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Mille-Feuille (Napoleon Pastry)

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Mille-Feuille, or Napoleon Pastry, is a classic French dessert featuring layers of crisp puff pastry and smooth vanilla pastry cream, topped with powdered sugar or a glossy glaze. Elegant and irresistible, it’s perfect for special occasions or refined sweet cravings.

Ingredients

  • 2 sheets puff pastry (store-bought or homemade)
  • 2 cups whole milk
  • 4 large egg yolks
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup cornstarch
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste
  • Powdered sugar, for dusting or glaze
  • Optional: melted chocolate, for glaze decoration

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. Roll out puff pastry and cut into three equal rectangles. Prick all over with a fork.
  3. Place another sheet of parchment on top and weigh down with another baking sheet. Bake for 15–20 minutes until golden and crisp. Cool completely.
  4. In a saucepan, heat milk over medium heat until steaming (do not boil).
  5. In a bowl, whisk egg yolks, sugar, and cornstarch until smooth. Slowly whisk in the hot milk.
  6. Return mixture to saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until thickened.
  7. Remove from heat and stir in butter and vanilla. Let cool slightly, then chill in the refrigerator until set.
  8. To assemble, place one pastry layer on a tray. Spread half the chilled pastry cream on top. Add the second pastry sheet, spread the remaining cream, and top with the final sheet.
  9. Dust with powdered sugar or spread with a glaze. For classic design, drizzle melted chocolate in lines over glaze and feather with a toothpick.
  10. Chill for 1 hour before slicing and serving.

Notes

Use store-bought puff pastry to save time—bake between trays for flat, crisp layers.Chill the pastry cream and assembled dessert well for clean slicing.Fold in whipped cream to pastry cream for a lighter texture (diplomat cream).Best served chilled and enjoyed within 1–2 days.Do not freeze assembled Mille-Feuille as the pastry will become soggy.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://cookibly.com/mille-feuille-napoleon-pastry/