Step 1
Cut butter into small cubes. Set aside ¼ cup (57 g) of butter and place the remainder into the freezer until almost frozen; about 15 minutes. Measure out 1 cup (240 ml) of water, and place into fridge while butter is in the freezer.
Step 2
In the bowl of a food processor fitted with a metal blade, blend together flour, Redpath® Granulated Sugar, and salt. Add the ¼ cup (57 g) of butter and pulse until butter coats the flour mixture and is no longer visible.
Step 3
Add the chilled butter. Pulse 3 or 4 times; there should be varying sizes of butter remaining. Drizzle in half of the cold water, pulse 2 times. Add the remainder of the water, and pulse 2 times more times.
Step 4
Lay the flour mixture onto a piece of parchment paper. Working quickly, bring dough together with hands. Roughly form into a large “log”. Pat the “log” down and form into a rectangle. With the shorter end facing the edge of the work surface, place a second sheet of parchment paper over the dough.
Step 5
With a rolling pin, gently press down dough. Move the rolling pin from the dough’s edge farthest away from the work surface’s edge and place it next to the indentation made. Move and press the rolling pin until it reaches dough closest to the work surface. Peel the top parchment off the surface of the dough to ensure dough is not sticking. If the dough is sticking, lightly flour the areas of the dough that are sticking. Place the parchment back onto the dough and roll out to a 16 x 20 inches (40 x 50 centimetres) rectangle.
Step 6
Gently peel off the parchment paper. The long edge should be parallel to the edge of the work surface. Fold the dough into thirds; fold the top edge (furthest away from the edge of the work surface) a third of the way down, and fold the bottom edge up (and over the first fold). The rectangle should now be approximately 4 x 20 inches (10 x 50 centimetres).
Step 7
Working quickly, roll up the dough (like a pinwheel) from one of the shorter sides (4 inches – 10 centimetre) and ensure that the short edge is under the dough. Gently press the dough down to form a square. With the rolling pin and with a little pressure, roll the surface of the dough to even it all out. Wrap the square of puff pastry with plastic wrap, and allow the dough to rest in the fridge for at least an hour before using.
Step 1
In a small bowl, combine the Redpath® Demerara Style Sugar, Redpath® Granulated Sugar and Redpath® Turbinado Sugar with ground ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, nutmeg, allspice, salt and black pepper until well blended.
Step 2
Spread half of the sugar mixture onto the work surface. Lightly brush the top of the puff pastry with the melted butter. Place the buttered side of the rolled out puff pastry onto the sugar-spice mixture. With a rolling pin, lightly roll the pastry onto the sugar mixture, this will coat and embed the underside with the sugar and spices.
Step 3
Lightly brush the top of the puff pastry with the remaining melted butter. Sprinkle the remaining sugar-spice mixture over the butter as evenly as possible, patting the sugar into the dough.
Step 4
With the shorter side of the pastry, facing the edge of the work surface, mark the middle (6.5 inches/16.5 centimetres) of the shorter end. Fold both the left and right edges halfway towards the marked point then fold again, towards the marked middle. Fold in half, like a book. Place the “roll” onto the prepared baking sheet, cover with plastic wrap and place into the fridge to chill and firm up; about 30 minutes.
Step 5
With a sharp knife, slice the puff pastry into ½ inch (13 millimetre) slices. Lay them on the prepared baking sheet, about 2 inches (5 centimetres) apart.
Step 6
Bake for 6 to 8 minutes, or until the sugar is caramelized on the bottom. Remove from the oven, with the help of a spatula, carefully flip each cookie over to caramelize the other side. Place back into the oven and bake; 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool slightly on the pan before transferring to a wire cooling rack to cool completely.
*Frozen puff pastry may also be used in this recipe. Use a defrosted sheet of puff pastry rolled to the specified size.
*For a more basic palmier, omit spices.
