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Puff Pastry Cookies

Snejana Andreeva - 1

By Snejana Andreeva

on Nov 12, 2022, Updated Dec 01, 2023

Add as a preferred source on Google - 2

These puff pastry cookies are so nostalgic for me. They are one of my all-time favorite puff pastry cookies in the world. My grandma would call them elephant ear cookies , but their official name is “Palmier” cookies, traditionally originating in 🇫🇷 France.

  • Why You’ll Love Puff Pastry Cookies
  • How to Prepare
  • Nonna’s Tip
  • Variations and Substitutions for Puff Pastry Cookies
  • Other Cookie Recipes
  • Common Questions
  • Elephant Ear Cookies Recipe

Why You’ll Love Puff Pastry Cookies

You’re going to love incorporating these into your family holiday 🎄 traditions. These puff pastry cookies are the real deal – flaky, 🧈 buttery, and sweet, hitting all the right spots for a perfect puff pastry dessert. And guess what? They’re just two ingredients ! You know me, I’m keeping it so, so simple for you. It’s all the goodness you dream of without spending hours in the kitchen – so you can live your best life. You’re in for a treat that’s easy to make and even easier to love.

How to Prepare

🧊 Defrost the puff pastry according to package instructions (about 45 minutes on the counter).

🔥 Preheat the oven to 425°F.

🪵 Sprinkle granulated white sugar on a wooden board .

⭐ Unroll the puff pastry sheet and roll it in sugar on both sides, pressing gently. Roll or fold each side of the puff pastry toward the middle, ensuring both sides meet.

🖤 Cut the pastry into 12 equal pieces and place it on a parchment-lined cookie sheet or silicone mat, forming heart shapes.

♨️ Bake for 15 minutes, flip them and bake for an additional 5-10 minutes or until golden.

🌟 Enjoy, and share the recipe with your loved ones.

Nonna’s Tip

Puff pastry is different than filo dough, so be sure to purchase puff pastry . It will be in the freezer section of the grocery store.

Puff Pastry Cookies - 3

Variations and Substitutions for Puff Pastry Cookies

  1. You could drizzle the baked hearts with a simple powdered sugar glaze (mix powdered sugar with a bit of milk or water).
  2. Feel free to brush the pastry with 🧈 melted butter before baking.
  3. Instead of hearts, you could shape the pastry into twists or knots for a different presentation.
  4. Put a filling in your cookies – spread a thin layer of Nutella , 🌰 nut butter, or fruit preserves on the puff pastry before rolling.
  5. Add some ground cinnamon or nutmeg with the sugar to add a bit of spice.

Here are some more holiday recipes that would be perfect for your next Christmas gathering. And don’t forget the drinks, like my Holiday Candy Cane Prosecco .

A stack of three powdered almond cookies on a wooden surface. The top cookie has a bite taken out, revealing a soft interior. Whole almonds are scattered around, with more cookies blurred in the background. - 4 A stack of three powdered almond cookies on a wooden surface. The top cookie has a bite taken out, revealing a soft interior. Whole almonds are scattered around, with more cookies blurred in the background. - 5

Italian Amaretti Cookies

25 mins

A plate of Easy Gingerbread Cookies shaped like people, adorned with white icing details, red and green candy buttons, cinnamon sticks, and colorful candies, set on a white surface with a red ribbon and white cloth. - 6 A plate of Easy Gingerbread Cookies shaped like people, adorned with white icing details, red and green candy buttons, cinnamon sticks, and colorful candies, set on a white surface with a red ribbon and white cloth. - 7

Easy Gingerbread Cookies

3 hrs 23 mins

A plate of thumbprint cookies filled with orange jam and dusted with powdered sugar, these treats offer the same buttery delight as Shortbread Cookie Bars, beautifully arranged in sunlight on a white plate. - 8 A plate of thumbprint cookies filled with orange jam and dusted with powdered sugar, these treats offer the same buttery delight as Shortbread Cookie Bars, beautifully arranged in sunlight on a white plate. - 9

Lemon Cheesecake Thumbprint Cookies

25 mins

Close-up of 3 Ingredient Sugar Cookies cooling on a black wire rack. The cookies are round, golden, and have a slightly rough texture from sugar crystals. A pinkish surface is visible in the background. - 10 Close-up of 3 Ingredient Sugar Cookies cooling on a black wire rack. The cookies are round, golden, and have a slightly rough texture from sugar crystals. A pinkish surface is visible in the background. - 11

3 Ingredient Sugar Cookies

20 mins

Common Questions

Yes, you can experiment with different sugars like brown sugar or powdered sugar.

