A palmier (, from French, short for 'palm tree leaf'), pig's ear, palm heart, or elephant ear is a French pastry in a palm leaf shape or a butterfly shape, sometimes called palm leaves, , French hearts, shoe-soles, or glasses, that were invented in the beginning of the 20th century.
Etymology
is derived from the French word for palm tree. The pastry is shaped like a leaf of such trees.
Preparation Palmiers are made from puff pastry, a laminated dough similar to the dough used for croissants, but without yeast. The puff pastry is rolled out, coated with sugar, and then the two sides are rolled up together so that they meet in the middle, making a roll that is then cut into about slices and baked. Usually it is rolled in sugar before baking.
Varieties The pastries are known as ('palm trees') in Spain, and they can be topped with coconut or chocolate; they are also available for purchase in a larger version. In the Catalonia and Valencia regions they are called ('eyeglasses') as well.
In the Puerto Rican version, they are topped with honey. In Mexico and other Latin American countries they are known as ('ears') or ('little ears'). In Colombia they are known as ('butterflies'). In Argentina and Chile, they are known as , derivative from the Spanish denomination.
In the United States, desserts similar to palmiers known as pastry hearts are popular in Buffalo, New York.
In Greece they are usually known as 'little glasses' (, ). In Germany they are ('pig's ears'); in Italy (derisively after the ostensibly large ears of Prussian invaders) or, more often, / 'fan' / 'little fans'; in French-speaking Switzerland or . In England, they are called little hearts or sweet hearts, and in Scotland pig's ears or pig's lugs.
In Japan, they are called Genji Pie. In India they are known as elephant ears, French hearts, or (, Bangla for 'butterfly') biscuits. In China, they are known as butterfly pastries. In Pakistan they are called French hearts. In Ukraine they are known as (, 'little ears') and in Russia (, also meaning 'little ears').
An is a cinnamon-flavoured palmier biscuit.
See also
List of pastries Otap, a similar oval-shaped pastry from the Philippines
References