Vegan Chocolate-Orange Palmiers
These elegant French pastries feature buttery puff pastry rolled in sugar and orange zest, creating beautiful spiral cookies with caramelized edges. Each palmier is half-dipped in melted semisweet chocolate for an indulgent finish. The combination of citrus and chocolate makes these perfect for special occasions, holiday gatherings, or whenever you want to impress guests with a sophisticated treat that looks complex but uses simple techniques.
Ingredients
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 package frozen puff pastry, thawed
- 1 tablespoon orange peel, gratedlemon peel1:1citrusflavor
different citrus profile
- 6 oz semisweet baking chocolate, chopped
Instructions
- 1
Pour half the sugar on work surface
- 2
Unfold one puff pastry sheet on sugared board
- 3
Roll pastry to 11-inch square with rolling pin, pressing sugar into pastry
- 4
Process remaining sugar and orange peel in food processor until well blended
- 5
Sprinkle quarter cup orange sugar over puff pastry sheet
- 6
Roll up dough tightly from one long side to center of square
- 7
Roll up other side so rolls meet in middle
- 8
Roll in sugar on work surface
- 9
Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate
- 10
Repeat process with remaining pastry sheet and sugar
- 11
Refrigerate 30 minutes
- 12
Heat oven to 425°F
- 13
Line cookie sheets with parchment paper
- 14
Cut chilled rolls crosswise into half-inch slices
- 15
Place slices 2 inches apart on cookie sheets
- 16
Bake 15 minutes, turning after 11 or 12 minutes, until deep golden brown and caramelized
- 17
Remove to cooling racks and cool completely
- 18
Microwave chocolate uncovered on High 30 to 60 seconds until melted and smooth
- 19
Dip half of each palmier in chocolate or drizzle over palmiers
- 20
Let stand until chocolate sets
Tips
Press firmly when rolling to ensure sugar adheres well to the pastry for better caramelization.
Wrap rolls tightly in plastic wrap to maintain shape during chilling - loose wrapping leads to uneven slices.
Refrigerate finished palmiers for 30 minutes to set chocolate faster if needed for serving.
Good to Know
Store in airtight container at room temperature up to 3 days
Can be shaped and refrigerated up to 1 day before baking
Best served at room temperature within a few hours of baking
Common Mistakes
Roll tightly to avoid loose spirals that unravel during baking
Don't skip chilling time or slices will be messy and uneven
Turn palmiers during baking to avoid burning the sugar
Substitutions
different citrus profile
FAQ
Can I make these without chocolate?
Yes, the palmiers are delicious plain with just the caramelized orange sugar coating.
What if I don't have a food processor for the orange sugar?
Finely mince the orange peel by hand and mix thoroughly with the sugar using a fork.
How long do these keep fresh?
Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, though they're best within 24 hours.