Many Spanish desserts will offer you something sweet without spending all afternoon in the kitchen.
In Andalusian pastry, dulce de leche palmiers are one of the easiest recipes to make, as they were created with simplicity and deliciousness in mind.
Scroll down this article to learn how to make dulce de leche palmiers from scratch, with the best tips for storing, serving, and customizing.
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Background of the Dish
Palmiers have been enjoyed in Spain for decades as a simple pastry made from puff pastry and sugar, with a cute heart shape and flaky texture that has enchanted everyone in the country.
Dulce de leche wasn’t always used in this recipe but it began to be included in traditional recipes, such as churros filled with dulce de leche, and palmiers were no exception.
It arrived here with the migratory flows between the European countries and Argentina.
Today, this dulce de leche palmier recipe combines the best of both traditions.
Pairing classic Spanish palmiers with a rich dulce de leche filling creates an easy, homemade dessert that requires only a handful of ingredients and takes less than 30 minutes to prepare.
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Things You’ll Need for Dulce de Leche Palmiers
To prepare the best dulce de leche palmier recipe, you will need: puff pastry sheet, white sugar, egg, dulce de leche, and cinnamon (optional).
Ingredients
- 1 sheet (250g) Puff pastry
- 1/2 cup (150g) Dulce de leche
- 2 tablespoons (25g) White sugar
- 1 teaspoon Ground cinnamon (optional)
- 1 egg, beaten (for egg wash)
How to Make Dulce de Leche Palmiers – Step-by-Step Guide
- To start with this Spanish caramel palmiers recipe, preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking tray with parchment paper.
- After that, lightly flour a clean work surface and roll out the puff pastry into a rectangle about 1/8-inch (3mm) thick.
- Now, spread the dulce de leche evenly over the entire surface of the pastry, leaving a small border around the edges. This will prevent the dulce de leche from overflowing.
- As an optional step, mix the sugar and cinnamon together and sprinkle the mixture evenly over the dulce de leche.
- Starting from one long side, roll the pastry tightly toward the center. Repeat from the opposite long side so that both rolls meet in the middle.
- Gently press the two rolls together and transfer the pastry log to the refrigerator for about 10 minutes to firm up.
- Then, using a sharp knife, slice the chilled log into pieces about 1/2-inch (1.5cm) thick.
- Now, arrange the dulce de leche palmiers on the prepared baking tray, leaving space between each as they will expand during baking. Brush the tops lightly with the beaten egg.
- To continue, bake the palmiers with dulce de leche for 12-15 minutes, or until the pastry is puffed and golden brown.
- After that time, remove the palmiers from the oven and allow them to cool on the baking tray for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack.
- Finally, serve the dulce de leche palmiers warm or at room temperature with coffee, tea, or as a sweet afternoon treat.
Substitution of Ingredients
One of the reasons these dulce de leche palmiers are so popular is that they are incredibly easy to adapt.
With just a few ingredients, you can create a bakery-style dessert while still adding your own personal touch.
If you need a gluten-free version, simply use a gluten-free puff pastry.
Since most dulce de leche varieties are naturally gluten-free, this is often the only substitution required, although it’s always a good idea to check the label.
For extra flavor, try sprinkling cinnamon, finely chopped nuts, or a little orange zest over the filling before rolling the pastry.
You can go a bit wild and cover your dulce de leche palmiers in chocolate for a richer dessert.
The secret to making easy dulce de leche palmiers is keeping the pastry cold before slicing and baking.
This helps it maintain its signature shape while becoming perfectly crisp and flaky in the oven, resulting in delicious, sweet palmiers with caramel filling every time.
If you have leftover dulce de leche, there are plenty of ways to use it.
Besides making another batch of palmiers, you can turn it into a rich dulce de leche flan, a creamy dulce de leche cheesecake, or an indulgent dulce de leche layer cake for special occasions.
