Appropriate for a fall afternoon tea, these dainty napoleons consist of crispy puff pastry squares, cooked spiced apples, and a marshmallow-flavored cream cheese. Pictured with our Petite Pecan-Orange Cheesecakes.
Miniature Apple Napoleons
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 cup (¼-inch) diced apples*
- ¼ cup turbinado sugar, divided
- 1 teaspoon apple pie spice, divided
- 1 (17.3-ounce) package frozen puff pastry, slightly thawed
- 3 tablespoons finely chopped toasted walnuts
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- Marshmallow Cream (recipe follows)
Instructions
- In a small skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add apples, 1 tablespoon turbinado sugar, and ½ teaspoon apple pie spice. Cook, stirring occasionally, until apples soften, 5 to 7 minutes. Let cool completely.
- Preheat oven to 375°. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
- On a lightly floured surface, unfold puff pastry sheets. Using a 2-inch square cutter dipped in flour, cut 16 squares from each sheet. Place pastry squares, evenly spaced, on prepared baking sheet. Top with another sheet of parchment paper and place another rimmed baking sheet on top to keep pastry squares flat.
- Bake until pastry squares are lightly browned, 13 to 15 minutes.
- Meanwhile, in a small bowl, stir together walnuts, salt, remaining 3 tablespoons turbinado sugar, and remaining ½ teaspoon apple pie spice.
- Remove top baking sheet and parchment paper from pastry squares. Sprinkle walnut mixture over pastry squares, reserving 1 tablespoon for topping. Cover again with parchment paper and top baking sheet.
- Bake until golden brown, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove top baking sheet and parchment paper. Let cool completely.
- Transfer Marshmallow Cream to a piping bag fitted with ¼-inch open star tip (Ateco #16). Pipe 4 dots Marshmallow Cream onto 16 pastry squares. Top each with 1 teaspoon apple mixture. Top each with a plain pastry square. Pipe 5 dots Marshmallow Cream onto each pastry square and top with 1 teaspoon apple mixture. Sprinkle with reserved walnut mixture. Serve immediately.
- *We used Honeycrisp. Peel apples, if desired.
Notes
MAKE-AHEAD TIPS:
Apple mixture can be prepared up to 3 days in advance, placed in an airtight container, and refrigerated. Let come to room temperature before using. Pastry squares can be prepared early in the day, cooled, and stored in an airtight container until needed. Assemble napoleons just before serving.
Apple mixture can be prepared up to 3 days in advance, placed in an airtight container, and refrigerated. Let come to room temperature before using. Pastry squares can be prepared early in the day, cooled, and stored in an airtight container until needed. Assemble napoleons just before serving.
Marshmallow Cream
Makes approximately ¾ cup
Ingredients
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- ¼ cup marshmallow crème
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, beat cream cheese with a mixer until smooth, approximately 2 minutes. Beat in marshmallow crème until combined and smooth. Use immediately.
