Vanilla Mille-Feuille or
Napoleon Pastry (video)
A napoleon or mille-feuille is a classic French pastry with layers of buttery, flaky puff pastry baked until golden and crisp, then filled with alternating layers of pastry cream. Making this French dessert at home is surprisingly simple and easy. So, you never have to go to the patisserie for it again.
Mille-Feuille literally means a thousand leaves, and these leaves refer to the layers in a puff pastry. I think this is one expensive dessert at most restaurants. And, for a long time, I just presumed it was so difficult to make this dessert. But, in reality, I can think of so many desserts that are much more difficult than this pastry.
Having said that, if you've ever had this dessert in a French restaurant made with homemade puff pastry? Ah, now that is a real treat. I hate to say this, but I use store-bought pastry almost all the time because it just makes this dessert so much easier. But, the one time I did use my homemade puff pastry was my best mille-feuille ever.
About this mille-feuille /Napoleon
This dessert looks complicated, but in reality, it is very simple and easy. There are four components to making this dessert.
- Puff pastry sheets - The trick to getting this perfect is to dock the pastry and sandwich it between two parchment paper and two baking trays. Docking, as well as the weight of the baking tray, prevents it from puffing. When baked to a nice golden color, the pastry becomes crisp, so it cracks when cutting with a fork.
- Pastry cream - For the mille-feuille I prefer to use a nice stiff consistency pastry cream, that will hold its shape. If the pastry is too soft, it will easily spread and the layers will collapse.
Stabilized pastry cream is often used in French patisseries to prevent the pastry cream from spreading. Gelatin is often used as a stabilizer. Today, we have used extra cornstarch, but you must cook it until it thickens as shown in the video. - Whipped cream - I like to add whipped cream to the pastry cream to lighten it up.
- Assembling - The puff pastry and pastry cream can be made up to three days ahead of time. You can even assemble the mille-feuille a day in advance.
Mille-feuille for Valentine's Day dessert
Mille-feuille is the perfect dessert for valentine's day no matter what shape you make. As you can see, I have made a heart shape to keep up with the Valentine mille-feuille theme.
Useful tips and tools
- You will need two baking trays and two parchment papers. The baking tray on the top is for weight to prevent the pastry from puffing up and the parchment paper is to prevent it from sticking.
- A heavy bottom saucepan works great when you are making pastry cream or custard type dishes.
- And, I like to use a whisk to prevent lumps as well as a wooden spoon or silicone spatula for stirring pastry cream. Make sure to use spoons that have not been used for savory things like curry.
- I like to use a piping bag to pipe the puff pastry. Often I use either a star or round piping tip.
Ingredients and substitutes
- Puff Pastry - Store-bought is just fine. I often make homemade puff pastry too. But, either one works just fine.
- Milk - For the sake of consistency it is important to use full-fat milk, no low-fat or skimmed milk.
- Sugar - I use white fine grain sugar so it dissolves easily in the milk.
- Cream - Again, you want to use a good 38% or more or you won't have the right consistency for your pastry cream.
- Vanilla - I like to use vanilla bean scrapings because it gives me those black specks in the pastry cream just like you find in the French patisseries.
How to make a classic mille-feuille aka Napoleon French pastry
Bake puff pastry
- Preheat the oven at 190 C / 375 F.
- Cut the puff pastry into two.
- Roll each so sheet to about 12 x 8-inch rectangle.
- Work with one sheet at a time.
- Place on a parchment paper, so it's easy to move around.
- Then, cut the pastry at every two-inch interval so you have 6 long strips.
- Cut each strip in half at the center so you should have 12 equal pieces.
- Sprinkle with granulated sugar.
- Place a parchment paper on top. Then, place a baking tray on top.
- Bake on the center rack for 15 minutes.
- Remove the baking tray and parchment paper - bake another 10 minutes until lightly golden.
- Remove and let cool completely.
Prepare pastry cream
- In a heavy-bottom saucepan, combine sugar, cornstarch, egg yolks, vanilla, and salt.
- Slowly add the milk while whisking to prevent lumps.
- Place the saucepan on medium heat stirring continuously until the pastry cream thickens.
- You want the pastry cream to come to a low simmer so the cornstarch will thicken the mixture.
- Add the butter and continue to stir on low.
- Once the pastry cream is thick, remove from heat and pass through a sieve or mesh.
- Cover with the plastic wrap touching the surface of the cream.
- Set aside to cool completely.
Whip the cream
- Whip the cream using a whisk attachment until soft peaks.
- Combine half the whipped cream with the chilled pastry cream. Save the rest for the top layer.
- Use a whisk to ensure you have no lumps.
- Transfer to a piping bag with a large star piping nozzle.
Assemble
- Each mille-feuille or napoleon uses three puff pastry pieces.
- Place one pastry rectangle on the serving plate.
- Pipe two or three lines of pastry cream.
- Top with a second pastry rectangle and pipe another two rows of pastry cream.
- Place the top pastry rectangle.
- Pipe with whipped cream on the top and garnish with fresh fruits.
