Description
Cinnamon Spice Palmiers are delicate, flaky pastries made from puff pastry rolled with a fragrant blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, and optional orange zest sugar. These crisp, buttery cookies are easy to prepare and bake to a golden brown, offering a perfect balance of warm spices and subtle citrus notes for a delightful treat.
Ingredients
Scale
Puff Pastry
- 1 lb homemade rough puff pastry or store-bought frozen & thawed puff pastry (2 sheets)
Sugar Spice Mixture
- 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
- 2 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
- 2 teaspoons orange zest (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare Dough: Prepare homemade rough puff pastry dough through the second refrigeration step or thaw store-bought frozen puff pastry sheets thoroughly before use.
- Mix Sugar and Spices: Combine granulated sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cardamom in a bowl. Divide the mixture evenly into two bowls; stir orange zest into one half. The half without orange zest will be used for rolling, and the half with zest will be used as filling.
- Roll Out Dough: Generously sprinkle the non-zested sugar spice mixture on a large work surface. Coat rolling pin with this mixture to prevent sticking. Roll out half of the dough into a 10-inch square, adding more sugar spice mixture on top as needed while rolling. Keep edges straight and smooth out creases. Trim uneven edges if necessary.
- Add Filling and Shape: Sprinkle half of the zested sugar spice mixture evenly over the rolled-out dough. Press it gently into the dough with the rolling pin. Make a small slit at the bottom center edge as a marker. Roll the left edge tightly towards the center, then the right edge towards the center, forming a tight log. Wrap the log in plastic wrap or parchment paper.
- Repeat with Remaining Dough: Repeat rolling and filling with the second half of the dough. Refrigerate both logs for 30 minutes up to 2 days to chill them.
- Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 400°F (204°C) and line 2-3 baking sheets with silicone mats or parchment paper.
- Slice and Arrange Cookies: Unwrap chilled logs, trim rounded ends for even slices, then cut into 3/8 inch slices (just under 1/2 inch). If cookies unravel, gently re-roll. Arrange cookies 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets. Sprinkle any leftover sugar spice on top.
- Bake First Side: Bake cookies for 8-9 minutes until they begin to puff and expand.
- Flip and Continue Baking: Remove sheets from oven and flip each cookie. If needed, reshape cookies to keep form. Bake for an additional 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Store-bought dough may require slightly less time for the second bake, around 8 minutes.
- Cool and Store: Cool cookies on the baking sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely or serve warm. Store leftovers covered at room temperature for up to 1 week.
Notes
- Keeping the dough cold during handling is crucial for flaky layers.
- If any cookies lose shape during slicing, gently re-roll them back together.
- Orange zest is optional but adds a bright citrus note that complements the warm spices.
- Use a sharp knife or pizza cutter for clean slices.
- Storage at room temperature prevents pastry from becoming soggy.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 20-25 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
Keywords: Palmiers, Cinnamon Spice Cookies, Puff Pastry Cookies, French Pastry, Holiday Cookies, Flaky Pastry, Spiced Sugar Cookies
