Strawberry Napoleons

It was a stormy afternoon... good for nothing except gathering around and getting our hands in something.  I really had not planned on really "cooking" dinner tonight.  Hmmmmm.... what can we come up with?  You can find this recipe on the Peppridge Farm puff pastry box.  Delicious!!

I promise, these are so easy... you see the little ones helping me!

Ingredients:

• 1 box puff pastry
• 1 small package of instant vanilla pudding
• 2 cups of milk.
• 1/2 pint of heavy cream
• ~ 1 tsp vanilla (I didn't measure)
• some powdered sugar(to the sweetness you'd like)
• flour for dusting board surface
• fresh strawberries
• chocolate for melting and drizzling
• a bit more powdered sugar to garnish

 

 

 

 

Step-by-step:

Okay... you caught me cheating again! Mix 1 small package of instant vanilla pudding, 2 cups of milk.  Mix for 4 - 5 minutes. 

Making the custard filling

In a second bowl, whip together 1/2 pint of heavy cream, about a teaspoon of vanilla (I didn't measure any of this) and some powdered sugar (maybe half a cup?).  Whip for a while (start slowly) and you'll have a delicious sweet whipped cream.

The whipping cream

Stir the pudding just to make sure it feels right.  (This one got lots of stirring and licking)

Make sure you taste test along the way.

Fold the custard and whipped cream together gently.

So this will be the combined filling.  Set aside in the fridge.

Lightly flour a work surface.

Allow the puff pastry (Peppridge Farm) to sit out and thaw about 30 minutes, then fold out on to the floured surface.  Cut into thirds along the fold lines.

Put the three pieces onto a baking sheet and put into a preheated 400 degree oven.

Bake about 15 minutes until golden brown.

Cool on a wire cooking rack.

Split each one into two top/bottom pieces.

Now there are six pieces.

Cut each into thirds.

Layer a bottom piece with filling then sliced berries.

Add another layer.

Add a "top" piece.  Garnish with powdered sugar and a drizzle of chocolate.
* I used Hershey's syrup for this one b/c it was for Lily... who was getting impatient.

The tester.

Now for a little more grown up topping, melt a square of baker's semi-sweet chocolate in  a microwave safe bowl for 30 seconds at a time.  Stir in between each time.  After the second time, it should be melty enough.

This is with the real chocolate on top.

Ideally, have all the filling components cold when you assemble this.  Then right before serving, drizzle the chocolate.  - but it's messy to eat.  I'm warning you now.

Written Directions:

Mix in bowl:  1 small package of instant vanilla pudding, 2 cups of milk.  Mix for 4 - 5 minutes. 

In a  second bowl, whip together 1/2 pint of heavy cream, about a teaspoon of vanilla (I didn't measure any of this) and some powdered sugar (maybe half a cup?).  Whip for a while (start slowly) and you'll have a delicious sweet whipped cream. Fold the custard and whipped cream together gently. Set aside in the fridge. 

Lightly flour a work surface. Allow the puffy pastry to sit out and thaw about 30 minutes, then fold out on to the floured surface.  Cut into thirds along the fold lines. Put the three pieces onto a baking sheet and put into a preheated 400 degree oven. Bake about 15 minutes until golden brown. Cool on a wire cooking rack. 

Split each one into two top/ bottom pieces ( now there are 6) cut into thirds. Layer a bottom piece with filling then sliced berries. Add another layer. Add a "top" piece.  Garnish with powdered sugar and a drizzle of chocolate. Melt a square of baker's semi-sweet chocolate in  a microwave safe bowl for 30 seconds at a time.  Stir in between each time.  After the second time, it should be melty enough.

Looking for more easy recipes?  Please visit my Recipe Index for tons of ideas that you can make with/for you family.   Here are a few more "comfort food" ideas to get you started:

Roasted Green Beans  

 

Butter Pecan Sweet Potatoes  

Peach Upside Down Cake with Cinnamon