A palmier (, from French, short for ''feuille de palmier'' 'palm tree leaf'), pig's ear, palm heart, or elephant ear is a French

pastry Pastry refers to a variety of Dough, doughs (often enriched with fat or eggs), as well as the sweet and savoury Baking, baked goods made from them. The dough may be accordingly called pastry dough for clarity. Sweetened pastries are often descr ...

in a palm leaf shape or a butterfly shape, sometimes called ''palm leaves'', ''cœur de France'', ''French hearts'', ''shoe-soles'', or ''glasses'', that were invented in the beginning of the 20th century.

Preparation

Palmiers are made from puff pastry, a laminated dough similar to the dough used for croissants, but without

yeast Yeasts are eukaryotic, single-celled microorganisms classified as members of the fungus kingdom (biology), kingdom. The first yeast originated hundreds of millions of years ago, and at least 1,500 species are currently recognized. They are est ...

. The puff pastry is rolled out, coated with sugar, and then the two sides are rolled up together so that they meet in the middle, making a roll that is then cut into about slices and baked. Usually it is rolled in sugar before baking.

Varieties

The pastries are known as ''palmeras'' ("palm trees") in Spain, and they can be topped with coconut or chocolate; they are also available for purchase in a larger version. In the Puerto Rican version, they are topped with honey. In Mexico and other Latin American countries they are known as ''orejas'' ("ears") or ''orejitas'' ("Little ears"). In Colombia they are known as ''mariposas'' ("butterflies"). In Argentina and Chile, they are known as ''palmeritas'', derivative from the Spanish denomination. In the United States, desserts similar to palmiers known as pastry hearts are popular in Buffalo. In Greece they are usually known as little glasses (''γυαλάκια''). In Germany they are ''Schweineohren'' ("pig's ears"); in Italy ''Prussiane'' (derisively after the ostensibly large ears of Prussian invaders) or, more often, ''ventagli'' / ''ventagliette'' "fan" / "little fans"; in Switzerland ''Prussiens'' or ''cœur de France''. In Catalonia and Valencia they are called ''ulleres'' (eyeglasses) or ''palmeras''. In England, they are called ''little hearts'' or ''sweet hearts'', and in Scotland ''pig's ears'' or ''pig's lugs''. In Japan, they are called ''Genji Pie''. In India they are known as elephant ears or French hearts. In China, they are known as butterfly pastries. In Pakistan they are called French hearts. In Ukraine they are known as ''вушка'' ("little ears") and in Russia - ''ушки'' ("little ears" also). An ''arlette'' is a

cinnamon Cinnamon is a spice obtained from the inner bark of several tree species from the genus ''Cinnamomum''. Cinnamon is used mainly as an aromatic condiment and flavouring additive in a wide variety of cuisines, sweet and savoury dishes, biscuits, b ...

-flavoured palmier biscuit.

References

French pastries Argentine cuisine Catalan cuisine Portuguese desserts Spanish desserts Mexican desserts {{france-dessert-stub

Preparation

Varieties

See also

References