Delicate Peaches Cream Napoleons Recipes

PEACH AND GOAT CHEESE NAPOLEONS

Steps:

• Heat 2 1/2 cups water, the butter and cardamom in a medium saucepan over medium heat just to a simmer. Add the peaches, reduce the heat to low and cook until the peaches are very tender but not falling apart, 25 to 30 minutes. Cool in the liquid about 15 minutes and then drain and cool the fruit to room temperature. (This can also be done a couple hours ahead and the peaches can be left in the liquid until ready to assemble.)
• Blend the goat cheese with the cream, honey and orange zest in a small bowl.
• To assemble, pat the peaches dry with paper towels if very wet and place 6 on a large serving plate. Top each peach with some of the cheese mixture, a sprinkle of pistachios and another peach, followed by more cheese and pistachios and a third peach. Garnish each napoleon with a drizzle of honey, some more pistachios and a light sprinkling of orange zest and sea salt, if using.

ROASTED PEACH NAPOLEON

Steps:

• Make the pastry cream: Whisk 1/2 cup milk, 1/3 cup granulated sugar, the salt, egg yolks and cornstarch in a medium bowl. Combine the remaining 1 1/2 cups milk and 1/3 cup granulated sugar with the vanilla seeds and pod in a medium saucepan; bring to a low simmer over medium heat. Slowly pour the hot milk mixture into the bowl with the yolk mixture, whisking constantly. Return to the pan and bring to a simmer, whisking; cook, whisking, until thickened, 1 more minute. Transfer to a bowl and remove the vanilla pod. Lay plastic wrap directly on the surface and refrigerate until cold, about 1 hour, 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, roast the peaches: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Combine the peaches, granulated sugar, lemon juice, and vanilla seeds and pod in a medium bowl; toss gently to coat. Transfer to a rimmed baking sheet and spread in a single layer. Roast, tossing once, until tender and glossy, about 30 minutes. Let cool.
• Cook the puff pastry: Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray. Unroll the puff pastry sheets on a generously floured surface and arrange them so they overlap by about 2 inches to make 1 large piece of pastry. Lightly flour a rolling pin and roll out the dough into a 17-by-12-inch rectangle. Carefully transfer the dough to the prepared baking sheet and prick all over with a fork. Bake, pricking it again halfway through, until golden and crisp, 25 to 35 minutes. Let cool completely on the baking sheet, then transfer to a cutting board and cut crosswise into 3 equal pieces.
• Assemble the napoleon: Lay 1 piece of puff pastry on a platter. Spread with half of the pastry cream, then top with half of the roasted peaches. Repeat with another piece of puff pastry and the remaining pastry cream and peaches, reserving a few peach slices for topping. Top with the remaining piece of puff pastry and dust with confectioners' sugar. Top with the reserved peaches. Slice with a serrated knife.

NAPOLEON

Steps:

• Make puff pastry strips: Lightly flour a clean work surface. Using a rolling pin, gently roll out dough into a 16-by-18-inch rectangle about 1/8 inch thick, being careful not to press too hard around the edges. Using a pastry wheel or sharp knife, cut rectangle crosswise into thirds, with each strip 6 by 16 inches. Transfer to a baking sheet; dock, or pierce, the dough all over with a fork. Cover with plastic wrap; place in refrigerator 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Transfer to oven; bake until strips are puffed and golden all over, about 14 minutes. Set a baking sheet directly on pastry strips, and continue baking until pastry is cooked through and well browned, about 6 minutes. Remove top baking sheet; bake 4 minutes more. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Using a serrated knife, trim each to 4 1/4 by 12 inches.
• Make the glaze: In a small saucepan, bring heavy cream just to a boil. Place dark chocolate in a bowl, and pour hot cream over chocolate; whisk until chocolate is melted and mixture is combined. Whisk in corn syrup. Strain through a fine mesh sieve into a clean bowl.
• Place white chocolate in a medium heat-proof bowl set over a pan of simmering water. Whisk until chocolate is melted, and remove from heat. Let cool.
• Using an offset spatula, spread dark chocolate glaze over one side of the flattest puff pastry strip, making sure to coat entire surface. Place white chocolate in a piping cone; pipe thin lines 3/4 inch apart across width of chocolate-coated strip. To create the distinctive flourish, gently drag the tip of a paring knife or a skewer lengthwise through both coatings, in lines perpendicular to the white chocolate lines. Begin at one of the short ends, and make each line 3/4 inch apart. Alternate the direction each time.
• Place one of the unglazed puff pastry strips on a serving tray. Spread half the pastry cream over the top, leaving a 1/2-inch border all around. Top with remaining unglazed pastry strip; press down gently, and repeat with remaining pastry cream. Top with glazed pastry strip. Transfer to refrigerator, and chill 30 minutes uncovered. Using a long serrated knife, cut into six pieces, and serve.

DELICATE PEACHES-&-CREAM NAPOLEONS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375º F.
• Stack phyllo sheets, spraying each with cooking spray before covering with another sheet; spray top with cooking spray. Cut stack into12 rectangles. Place, 2 inches apart, on parchment-covered baking sheet. Bake 2 min. or until crisp and golden brown; cool.
• Meanwhile, cook and stir 1 Tbsp. brown sugar and vanilla in large nonstick skillet on low heat 1 to 2 min. or until sugar is melted. Add peaches; cook and stir 1 min. or until evenly coated with sugar mixture. Cool.
• Mix cream cheese and remaining brown sugar until well blended. Top 6 phyllo rectangles with cream cheese mixture and peach mixture; cover with remaining phyllo rectangles. Sprinkle with powdered sugar. Serve immediately.