry before slicing.
- Wire Cooling Rack – Allows the palmiers to cool and stay crisp.
(Full printable recipe card is at bottom of post.)
Palmiers Ingredients
- Butter – Optional, for greasing the baking sheets if not using parchment paper.
- Granulated Sugar – Sweetens and caramelizes during baking.
- Ground Cinnamon – Adds warm, classic spice flavor.
- Puff Pastry – Thawed according to package directions for best results.
How to Make Palmiers
Step One: Preheat the Oven
Preheat the oven to 400˚F. Lightly grease two baking sheets or line them with parchment paper.
Step Two: Make the Cinnamon Sugar
In a small bowl, mix together the granulated sugar and ground cinnamon until well blended. Set aside.
Step Three: Roll Out the Pastry
Sprinkle half of the cinnamon sugar mixture evenly over a large, clean surface. Place the puff pastry on top and sprinkle the remaining cinnamon sugar evenly over the pastry. Use a rolling pin to roll the pastry into a 9-inch-by-15-inch rectangle about ⅛ inch thick.
Step Four: Form the Palmiers
Starting from the long sides, tightly roll both sides of the pastry inward, so they meet in the center. Gently press to help them stick together. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 to 60 minutes, or until firm.
Step Five: Slice the Palmiers
Unwrap the chilled pastry and slice it into about ½-inch-thick pieces. Place the slices on the prepared baking sheets, leaving space between them.
Step Six: Bake the Palmiers
Bake for 8 minutes. Remove from the oven, flip each palmier over, rotate the pans, and return to the oven for another 6 to 10 minutes, or until golden brown. Cool slightly, then transfer to a wire rack to finish cooling.
(Full printable recipe card with full details is at bottom of post.)
Serving Suggestions
- Serve with coffee or tea for a classic pairing.
- Add to a dessert tray with cookies and bars.
- Drizzle lightly with melted chocolate for extra indulgence.
- They also make the ultimate brunch or breakfast pastry, along with some fresh fruit or a fruit salad.
Quick Tips for Best Results
- Watch closely while baking since puff pastry can brown quickly.
- Chill the rolled pastry well for cleaner slices.
- Flip the palmiers carefully to ensure even caramelization.
- You can make the Palmiers into a smaller mini size or a larger size, but be sure to adjust the baking time.
Palmiers FAQ
How should I store Palmiers?
Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.
Can I freeze Palmiers?
You can freeze the unbaked sliced palmiers and bake from frozen. I can’t guarantee results once fully baked and frozen.
How long will Palmiers last?
They are best the day they are baked, but still tasty for a couple of days when stored properly.
Substitutions?
You can swap cinnamon for pumpkin spice, cardamom, or your favorite spice or spice combination.
Can I use low-fat ingredients?
Low-fat substitutions are not recommended since puff pastry relies on butter for flakiness.
What else can I add to this recipe?
A light drizzle of icing or melted chocolate works great. You can add a little orange zest to the cinnamon sugar.
Can I make this vegan/vegetarian/low carb/gluten-free?
Here are some suggestions, but I can’t guarantee results. Be sure as always to check particular brands and ingredients if you’re following a specific diet or have diet restrictions or allergies.
Vegan – Use vegan puff pastry.
Vegetarian – It’s vegetarian. Be sure to check individual brands/products just to be sure though.
Low-Carb – You can try a sugar substitute.
Gluten-Free – Use gluten-free puff pastry if available.
Other Cinnamon Recipes You May Enjoy
- Cinnamon Muffins – From-scratch muffins loaded with cinnamon.
- Cannoli Cinnamon Rolls – Classic cinnamon rolls with Italian cannoli flavors.
- Cinnamon Breadstick Bites – Fun bite-size treat with cream cheese dipping sauce.
Hope you enjoy this cinnamon sugar Palmiers recipe. Tell me in the comments how they turned out for you.
If you have leftover puff pastry, give these Pesto Puff Pastry Twists a try!
Palmiers
Ingredients
- Butter for greasing the pan (optional)
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 frozen puff pastry sheet half of a 17-ounce package, thawed according to package directions
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400˚F. Lightly grease 2 baking sheets or line with parchment paper.
- In a small bowl, mix together the sugar and cinnamon until blended. Set aside.
- Sprinkle half of the cinnamon sugar mixture evenly on a large, clean, dry surface. Place the puff pastry on top of the mixture. Sprinkle the rest of the cinnamon sugar evenly on top of the puff pastry. Using a rolling pin, roll the puff pastry into a 9-inch-by-15-inch rectangle, about ⅛ inch thick.
- Starting at the long end of the rectangle, tightly roll up both sides of the dough to meet in the middle. Gently press dough together to stick. Cover the pastry with plastic wrap, and refrigerate 30 to 60 minutes, or until firm.
- Unwrap the chilled pastry. Slice into about ½-inch-thick slices. Place the slices on the prepared baking sheets.
- Bake the palmiers for 8 minutes. Remove the palmiers from the oven, flip them over, rotate the pans, then bake an additional 6 to 10 minutes, or until golden brown. Cool slightly, then transfer to a wire rack to finish cooling.
Notes
- Thaw the puff pastry according to the directions on the package before starting the recipe.
- Check on these Palmiers regularly while they bake. Since the pastry is so thin, it can burn quickly
- Instead of cinnamon, you can use your favorite spice or spice combination.
Nutrition:
(Nutrition data is provided when available for informational purposes only and calculated using an online nutritional calculator. For the most accurate information please calculate based on specific ingredients and brands you use as well as any changes you made to the recipe. I am not a certified nutritionist or registered dietician and any nutritional information provided should only be used as a general guideline and estimate.)
About Lisa Huff
Lisa Huff is a Cookbook Author, Freelance Recipe Developer, Food Photographer, Blogger/Writer, and award-winning home chef. She loves creating unique recipes from healthy to decadent including cocktails, appetizers, main dishes, dessert recipes and more and has appeared on various shows, publications, and websites.