Yes, you could consider adding Nutella, fruit preserves, or chopped nuts for a tasty filling.

I have not tried this, but you could attempt using gluten-free puff pastry or alternative gluten-free pastry dough for a gluten-free version.

Flipping ensures even browning on both sides of the pastry hearts for a golden and crispy texture.

They are best enjoyed fresh, but you can store them in an airtight container for up to 2-3 days. Reheat for a few seconds in the oven or airy fryer to crisp them up.

A New Recipe Card!!

  1. Check off each step in instructions!
  2. Add ingredients to your shopping list!

Video

Equipment

  • ▢ Cutting Board
  • ▢ Baking Sheet
  • ▢ Nakiri Knife
  • ▢ Parchment Paper
  • ▢ Baking Mat

Ingredients

  • ▢ 1 puff pastry , 10 by 10 inch roll
  • ▢ granulated white sugar , or cinnamon sugar

Instructions

  • ▢ Defrost the puff pastry as per the package instructions. I left mine on the counter for 45 minutes and it was perfect.
  • ▢ Preheat the oven to 425F. On a wooden board, sprinkle granulated white sugar all over.
  • ▢ Unroll the puff pastry sheet, roll it into the sugar on each side and gently press. Now tightly roll each side of the puff pastry towards the middle or you can simply fold it like I did — both methods work. Both sides should meet at the middle.
  • ▢ Cut it into 12 equal pieces and place them onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper or use a silicone mat. Make sure they look like little hearts and optionally pinch the middle together so they hold their shape.
  • ▢ Bake for 15 minutes, flip them and bake for another 5-10 minutes or until golden. Enjoy!

My Notes

Nutrition

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Home › Recipes › Cookies & Snacks

Lemon Cheesecake Thumbprint Cookies

Snejana Andreeva - 12

By Snejana Andreeva

on Dec 15, 2022, Updated Nov 08, 2023

Add as a preferred source on Google - 13

My lemon cheesecake thumbprint cookies melt in your mouth . This recipe is one of those recipes that you’ll need to triple, because it’s THAT good. 🍋Whether you’re a lemon lover or simply looking for a unique and delicious cookie, these Lemon Cheesecake Thumbprint Cookies are a must-try. They’re perfect for any occasion, from a casual afternoon tea to a fancy dessert spread.

  • Why You’ll Love Lemon Cheesecake Thumbprint Cookies
  • How to Prepare
  • Nonna’s Tip 🍋
  • Lemon Cheesecake Thumbprint Cookies Variations and Substitutions
  • Other Holiday Recipes
  • More Holiday Cookies
  • Common Questions
  • Lemon Cheesecake Thumbprint Cookies Recipe

Why You’ll Love Lemon Cheesecake Thumbprint Cookies

These lemon cheesecake thumbprint cookies are ideal for anyone who cannot tolerate 🥚 eggs as they are completely egg-free . The dough takes 5 minutes to whip up, so these cookies are easy enough for anyone who is not even a baker. They’re only 5 ingredients , which you probably already have on hand. I can honestly say that this is one of those cookie recipes that you cannot get enough of.

How to Prepare

🥣 Use a stand mixer with the paddle attachment or a hand-held mixer and bowl to cream butter and cream cheese for about 2 minutes until smooth.

🍋 Add sugar and lemon extract and mix until smooth . Then add flour, and mix until a sticky dough forms. Scrape down the sides to fully incorporate any remaining flour.

🧊 Cover the cookie dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate for one hour.

🥄 Remove dough from the refrigerator, use a small ice-cream scooper to portion the cookies, rolling each in a touch of flour to prevent sticking.

🍓 Place rolled cookies on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper . Flatten each with your thumb, creating an indent, and add a teaspoon of preferred jam/preserve to the center.

🔥 Preheat the oven to 350°F and bake the lemon cheesecake thumbprint cookies for 13-15 minutes or until the edges are light and golden brown .

❄️ Allow the cookies to cool completely and optionally dust with icing sugar. They can be stored at room temperature for up to a week.

