Cinnamon Palmiers Recipe

Heavenly Cinnamon Palmiers Recipe: Sweet Buttery Treats

Sweet, buttery layers of pastry dance with delicate cinnamon palmiers that promise a melt-in-your-mouth experience.

These elegant French cookies spiral with warm, fragrant spices and crisp, caramelized edges.

Crafted from simple ingredients, these delicate treats bring sophistication to any dessert table.

Butter, sugar, and cinnamon intertwine to create a delightful pastry that looks complex but comes together with surprising ease.

Each bite offers a perfect balance of crunch and sweetness that will transport you to a Parisian bakery.

Minimal effort yields maximum deliciousness with these show-stopping cookies that are sure to impress.

Prepare to fall in love with these irresistible cinnamon palmiers that make every moment feel like a celebration.

Why Sweet Crunchy Sugar Cookies Are Classic

  • Create Irresistible Layers: These sweet sugar cookies offer a delightful texture with multiple sugar-coated layers that create a stunning crunch in every bite.
  • Master Simple Baking Techniques: The recipe teaches easy folding and rolling methods that transform basic pastry into an elegant, professional-looking treat perfect for home bakers of all skill levels.
  • Enjoy Quick Homemade Dessert: With minimal ingredients and straightforward steps, you can whip up these delectable cookies that deliver maximum flavor and impressive results without complicated preparation.
  • Customize Your Sweet Treat: The cinnamon sugar mixture allows for personal touch, letting you adjust sweetness and spice levels to match your taste preferences perfectly.
Main Ingredients:
  • Pastry: A delicate base that provides structure and serves as a canvas for the sweet cinnamon coating.
  • Cinnamon Sugar: A classic sweet mixture that adds warmth, flavor, and caramelized texture to the cookies.
Baking Essentials:
  • Baking Tray: A flat surface for even baking and creating crisp, golden cookies.
  • Parchment Paper: Prevents sticking and helps in easy removal of the baked cookies.
Kitchen Tools:
  • Rolling Pin, Cutting Knife: Essential tools for shaping, rolling, and cutting the pastry into precise strips.
  • Cooling Rack: Allows air circulation to help cookies cool evenly and maintain their crisp texture.

Baking Instructions for Crunchy Sugar Cookies

Baking Instructions for Crunchy Sugar Cookies

Step 1: Create Cinnamon Sugar Blend

Mix cinnamon and sugar thoroughly in a small bowl to create a fragrant, sweet coating for your pastry.

Step 2: Prepare Pastry Surface

Generously sprinkle cinnamon sugar across the pastry surface, ensuring an even distribution of the sweet mixture.

Step 3: Press Sugar Into Pastry

Use a rolling pin to gently press the sugar mixture into the pastry, helping it adhere and create a delicious coating.

Step 4: Coat Both Sides

Flip the pastry and repeat the sugar sprinkling and rolling process, ensuring complete coverage.

Step 5: Create First Fold

Carefully fold the long edges of the pastry halfway towards the center, then roll to flatten and create initial layers.

Step 6: Complete Midline Fold

Bring the folded edges to meet in the middle, creating a compact pastry base.

Step 7: Add Additional Sugar Layer

Sprinkle the remaining sugar over the folded pastry and roll again to incorporate the sweet mixture.

Step 8: Form Multiple Layers

Fold the pastry halves together, creating a delightful six-layer pastry with embedded cinnamon sugar.

Step 9: Chill Pastry

Refrigerate the prepared pastry for 15 minutes to help it firm up and maintain its shape.

Step 10: Preheat Oven

Set the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit, preparing for the baking process.

Step 11: Slice Pastry

Cut the chilled pastry into thin 1-centimeter strips using a sharp knife.

Step 12: Enhance Sugar Coating

Dip the cut edges of each strip into the remaining cinnamon sugar mixture for extra flavor.

Step 13: Arrange On Baking Tray

Place the sugar-coated strips on a parchment-lined baking tray, leaving 2 inches between each piece.

Step 14: First Baking Stage

Bake the strips for 14 minutes, allowing the sugar to caramelize and create a golden, crispy exterior.

Step 15: Final Baking

Carefully flip the strips and bake for an additional 4 minutes until they reach a beautiful golden-brown color.

Step 16: Cool And Serve

Transfer the baked pastry twists to a parchment-lined cooling rack, letting them cool completely before serving.

  • Use exact measurements for cinnamon sugar to ensure consistent flavor and sweetness in every cookie.
  • Dust your work surface with extra sugar to keep pastry from clinging to the rolling pin or countertop.
  • Keep a close eye during baking to catch the perfect golden-brown color without burning the edges.
  • Let pastry rest at room temperature for 5 minutes before rolling to make it more pliable and easier to work with.
  • Store cooled cookies in an airtight container to maintain their crispness and prevent moisture absorption.

Ways to Tweak Crunchy Sugar Cookies

  • Gluten-Free Sugar Cookies: Replace regular flour with almond or coconut flour for a celiac-friendly version that maintains the sweet crunch.
  • Vegan Sugar Strips: Swap butter with coconut oil and use egg replacer to create a plant-based alternative that's equally delicious and crispy.
  • Low-Sugar Option: Reduce sugar content by using stevia or monk fruit sweetener, perfect for those watching their sugar intake while enjoying a classic treat.
  • Spiced Variation: Experiment with different spice blends like cardamom, nutmeg, or ginger to add complexity to the traditional cinnamon sugar profile.

