Alpine Strawberry Napoleon
- 1 standard package (17 1/4 ounces) frozen puff pastry, thawed
- 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup creme fraiche
- 1 vanilla bean, split and seeds scraped
- 2 pints strawberries, preferably Alpine strawberries
- Raspberry Coulis, recipe follows
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Unfold puff pastry and place 1 sheet on each of 2 baking sheets.
- Bake until the dough has puffed, but is still soft, and not yet browned, 7 to 10 minutes.
- Set a wire rack directly on top of the dough, and press gently to flatten to about 1/8-inch thick.
- Continue to bake until lightly browned, 8 to 10 minutes.
- Let cool on a wire rack.
- Transfer cooled pastry to a cutting board.
- Increase the oven temperature to 475 degrees F. Using a serrated knife, cut the pastry into 18 (2by-3-inch) rectangles.
- (If you have extra pastry, cut out a few more rectangles to replace any that break.)
- Evenly dust the pastry with 1/2 cup of confectioners' sugar.
- Return to the baking sheet and bake, until the sugar is melted to a glaze and the pastry is browned, 2 to 3 minutes.
- Transfer to a rack, and let cool.
- (This can also be done under a broiler if watched very closely).
- In a medium bowl, combine the heavy cream and creme fraiche.
- Add vanilla seeds and remaining 2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar; whisk until stiff.
- Transfer the whipped cream to a disposable pastry bag.
- Cut about 1/2-inch from the tip of the bag with scissors.
- Pipe a 1/4-inch-thick layer of whipped cream over 12 of the pastry rectangles.
- Cover with a single layer of berries.
- Top 6 of the berry-topped pastries with one of the remaining 6 berry-topped pastries.
- Cover each with reserved plain pastries.
- Transfer each napoleon to a dessert plate, and drizzle each plate with about 2 tablespoons raspberry coulis.
- 1 pint raspberries
- 2 to 3 tablespoons superfine sugar
- Place the raspberries in a medium bowl.
- Using a fork, mash the raspberries to release some of the juices.
- Stir in the sugar, using just enough to take the edge off the tartness.
- Let them macerate for 20 to 30 minutes.
- Transfer to a blender or food processor, and puree until smooth.
- Strain through a fine mesh sieve to remove the seeds.
- It may be necessary to add a little water to thin the coulis.
- Yield: about 1/2 cup
pastry, sugar, heavy cream, creme fraiche, vanilla bean, pints strawberries, raspberry coulis
Taken from www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alpine-strawberry-napoleon.html (may not work)