Nonna’s Tip 🍋

You MUST refrigerate the cookie dough for at least one hour and you have to use a touch of flour to roll each one as they will stick.

Lemon Cheesecake Thumbprint Cookies - 14

Lemon Cheesecake Thumbprint Cookies Variations and Substitutions

  • Try adding a decorative topping like chopped nuts or a sprinkle of coarse sugar for holiday decoration.
  • I have not tried this recipe with gluten-free flour , but feel free to experiment with a gluten-free 1-1 replacement and let me know how it goes!
  • Instead of lemon extract , you could try almond, vanilla, orange or another you have on hand.
  • Feel free to experiment with different jams or preserves , for example, you could use strawberry, raspberry, apricot or even marmalade.
  • You could try dairy-free or vegan alternatives to the butter and cream cheese if you or your guests have allergies.

Other Holiday Recipes

A round platter forms an Antipasti Christmas Wreath, with skewers of mozzarella balls, cherry tomatoes, grapes, olives, prosciutto, and rosemary arranged in a circle; raspberries fill the center and two gold forks rest on the side. - 15 A round platter forms an Antipasti Christmas Wreath, with skewers of mozzarella balls, cherry tomatoes, grapes, olives, prosciutto, and rosemary arranged in a circle; raspberries fill the center and two gold forks rest on the side. - 16

Antipasti Christmas Wreath

10 mins

A close-up of a wooden serving board styled as a Holiday Butter Board, topped with whipped cheese, assorted fruit jams, chopped nuts, fresh herbs, and a decorative cheese knife. - 17 A close-up of a wooden serving board styled as a Holiday Butter Board, topped with whipped cheese, assorted fruit jams, chopped nuts, fresh herbs, and a decorative cheese knife. - 18

Holiday Butter Board

20 mins

Two tall champagne flutes filled with an orange-pink Holiday Candy Cane Prosecco, each rimmed with crushed red, green, and white candy, stand on a white countertop with scattered candy. Cozy kitchen background. - 19 Two tall champagne flutes filled with an orange-pink Holiday Candy Cane Prosecco, each rimmed with crushed red, green, and white candy, stand on a white countertop with scattered candy. Cozy kitchen background. - 20

Holiday Candy Cane Prosecco

5 mins

A Holiday Cheese Board featuring various cheeses, salami roses, fresh figs, grapes, cherry tomatoes, olives, crackers, grapefruit slices, rosemary sprigs, and bowls of jam is artfully arranged on a white surface with a linen cloth. - 21 A Holiday Cheese Board featuring various cheeses, salami roses, fresh figs, grapes, cherry tomatoes, olives, crackers, grapefruit slices, rosemary sprigs, and bowls of jam is artfully arranged on a white surface with a linen cloth. - 22

Holiday Cheese Board

20 mins

More Holiday Cookies

Looking for an even fancier-looking cookie? Try my puff pastry cookies .

A plate of Easy Gingerbread Cookies shaped like people, adorned with white icing details, red and green candy buttons, cinnamon sticks, and colorful candies, set on a white surface with a red ribbon and white cloth. - 23 A plate of Easy Gingerbread Cookies shaped like people, adorned with white icing details, red and green candy buttons, cinnamon sticks, and colorful candies, set on a white surface with a red ribbon and white cloth. - 24

Easy Gingerbread Cookies

3 hrs 23 mins

A stack of three powdered almond cookies on a wooden surface. The top cookie has a bite taken out, revealing a soft interior. Whole almonds are scattered around, with more cookies blurred in the background. - 25 A stack of three powdered almond cookies on a wooden surface. The top cookie has a bite taken out, revealing a soft interior. Whole almonds are scattered around, with more cookies blurred in the background. - 26

Italian Amaretti Cookies

25 mins

Close-up of 3 Ingredient Sugar Cookies cooling on a black wire rack. The cookies are round, golden, and have a slightly rough texture from sugar crystals. A pinkish surface is visible in the background. - 27 Close-up of 3 Ingredient Sugar Cookies cooling on a black wire rack. The cookies are round, golden, and have a slightly rough texture from sugar crystals. A pinkish surface is visible in the background. - 28

3 Ingredient Sugar Cookies

20 mins

A plate of Shortbread Butter Cookies topped with red, white, and green sprinkles, surrounded by small holiday gift boxes and pinecones on a white surface. - 29 A plate of Shortbread Butter Cookies topped with red, white, and green sprinkles, surrounded by small holiday gift boxes and pinecones on a white surface. - 30

Shortbread Butter Cookies

27 mins

Common Questions

Feel free to use any jam or preserve you enjoy. I love fig or apricot but you are more than welcome to use any you have on hand.

