125 gram box - France

I really love the "elephant ears" we get from the "local" French bakery. So every time I open the box of "mini-palmiers au Beurre" from Maison Fossier, I am reminded how good and snappy a "pastry" can be even when it comes in a box. It crumbles in your mouth; the crunch, the sugar, the buttery goodness is all here.

This very simple puff pastry has many nicknames like, palm leaves, french hearts, schweineohren, and of course, elephant ears. Palmier, or palm tree, is made of puff pastry; layers of alternating dough and butter. Rolled out, coated with sugar, rolled together to the middle to make the "ears", and baked.

The actual origins of the palmier is unclear. The basic concept appeared in many cultures all about the same time. I like to think it is French in origin, and the best are most likely in France where the flour and the butter make for the perfect, classic combination.