The Ultimate Strawberry Palmiers (Easy Valentine’s Treat!)

Imagine a delicate, buttery, and impossibly flaky pastry, shaped like a perfect little heart, baked to a caramelized, golden-brown perfection, and bursting with the sweet flavor of strawberries. Now, imagine it’s dipped in creamy white chocolate and finished with a sprinkle of more strawberries. That, my friends, is the elegant, bakery-worthy magic of these Strawberry Palmiers. This is, without a doubt, the most impressive and deceptively simple treat you will bake this Valentine’s Day.

I promise you, there is no greater baking triumph than watching these little scrolls puff up in the oven into their signature shape. The intense strawberry flavor, which comes from both jam and powerful freeze-dried strawberries, is a perfect match for the rich, buttery pastry. They are a true taste of luxury, made right in your own kitchen.

Get ready to master a classic pastry technique (the easy way!) and create a batch of stunning, delicious, and completely irresistible cookies that will have your Valentine swooning.

Save

Why You’ll Fall Head Over Heels for These Palmiers

You are going to be completely amazed by how easy it is to create such a professional-looking pastry. This recipe is a true gem. Here’s why:

• A Genius Shortcut to a French Classic: Using store-bought puff pastry is the secret to getting dozens of perfectly flaky, buttery layers with almost no effort!
• Intense, Double Strawberry Flavor: We use both strawberry jam and ground freeze-dried strawberries for a sweet, tart, and intensely fruity flavor in every bite.
• Stunning, Heart-Shaped Appearance: The classic palmier fold naturally creates a beautiful heart shape, making these the perfect elegant treat for Valentine’s Day.
• Incredibly Delicious Texture: The combination of the shatteringly crisp, caramelized pastry and the creamy chocolate dip is a textural masterpiece.
• Perfect for Gifting: A beautiful stack of these palmiers tied with a ribbon makes a thoughtful and incredibly impressive homemade Valentine’s gift.

Recipe Snapshot

Your Shopping List for These Sweetheart Pastries

This impressive dessert comes together with just a handful of simple, high-quality ingredients.

Save

→ For the Strawberry Palmiers

• 2 (1-oz.) packages freeze-dried strawberries → Divided. This is the secret to intense strawberry flavor without adding moisture!
• ¼ cup strawberry jam → For a sweet, fruity layer inside the pastry.

→ For the Chocolate Dip

• 1 cup white chocolate → Melted, for dipping. Use good quality chips or wafers.
• 1 tsp neutral oil (like canola or vegetable) → Optional, to help thin the chocolate for a smooth coating.

Let’s Get Folding! Your Step-by-Step Guide

Ready to create these beautiful French pastries? The secret is all in the fold!

Part 1: Prepare the Strawberry Pastry

1. Preheat and Prep: Arrange a rack in the center of your oven and preheat to 400°F (200°C). Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. Prep the Strawberries: In a food processor or a sealed plastic bag, crush one package of the freeze-dried strawberries until they form a fine powder. Coarsely crush the second package and set it aside for garnish.
3. Roll and Sugar the Pastry: Unfold one sheet of thawed puff pastry onto your work surface. Sprinkle half of the granulated sugar over the top and gently press it in with a rolling pin. Flip the pastry over so the sugar side is down.
4. Add the Strawberry Layer: Spread 2 tablespoons of strawberry jam evenly over the surface. Sprinkle with 2 tablespoons of the ground, powdered strawberries. Repeat this entire process with the second sheet of puff pastry.

Part 2: The Classic Palmier Fold

5. The First Folds: Working with one sheet at a time, fold the right side of the pastry in towards the center line. Then, fold the left side in to meet it in the middle.
6. The Second Folds: Repeat the process. Fold the new right side in towards the center, and then the left side in towards the center.
7. The Final Fold: Finally, fold the right half over the top of the left half, like closing a book. You should now have a long, layered log of pastry.

Save

Part 3: Slice, Bake, and Decorate

8. Slice the Hearts: Using a sharp knife, cut each log crosswise into 15 pieces, about ½ to ¾-inch thick. Arrange the slices on your prepared baking sheets, cut-side up, spacing them about 2 inches apart.
9. Bake to Golden Perfection: Bake for 14 to 16 minutes, carefully flipping them over halfway through, until the pastries are puffed, deeply golden brown, and caramelized. Let them cool on the baking sheets for at least 15 minutes.
10. Prepare the Chocolate Dips: Divide the melted white chocolate between two small, deep bowls. To one bowl, stir in 1 tablespoon of the remaining ground strawberries and 1 tsp of oil until smooth and pink.
11. Dip and Garnish: Dip one edge of half of the cooled palmiers into the pink strawberry chocolate. Dip the edges of the remaining palmiers into the plain white chocolate. Place them on parchment paper, and while the chocolate is still wet, sprinkle them with the reserved crushed strawberries. Let them set completely before serving.