Description
Ingredients
FOR THE MILLE FEUILLE
- 1 lb (500 g) Puff Pastry
- 1 cup (240 ml) Whipping cream
PASTRY CREAM
- 2 cups (470 ml) Whole milk
- 1/2 cup (100 g) Sugar
- 4 Egg yolks
- 2 tbsp (30 g) Cornstarch
- 2 tbsp (30 g) Butter
- 1 tsp Vanilla Bean
Extra
- Fruits for garnish
Instructions
Puff pastry
- Preheat the oven at 190 C / 375 F
- Cut the puff pastry into two.
- Roll each so sheet to about 12 x 8-inch rectangle
- Work with one sheet at time
- Place on a parchment paper so it’s easy to move around
- Then cut the pastry at every two-inch interval so you have 6 long strips
- Cut each strip in half at the center so you should have 12 equal pieces.
- Sprinkle with granulated sugar
- Place a parchment paper on top. Then place a baking tray on top.
- Bake on the center rack for 15 minutes
- Remove the baking tray and parchment paper – bake another 10 minutes until lightly golden.
- Remove and let cool completely
Pastry cream
- In a heavy-bottom saucepan combine sugar, cornstarch, egg yolks, vanilla, and salt.
- Slowly add the milk while whisking to prevent lumps.
- Place the saucepan on medium heat stirring continuously until the pastry cream thickens.
- You want the pastry cream to come to a low simmer so the cornstarch will thicken the mixture.
- Add the butter and continue to stir on low.
- Once the pastry cream is thick, remove from heat and pass through a sieve or mess
- Cover with the plastic wrap touching the surface of the cream.
- Set aside to cool completely.
Whip the cream
- Whip the cream using a whisk attachment until soft peaks.
- Combine half the whipped cream with the chilled pastry cream. Save the rest for the top layer.
- Use a whisk to ensure you have no lumps.
- Transfer to a piping bag with a large star piping nozzle.
Assemble
- Each mille-feuille or napoleon uses three puff pastry pieces
- Place one pastry rectangle on the serving plate.
- Pipe two or three lines of pastry cream
- Top with a second pastry rectangle and pipe another two rows of pastry cream.
- Place the top pastry rectangle.
- Pipe with whipped cream on the top and garnish with fresh fruits.
Recipe Notes
- Bake the puff pastry until it's nice and golden. This will make it easier to crack the pastry when eating otherwise the whole thing just crumbles into a big mess.
- Sprinkle the pastry with sugar this helps make the pastry brown and crisp but do pay close attention to it as it can also burn very easily.
- Cook the pastry cream until it's thick. This will give you a firm consistency pastry cream which will not be runny between the pastry.
- If you plan to make this napoleon ahead of time I suggest you use stabilized whipped cream as it will ensure the pastry cream holds on for longer.
- When stacking the layers of puff pastry, choose the flat ones for the bottom and top so the finished dessert looks straight, not slanted.
- Traditionally, a mille-feuille is topped with royal icing and chocolate which can make the dessert sweeter and often quite messy. But you can also use melted chocolate or just powdered sugar.
Nutrition Information
The nutrition information and metric conversion are calculated automatically. I cannot guarantee its accuracy. If this data is important to you please verify with your trusted nutrition calculator. Thank you
Frequently asked questions
While we use these terms interchangeably there is a difference between the two. Mille-feuille is filled with pastry cream, whipped cream or jams while napoleon usually has almond cream.
Yes, any dessert that has milk and eggs must be kept in the fridge. This napoleon will keep in the fridge for 2 to 3 days.
Yes, this dessert is all about the flaky layers of puff pastry. You can use any puff pastry, store-bought ready to roll, homemade classic puff pastry or even a quick puff pastry.
While pastry cream is the traditional filling, you can use whipped ganache for a chocolate mille-feuille, or whipped cream with fruits for a light and refreshing spring dessert.
Today, we have used maple syrup but you can also add other flavors like orange blossom, rose extract or liquors such as rum, cognac or Cointreau to the pastry cream.
Personally, I like to place the Millefeuille on it side so the three layers are on the plate rather than stacked up. That makes it easier to cut through the flaky pastry without making a big mess.
Yes, you can. Replace the classic vanilla pastry cream with my eggless vanilla pastry cream. Everything else will remain the same.
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Dannii
This is so beautiful. I am always putting off making pastry, but maybe I will give it a try.
Veena Azmanov
Oh you must give this a try. It's so easy Dannii
Tonje
I also thought this recipe would be difficult to make, I can't believe how easy it actually is. And SO good!
Veena Azmanov
No, it's not really difficult Tonje. I hope you give this a try.
Anjali
What a gorgeous recipe!! I have honestly always been intimidated by making any sort of puff pastry dessert from scratch but you have motivated me to give it a try!
Veena Azmanov
Ah you will love this one Anjali. So easy. You must try.
Anita
I love this dessert. I haven't been brave enough to attempt this, but that heart-shape one would be so perfect for Valentine's Day. I need to practice on this. Hopefully it will be perfect by Valentine's Day. 🙂
Veena Azmanov
Yes, the heart shape is perfect for Valentine's Day
Adriana
In Spanish, this dessert is called Mil Hojas and it is my favorite! I was used to asking my mom to buy me one for my birthday as I loved it. You make the process of this recipe so simple I will try to make it at home following your tips.
Veena Azmanov
Ah, nice to know that, Adriana. I hope you will try this soon. Its' really easy.