The lemon extract is optional so don’t worry if you don’t have any on hand. You can also use pure vanilla extract, or almond extract, or leave them plain. Or, if you don’t have pure lemon extract, but still want the flavor, you can also use the zest of a lemon in the recipe.

You MUST refrigerate the cookie dough for at least one hour and you have to use a touch of flour to roll each one as they will stick.

Feel free to freeze the cookie dough tightly wrapped for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge and shape as usual.

The cream cheese and butter must be softened in order for the cookies to bake correctly.

You can use salted or unsalted butter. I have made them with both and both results are delicious.

While 1 cup of flour weighs 160g in my kitchen, it might weigh anywhere from 120 to 180g in your kitchen and there’s a few reasons for that. The weight of ingredients may vary due to the brand of ingredients, the brand and style (wet vs dry) of measuring cups and spoons, and the technique for measuring into cups: scooping and leveling versus spooning the ingredients into the cup measure. For best results, go by the weight listed in the recipe.

A New Recipe Card!!

  1. Check off each step in instructions!
  2. Add ingredients to your shopping list!

Video

Equipment

  • ▢ Measuring Cups + Spoons
  • ▢ Mixing Bowls
  • ▢ Baking Sheet
  • ▢ Parchment Paper

Ingredients

  • ▢ ½ cup cream cheese , softened
  • ▢ ½ cup white sugar
  • ▢ 1 stick softened salted butter
  • ▢ 1.5 teaspoons lemon extract , optional if you don’t have any on hand
  • ▢ 1 ¼ cup all-purpose flour , + 2 extra tablespoons for rolling the balls
  • ▢ 18 teaspoons jam , I used fig preserve

Instructions

  • ▢ In a stand mixer using the paddle attachment, cream the butter and cream cheese together for about 2 minutes or until smooth. You can also use a hand-held mixer and a bowl as well.
  • ▢ Once creamy, add the sugar and lemon extract and mix until smooth. Add in the flour and mix until a sticky dough forms. If there’s any flour on the sides, you can scrape it down and mix again until fully incorporated.
  • ▢ Cover the cookie dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate for one hour. After an hour, take out the dough, remove the plastic and use a small ice-cream scooper to scoop out the cookies. I scoop each cookie, roll it in a touch of flour as it will stick to your hands if you don’t.
  • ▢ Repeat this step for all 18 cookies. Place each rolled cookie onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Press each one down with your thumb to make an indent. Add a teaspoon of any jam/preserve you like to the middle.
  • ▢ Preheat the oven to 350F and bake until the edges are light and golden brown. This should take 13-15 minutes depending on the oven.
  • ▢ Let them cool completely and optionally dust with icing sugar. These are perfectly stored at room-temp for up to a week.

My Notes

Nutrition

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Elephant Ear Cookies

Equipment

  • Cutting Board
  • Baking Sheet
  • Nakiri Knife
  • Parchment Paper
  • Baking Mat

Ingredients

  • 1 puff pastry 10 by 10 inch roll
  • granulated white sugar or cinnamon sugar

Instructions

  • Defrost the puff pastry as per the package instructions. I left mine on the counter for 45 minutes and it was perfect.
  • Preheat the oven to 425F. On a wooden board, sprinkle granulated white sugar all over.
  • Unroll the puff pastry sheet, roll it into the sugar on each side and gently press. Now tightly roll each side of the puff pastry towards the middle or you can simply fold it like I did — both methods work. Both sides should meet at the middle.
  • Cut it into 12 equal pieces and place them onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper or use a silicone mat. Make sure they look like little hearts and optionally pinch the middle together so they hold their shape.
  • Bake for 15 minutes, flip them and bake for another 5-10 minutes or until golden. Enjoy!

Video

Nutrition

Elephant Ear Cookies https://themodernnonna.com/puff-pastry-cookies/ November 12, 2022