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    Home » Recipes » Desserts

    Elephant Ear Pastry

    Published: May 4, 2023 by LaKita · This post may contain affiliate links · 2 Comments

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    close up side view pastry cookies on large plate
    close up side view of finished elephant ears on large white plate

    This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share some commission. Please read my disclosure policy.

    Try making this Elephant Ear Pastry also sometimes known as French Palmiers for a quick and easy treat made with just three simple ingredients. Sweet, flaky, and elegant.

    If you're craving another cookie recipe with cinnamon and sugar, then be sure to try making a batch of Snickerdoodle Cookies. Also for another easy dessert recipe using puff pastry, try making some Pineapple Tarts.

    close up side view of elephant ear pastry on a plate

    I began baking at an early age.

    I honestly had no choice since my maternal grandmother always baked something in her kitchen every day. She was my babysitter before I entered grade school, so I remember spending countless hours with her in the kitchen.

    So many hours in fact that I had my own set of small child-size baking pans and utensils. I would stand next to her on top of an empty turned-over milk crate to be able to reach the countertop. She would then hand me a small amount of her dough/batter to make my very own creations.

    Baking cakes, pies, and cookies quickly became my jam. Speaking of cookies...are you familiar with palmier cookies or elephant ear pastry?

    Jump to:
    • What Are Palmiers?
    • How to Make Elephant Ears
    • Step By Step Instructions
    • Storage
    • More Recipes You'll Love:
    • Recipe

    What Are Palmiers?

    Palmiers also sometimes referred to as Elephant Ears or Elephant Ears Pastry is a French pastry made with puff pastry. They are flaky and delicate with buttery layers of pastry that melt in your mouth. The word palmier actually translates to palm in French and at first glance, these pastry cookies do look similar to the top of a palm tree or a palm leaf.

    They can be made in many different ways and filled with sweet and savory options to enjoy for breakfast, dessert, or a snack. For today's version, we'll be keeping it simple and making it sweet with a mixture of cinnamon and sugar.

    Let's get started!

    How to Make Elephant Ears

    ingredients needed to make pastry
    1. Puff Pastry - The base and most important ingredient when making palmiers. You will need a sheet of frozen puff pastry dough which can usually be found at the grocery store in the freezer section along with the pie crust and frozen pies. Be sure to grab a box of puff pastry that is made with butter and not any oil or shortening. Allow the puff pastry to thaw from frozen, but remain cool/chilled in the refrigerator until ready to use.
    2. Ground Cinnamon - Adds the flavor of spice to the pastry and pairs well with sugar to create a cinnamon-sugar combination.
    3. Sugar - Use granulated sugar or coarse cane sugar. You may also substitute brown sugar in the same unit of measure if you prefer.

    Step By Step Instructions

    Begin the elephant ear recipe by preheating the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. In a small bowl, stir together the ground cinnamon and sugar until combined.

    cinnamon sugar mixture in white bowl on marble surface

    Next, gently unfold the puff pastry sheet all the way and sprinkle the top with half of the cinnamon and sugar mixture.

    puff pastry dough topped with cinnamon sugar mixture on parchment lined baking sheet

    Starting at the longest side, fold both sides of the puff pastry toward the center (closing the tri-fold into a bi-fold) and be sure to leave a space in the middle.

    pastry with cinnamon sugar mixture folded on parchment lined baking sheet

    Sprinkle the rest of the cinnamon and sugar mixture on the top and fold the left side over the right side to form a layered rectangle.

    pastry topped with more cinnamon sugar on parchment lined baking sheet
    puff pastry dough folded in half on parchment lined baking sheet

    Cut the rectangle into about 10 to 12 even slices and place them cut side down onto the prepared parchment-lined baking sheet. Spacing 1 to 2 inches apart because they will rise while baking.

    puff pastry cut to form individual elephant ears on baking sheet before baking

    Bake until puffy and golden brown, about 15 to 20 minutes. Carefully remove them from the oven and allow them to cool for about 5 minutes on the baking sheet before transferring them to a rack to cool completely. Enjoy!

    overhead view of full plate of finished elephant ears

    Storage

    Place any leftover pastry cookies in an airtight container and store them at room temperature for up to 1 week.

    Feel free to enjoy them at room temperature or place them in the oven at 350 degrees F. for about 5 minutes to warm them up. They also can be reheated in the air fryer to give them a slight crisp.

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    Have any comments, questions, or other delicious ways to use these Elephant Ears Recipe? Please share them in the comments below!

    Recipe

    close up side view of finished elephant ears on large white plate

    Elephant Ear Pastry

    LaKita Anderson
    Try making this Elephant Ear Pastry also sometimes known as French Palmiers for a quick and easy treat made with just three simple ingredients. Sweet, flaky, and elegant.
    5 from 1 vote
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    Prep Time 15 minutes mins
    Cook Time 20 minutes mins
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 10
    Calories 181 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 4 tablespoons ground cinnamon
    • ½ cup granulated sugar
    • 1 sheet puff pastry, thawed but still chilled

    Instructions
     

    • Begin the recipe by preheating the oven to 400 degrees F. and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. In a small bowl, stir together the 4 tablespoons of ground cinnamon and ½ cup granulated sugar until combined. Set aside.
    • Next, gently unfold the 1 sheet of puff pastry all the way and sprinkle the top with half of the cinnamon and sugar mixture.
    • Starting at the longest side, fold both sides of the puff pastry toward the center (closing the tri-fold into a bi-fold) and be sure to leave a space in the middle.
    • Sprinkle the rest of the cinnamon and sugar mixture on the top and fold the left side over the right side to form a layered rectangle.
    • Cut the rectangle into about 10 to 12 even slices and place them cut side down onto the prepared parchment-lined baking sheet. Spacing 2 inches apart because these will rise while baking.
    • Bake until puffy and golden brown, about 15 to 20 minutes. Carefully remove them from the oven and allow them to cool for about 5 minutes on the baking sheet before transferring them to a rack to cool completely. Enjoy!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 181kcalCarbohydrates: 24gProtein: 2gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gSodium: 61mgPotassium: 29mgFiber: 2gSugar: 10gVitamin A: 10IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 35mgIron: 1mg

    *All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe and nutritional value will vary depending on the brands you use, measuring methods and portion sizes per household.

    Keyword elephant ears
    Tried this recipe?Mention @SimplyLaKita or tag #SimplyLakita

    Original post date 05/25/2016. Updated 04/11/2022 & 5/4/2023.


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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Sonya

      May 30, 2016 at 10:08 am

      These sound extremely simple to make 🙂 It's wonderful that you learned how to bake with your grandmother. I started baking in jr. high after taking Home Ec. But like you I didn't really start cooking until after I was living on my own. Which is when I got interested in cookbooks too.

      Reply
      • admin

        May 31, 2016 at 8:22 am

        They are so easy to make! That is so cool. I remember taking home ec. in High School and being bored...needless to say it was an easy class for me 😉

        Reply

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    Hi, I'm LaKita, a food blogger living in Northwest/Panhandle Florida. I love creating and sharing recipes that are simple to make and comforting to eat. Follow me for more delicious recipes.

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