Save

Strawberry Palmiers with White Chocolate Dip

These elegant Strawberry Palmiers are a perfect Valentine’s Day treat! Using a simple shortcut with store-bought puff pastry, these heart-shaped cookies are filled with strawberry jam and freeze-dried strawberries, then dipped in white chocolate.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 16 minutes mins

Total Time 50 minutes mins

Servings: 30

Course: Dessert, Snack

Cuisine: American, French-Inspired

Calories: 140

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

  

• 2 (1-oz.) pkg. freeze-dried strawberries divided
• 1/4 cup strawberry jam
• 2 (17.3-oz.) sheets frozen puff pastry thawed
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup white chocolate melted
• 1 tsp. neutral oil or more, as needed

Equipment

• Food Processor or Plastic Bag
• Rolling Pin
• Baking Sheets
• Parchment paper

Method

 

1. Preheat oven to 400°F. In a food processor, grind 1 package of freeze-dried strawberries into a fine powder. Coarsely crush the second package and set aside.
2. Roll one puff pastry sheet to a 9 1/2″ square. Sprinkle with half the sugar and gently press it in. Flip the pastry over. Spread with 2 Tbsp. strawberry jam and sprinkle with 2 Tbsp. ground strawberries. Repeat with the second sheet of pastry.
3. Fold the right and left sides of the pastry to meet in the center. Repeat this fold again. Finally, fold the right side over the left side like closing a book to create a log.
4. Cut each log crosswise into 15 (1/2″ to 3/4″) pieces. Place on parchment-lined baking sheets, spacing them 2″ apart.
5. Bake, turning halfway through, until puffy and golden, 14 to 16 minutes. Let cool for at least 15 minutes.
6. Divide melted white chocolate between 2 small bowls. Add 1 Tbsp. ground strawberries and oil to one bowl to create a pink chocolate.
7. Dip one edge of half the palmiers into the pink chocolate and the other half into the plain white chocolate. Place on parchment paper and sprinkle with the reserved crushed strawberries. Let set completely.

Notes

Keep it Cold: Puff pastry works best when it’s kept cold. If your dough becomes soft or sticky, return it to the refrigerator for 10-15 minutes to firm up.

Make Ahead: You can prepare the filled and folded logs, wrap them tightly, and refrigerate for up to 2 days or freeze for up to a month. Slice and bake from chilled or frozen (adding a few extra minutes for frozen).

Even Browning: Flipping the palmiers halfway through baking is the key to ensuring both sides are perfectly golden and caramelized.

WiseRecipes’ Top Tips for Perfect Palmiers

These simple secrets will help you achieve that perfect, flaky, bakery-quality result.

1. Keep Your Puff Pastry COLD. Puff pastry gets its flaky layers from the pockets of butter. If the dough gets too warm, the butter will soften and you’ll lose those beautiful layers. Work quickly, and if the dough ever feels too soft or sticky, pop it back in the fridge for 10-15 minutes.
2. Freeze-Dried Strawberries are the Secret. This ingredient is a game-changer! It provides an intense, concentrated strawberry flavor without adding any extra liquid, which would make the pastry soggy.
3. Don’t Skip the Sugar Underneath. Sprinkling sugar on the work surface before you start isn’t just for flavor; it helps create a beautifully caramelized, crisp exterior on the palmiers as they bake.
4. Flip for Even Browning. The halfway-through flip is crucial for palmiers. It ensures that both sides get equally golden brown and caramelized, and it helps them bake up evenly.
5. Space Them Out! Puff pastry expands significantly in the oven. Give your palmier slices plenty of room on the baking sheet (at least 2 inches apart) so they can puff up without sticking together.

Keep Them Fresh! Storing Your Pastries

Palmiers are at their absolute, shatteringly-crisp best on the day they are made.

• Storage: If you have leftovers, they can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. Their texture will soften over time, but they will still be delicious.

FAQs: Your Palmier Questions, Answered!

Where do I find puff pastry in the grocery store?

You can almost always find frozen puff pastry in the freezer aisle, usually near the frozen desserts, pie crusts, and phyllo dough.

My palmiers spread out and didn’t hold their shape. What happened?

This is usually a sign that the dough got too warm before baking. For extra insurance, after you slice the log into individual cookies, you can place the baking sheet in the freezer for 10-15 minutes to firm them up before they go into the hot oven. This helps them hold that beautiful heart shape.

Can I use a different kind of jam or fruit?

Absolutely! This is a fantastic base recipe. Raspberry or apricot jam would be delicious. You could also try different freeze-dried fruits, like raspberries, to match your jam.

Can I make these ahead of time?

Yes, you can! The best way to make them ahead is to prepare the filled and folded logs, wrap them tightly in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for up to 2 days or freeze for up to a month. When you’re ready, just thaw (if frozen), slice, and bake for fresh palmiers!

Final Thoughts: A Taste of Parisian Romance

There is nothing more elegant than a classic French pastry, and these Strawberry Palmiers bring all that sophistication to your home kitchen in the easiest way possible. They are a beautiful, delicious, and heartfelt treat, perfect for sharing with someone special this Valentine’s Day. I hope this simple but impressive recipe brings a little bit of flaky, buttery joy to your celebration. Happy Baking!