Tips on Serving Dulce de Leche Palmiers
This quick puff pastry dulce de leche dessert can be served as soon as you finish preparing the recipe, which makes it stand out from other sweet snacks.
To cut through the sweetness of the Dulce de Leche Palmiers, we recommend serving them with a cup of black tea, coffee, or café con leche, and not sweetening the drinks until after tasting them with the pastry.
If you didn’t add cinnamon to the crispy caramel pastry cookies, you can dip them in dark or white chocolate for a coating that complements the dulce de leche.
These palmiers are perfect for an afternoon snack, and you can serve them with other Andalusian classics like Spanish sugar cookies, mantecados, and perrunillas.
How to Store Dulce de Leche Palmiers
The dulce de leche palmiers recipe is pretty simple to follow, and it only takes a few minutes to be ready, so we recommend enjoying this sweet treat right away.
However, if you prefer storing them, you can keep the palmiers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days, where they will remain crisp and flavorful.
For longer storage, freeze the completely cooled palmiers in a freezer-safe container for up to 2 months.
Let them thaw at room temperature and warm them in the oven for a few minutes to restore their flaky texture.
Are you a meal-prep lover? Luckily, we have more recipes you can prepare and store for later: the classic pestiños, the indulgent Spanish custard tarts, and the summer-favorite tarta de limon.
Recipe Card: Dulce de Leche Palmiers
Dulce de Leche Palmiers Recipe
Many Spanish desserts will offer you something sweet without spending all afternoon in the kitchen.
In Andalusian pastry, dulce de leche palmiers are one of the easiest recipes to make, as they were created with simplicity and deliciousness in mind.
Scroll down this article to learn how to make dulce de leche palmiers from scratch, with the best tips for storing, serving, and customizing.
Ingredients
- 1 sheet (250g) Puff pastry
- 1/2 cup (150g) Dulce de leche
- 2 tablespoons (25g) White sugar
- 1 teaspoon Ground cinnamon (optional)
- 1 egg, beaten (for egg wash)
Instructions
- First, preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking tray with parchment paper.
- Lightly flour a clean work surface and roll out the puff pastry into a rectangle about 1/8-inch (3mm) thick.
- Spread the dulce de leche evenly over the entire surface of the pastry, leaving a small border around the edges.
- If desired, mix the sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle the mixture evenly over the dulce de leche.
- Starting from one long side, roll the pastry tightly toward the center. Repeat from the opposite long side so that both rolls meet in the middle.
- Gently press the two rolls together and transfer the pastry log to the refrigerator for about 10 minutes to firm up.
- Using a sharp knife, slice the chilled log into pieces about 1/2-inch (1.5cm) thick. That way, they will get the classic Spanish dulce de leche palmiers' shape.
- Arrange the dulce de leche palmiers on the prepared baking tray, leaving space between each as they will expand during baking. Brush the tops lightly with the beaten egg.
- Bake the Spanish palmiers with dulce de leche for 12-15 minutes, or until the pastry is puffed and golden brown.
- Remove the palmiers from the oven and allow them to cool on the baking tray for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack.
- Serve the dulce de leche palmiers warm or at room temperature with coffee, tea, or as a sweet afternoon treat.
Notes
The cinnamon is optional, though it pairs wonderfully with the palmiers with dulce de leche, and it helps to balance the flavors.
You can prepare the caramel palmiers recipe with homemade puff pastry, especially if you have dietary restrictions.
Nutrition Information
Yield
12Serving Size
1Amount Per Serving Calories 57Total Fat 2gSaturated Fat 1gUnsaturated Fat 1gCholesterol 3mgSodium 23mgCarbohydrates 10gFiber 0gSugar 8gProtein 1g
All information presented and written are intended for informational purposes only. You should not rely on this information as a substitute for, nor does it replace, professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any concerns or questions about your health, you should always consult with a physician or other health-care professional. The writers and publishers of visitsouthernspain.com are not nutritionists or registered dietitians. Statements within this site have not been evaluated or approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
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