Puff Pastry

The French call this rich, delicate, multi-layered pastry Pate Feuilletee. It's made by placing pats of chilled fat (usually butter) between layers of pastry dough, then rolling it out, folding it in thirds and letting it rest. This process, which is repeated 6 to 8 times, produces a pastry comprising hundreds of layers of dough and butter. When baked, the moisture in the butter creates steam, causing the dough to puff and separate into hundreds of flaky layers. Puff pastry is used to make a variety of crisp creations including croissants, Napoleons, Palmiers and Allumettes. It's also used as a wrapping for various foods such as meats, cheese and fruit. Category:Glossary