Serving Up Sweet Crunchy Sugar Cookies

  • Cinnamon Swirl Plating: Arrange cookies in a circular pattern on a rustic wooden board, dusted with extra cinnamon sugar for an elegant touch.
  • Party Presentation: Stack cookies at varying heights on a tiered cake stand, creating a delightful dessert centerpiece that catches everyone's eye.
  • Tea Time Companion: Serve alongside a steaming cup of chai or Earl Grey tea, allowing guests to dip and enjoy the sweet, crispy treat with their favorite beverage.
  • Gift-Worthy Packaging: Pack cookies in clear cellophane bags tied with a cinnamon-colored ribbon, perfect for homemade edible gifts that look professionally crafted.

Best Way to Store Sugar Cookies

  • – Refrigerate Store cookies in an airtight container to maintain crispness for up to 5 days at room temperature.
  • – Freeze Pack cooled cookies in a freezer-safe container with parchment paper between layers, lasting up to 3 weeks.
  • – Prevent Softening Keep cookies away from humid areas to preserve their delightful crunchy texture.
  • – Revive Texture If cookies lose crispness, reheat in a 300°F oven for 3-5 minutes to restore their original crunch.

FAQs

  • What ingredients make these sugar cookies unique?

The cinnamon sugar mixture creates a sweet, caramelized coating that gives these cookies their signature crunch and flavor.

  • Can I use a different type of sugar?

Granulated white sugar works best, but you can experiment with light brown sugar for a deeper caramel taste.

  • How do I prevent the cookies from sticking to the baking tray?

Always use parchment paper or a silicone baking mat to ensure easy removal and prevent burning.

  • Why is chilling the pastry important?

Chilling helps the butter solidify, which creates flakier layers and prevents the cookies from spreading too much during baking.

Print
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Cinnamon Palmiers Recipe

Cinnamon Palmiers Recipe


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4.5 from 31 reviews

  • Total Time: 48 minutes
  • Yield: 12 1x

Description

Delicate French cinnamon palmiers dance with buttery, flaky layers of pure indulgence. Crisp, caramelized edges and sweet spirals promise a delightful moment of culinary bliss you’ll savor with each delicate bite.


Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients:

  • 1 sheet puff pastry, thawed (24 cm/10-inch square)

Sweeteners:

  • 1/3 cup sugar

Spices:

  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon

Instructions

  1. Combine ground cinnamon and granulated sugar in a small mixing bowl, creating a fragrant sweet mixture.
  2. Generously dust the work surface with the cinnamon-sugar blend, ensuring an even coating.
  3. Use a rolling pin to gently press the sugar into the pastry, allowing it to adhere completely.
  4. Carefully turn the pastry over and repeat the sugar dusting and rolling process on the opposite side.
  5. Delicately fold the long edges towards the center, creating a symmetrical rectangular shape.
  6. Apply gentle pressure with the rolling pin to flatten the folded pastry evenly.
  7. Sprinkle half of the remaining sugar mixture across the surface, rolling to distribute thoroughly.
  8. Fold the pastry halves together, creating a compact six-layered configuration.
  9. Refrigerate the prepared pastry for 15 minutes to firm up the layers and enhance flavor melding.
  10. Preheat the oven to 400°F, preparing for precise baking.
  11. Remove chilled pastry and slice into uniform 1cm wide strips using a sharp knife.
  12. Dip each strip’s cut edges into the remaining cinnamon-sugar mixture for additional caramelization.
  13. Arrange strips on a parchment-lined baking sheet, maintaining 2-inch spacing for even browning.
  14. Bake for 14 minutes, watching for sugar caramelization and golden edges.
  15. Carefully flip each strip and continue baking an additional 4 minutes until perfectly golden.
  16. Transfer cookies to a wire cooling rack lined with parchment paper, allowing complete cooling and crisp development.

Notes

  • Customize the sugar mixture by adding ground cardamom or nutmeg for an extra flavor dimension.
  • Use parchment paper or silicone baking mats to prevent sticking and ensure even caramelization.
  • For gluten-free options, substitute the pastry with a gluten-free puff pastry or alternative dough.
  • Control the sweetness by adjusting the amount of sugar in the mixture, perfect for those watching their sugar intake.
  • Prep Time: 30 minutes
  • Cook Time: 18 minutes
  • Category: Desserts, Snacks
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: French

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 12
  • Calories: 150
  • Sugar: 10 g
  • Sodium: 0 mg
  • Fat: 6 g
  • Saturated Fat: 3 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 22 g
  • Fiber: 0 g
  • Protein: 1 g
  • Cholesterol: 15 mg
Nathaniel Brooks

Nathaniel Brooks

Founder & Recipe Developer

Expertise

Farm-to-table cuisine, Seasonal recipe development, Culinary storytelling

Education

Ivy Tech Community College – Indianapolis, IN
Culinary Arts / Hospitality Administration & Events
Focused on hands-on training in classical and modern culinary techniques. ​


Nathaniel’s story starts in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, where farm stands, backyard gardens, and old family recipes shaped his love for real food. After graduating from Ivy Tech Community College in Indianapolis, he spent years working in farm-to-table kitchens, learning how to turn local, seasonal ingredients into something memorable.
Today, Nathaniel pours that same spirit into every single recipe on Aspiring Culinarian – recipes that feel real, comforting, and connected to the land. When he’s not in the kitchen, you’ll find him foraging wild herbs, chasing sunsets with his camera, or writing about the flavors that shaped his roots.

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