Welcome to the ultimate guide to cooking damiers, a delectable French pastry that is sure to tantalize your taste buds. In this comprehensive article, we will embark on a culinary journey to uncover the secrets of creating perfect damiers, from selecting the finest ingredients to mastering the art of folding and baking. Whether you're a seasoned baker or just starting out, we'll provide you with all the essential information and tips to achieve flaky, golden-brown layers and a rich, buttery flavor in every bite. So, gather your ingredients, preheat your oven, and let's begin our exploration of the delectable world of damiers!
Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!
DAMIERS
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Dessert & Treats Recipes Cookie Recipes
Yield Makes 6 dozen
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine butter, sugar, and salt. Beat on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add flour, and beat on low speed until dough forms around paddle.
- Turn dough out onto work surface, and divide into thirds. Sprinkle cocoa powder over one piece. Gather dough together, and blend by pushing it away from you with the palm of your hand. Continue kneading the dough until it is smooth and the cocoa is completely incorporated, 1 to 2 minutes. (The process is messy and will take several minutes, but the dough will ultimately absorb the cocoa powder.) Shape each piece into a disk. Wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour.
- Remove chilled dough from refrigerator. Set one blond disk aside. Divide remaining blond disk into four equal pieces. Divide chocolate disk into five equal pieces. Roll chocolate dough into five long, thin ropes (20 1/2 inches long and about 3/8 inch in diameter). Roll blond dough into four long, thin ropes of the same dimensions as the chocolate ropes.
- Arrange ropes in a checkerboard design: Lay one rope of chocolate dough lengthwise on work surface. Place a blond strip adjacent to chocolate, and push together gently so that they will adhere to each other. Repeat with a second chocolate strip. There will be a layer of three ropes of dough (chocolate/blond/chocolate). Brush top of layer with egg white. Repeat, alternating colors so that a blond strip is over chocolate strip, chocolate over blond, and blond over chocolate. To form third layer, repeat process, alternating colors. Press to form a square log.
- Roll out reserved blonde dough to a 21 1/2-by-6-inch rectangle about 1/8 inch thick. Trim edges. Brush with egg white. Place checkerboard log in center of rectangle. Fold dough up and over log to completely encompass it. Press lightly to seal. Halve crosswise. Wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour.
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line baking sheets with Silpats; set aside. Remove chilled log from refrigerator, and slice crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick sections. Place on prepared baking sheets about 1 1/2 inches apart. Bake until light golden brown, 10 to 15 minutes; transfer to wire racks to cool.
PALMIERS
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
- Combine the sugar and kosher salt. Pour 1 cup of the sugar/salt mixture on a flat surface such as wooden board or marble. Unfold each sheet of puff pastry onto the sugar and pour 1/2 cup of the sugar mixture on top, spreading it evenly on the puff pastry. This is not about sprinkling, it's about an even covering of sugar. With a rolling pin, roll the dough until it's 13 by 13-inches square and the sugar is pressed into the puff pastry on top and bottom. Fold the sides of the square towards the center so they go halfway to the middle. Fold them again so the two folds meet exactly at the middle of the dough. Then fold 1 half over the other half as though closing a book. You will have 6 layers. Slice the dough into 3/8-inch slices and place the slices, cut side up, on baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Place the second sheet of pastry on the sugared board, sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 cup of sugar mixture, and continue as above. (There will be quite a bit of sugar left over on the board.) Slice and arrange on baking sheets lined with parchment.
- Bake the cookies for 6 minutes until caramelized and brown on the bottom, then turn with a spatula and bake another 3 to 5 minutes, until caramelized on the other side. Transfer to a baking rack to cool.
PALMIERS
It takes just two ingredients to make these impressive but easy-to-do French pastries, which are often called palm leaves. -Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Desserts
Time 30m
Yield 2 dozen.
Number Of Ingredients 2
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 425°. Sprinkle a surface with 1/4 cup sugar; unfold puff pastry sheet on surface. Sprinkle with 2 tablespoons sugar. Roll into a 14x10-in. rectangle. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup sugar to within 1/2 in. of edges. Lightly press into pastry., With a knife, very lightly score a line crosswise across the middle of the pastry. Starting at a short side, roll up jelly-roll style, stopping at the score mark in the middle. Starting at the other side, roll up pastry jelly-roll style to score mark. Freeze until firm, 20-30 minutes. Cut into 3/8-in. slices., Place cut side up 2 in. apart on parchment-lined baking sheets; sprinkle lightly with 1 tablespoon sugar. Bake for 8 minutes. Turn pastries over and sprinkle with remaining sugar. Bake until golden brown and glazed, about 3 minutes longer. Remove to wire racks to cool completely. Store in airtight containers.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 83 calories, Fat 3g fat (1g saturated fat), Cholesterol 0mg cholesterol, Sodium 34mg sodium, Carbohydrate 14g carbohydrate (8g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 1g protein.
Tips:
- Mise en Place: Before you start cooking, make sure you have all your ingredients and equipment ready. This will help you stay organized and prevent any scrambling during the cooking process.
- Follow the Recipe Carefully: While it's okay to make substitutions or adjustments based on your preferences, it's important to follow the recipe closely the first time you make it. This will ensure that you get the best results.
- Use Fresh, High-Quality Ingredients: The quality of your ingredients will greatly impact the final dish. Whenever possible, use fresh, seasonal ingredients. If you're using canned or frozen ingredients, make sure they're of good quality.
- Pay Attention to Cooking Times: Overcooking can ruin a dish. Use a timer to keep track of cooking times and remove the food from the heat as soon as it's done.
- Season to Taste: Don't be afraid to season your food to taste. Start with a small amount of salt and pepper and add more to taste. Remember, you can always add more seasoning, but it's difficult to remove it.
- Garnish for Presentation: A simple garnish can make a big difference in the presentation of your dish. Try using fresh herbs, grated cheese, or a drizzle of olive oil to add a touch of elegance.
Conclusion:
Cooking is a skill that takes time and practice to master. But with the right recipes and techniques, anyone can create delicious meals at home. The recipes in this article are a great place to start. They're easy to follow, use simple ingredients, and are sure to impress your family and friends. So get in the kitchen and start cooking!
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