Pretty Petits Fours Recipes

PETIT FOURS

Steps:

• For the cake: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Liberally spray an 18-by13-inch sheet pan with nonstick cooking spray and line it with parchment paper. Stack the lined sheet pan inside a second sheet pan, to avoid extra browning when baking.
• In a mixing bowl, add the flour, baking powder and salt and whisk to combine. Set aside.
• In a food processor, pulse together the almond paste, granulated sugar and honey. Pulse until well combined. Open the food processor and scrape the sides and bottom with a metal spoon to check that the almond paste is completely incorporated. Add the butter, 1 tablespoon at a time, pulsing to combine after each addition.
• Add the eggs one by one, pulsing until each is completely incorporated. After the last addition, scrape down the bowl and then pulse until the batter is completely smooth and slightly fluffy. Pulse in the flour mixture until blended.
• Spread the batter evenly in the prepared sheet pan. Bake until the cake is golden brown and springs back when gently poked, 15 to 20 minutes. Let cool completely.
• While the cakes are cooling, color the Royal Icing in the colors of your choosing and add each color to a pastry bag fitted with a #2 tip. Pipe tiny flowers on a piece of parchment by making small closed spirals in one color, then add leaves to either side in the other color. Set aside to set up and harden, about 1 hour.
• Remove the cake from the sheet pan and cut in half widthwise. Spread the jam on top of one half and top with the second half. Freeze for 10 minutes to set.
• Use a serrated knife to cut the cake into 1-inch squares. Place onto a parchment-covered sheet pan and freeze for at least 1 hour.
• For the coating icing: In the meantime, add the white chocolate chips to a heatproof bowl and set over a pot of simmering water (the bowl should sit above and not touch the water). Heat, stirring, until melted and smooth.
• Sift the confectioners' sugar into a separate large bowl. Stir in the hot water and corn syrup until smooth. Stir in the melted chocolate. If the icing is too thick (it should be pourable), add more hot water 1 teaspoon at a time. Use while warm; you can reheat it in the microwave if necessary as you are working.
• Put the little cakes on a wire rack fitted inside a sheet pan lined with parchment paper. Coat the cakes with the icing using a spoon and small offset spatula, or add icing to a pastry bag, snip the corner and use to coat each cake. Top each with a hardened royal icing decoration. Allow the icing to set up before transferring to a serving platter.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fit with a paddle attachment, add the confectioners' sugar and meringue powder and beat to combine. Beat in 4 tablespoons of warm water to combine. Raise the paddle head to check the consistency of the icing; the icing should be thick and smooth but not dripping from the paddle. Add more water until the desired consistency is reached. (You can add slightly more water to achieve a flooding consistency icing to completely cover cookies. Use a stiffer consistency to pipe decorations and details.)

PETITS FOURS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 10x15 inch jellyroll pan.
• In a large bowl, beat the eggs and egg yolks using an electric mixer. Add sugar, and beat until thick and pale, about 10 minutes. If you have a stand mixer, use the whisk attachment. Sift the flour and baking powder into the egg mixture, and fold in by hand along with the milk. Stir just until the batter is mixed, then fold in the melted butter until smooth. Spread the batter evenly in the prepared pan.
• Bake for 12 to 15 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. When finished, invert the cake pan onto a sheet of waxed paper, and cool completely. This will give you nice even petits fours.
• Cut the cooled cake into small squares, rectangles or triangles, and arrange the pieces in rows on a wire rack or glazing screen with plenty of space between rows. (See Cook's Notes for flavoring suggestions). Set the rack over a shallow pan or waxed paper to catch the drips.
• Spoon or pour warmed petit four icing over the small cakes. The drippings may be scraped off of the pan or paper, and reheated for use again. Allow the petits fours to set until completely dry. Lift the cakes from the rack with a metal spatula, and trim the bottom edges with a sharp knife. Set into small muffin papers for easy handling. Decorate as desired.

PRETTY PETITS FOURS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream the butter, shortening and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in vanilla. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with milk, beating well after each addition. In a small bowl, beat egg whites until soft peaks form; gently fold into batter., Pour into a greased 9-in. square baking pan. Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack to cool completely., Cut a thin slice off each side of cake. Cut cake into 1-1/4-in. squares. Place 1/2 in. apart on a rack in a 15x10x1-in. pan., In a large bowl, combine glaze ingredients. Beat on low speed just until blended; beat on high until smooth. Apply glaze evenly over tops and sides of cake squares, allowing excess to drip off. Let dry. Repeat if necessary to thoroughly coat squares. Let dry completely., For frosting, in a small bowl, cream the butter, shortening and vanilla. Beat in confectioners' sugar and enough milk to achieve desired consistency. Place 1/2 cup each in two bowls; tint one pink and one green., Cut a small hole in the corner of a pastry or plastic bag; insert #104 tip. Fill with pink frosting; pipe a rosebud on each petit four. Insert #3 round tip into another pastry or plastic bag; fill with green frosting. Pipe a leaf under each rose.

ESPRESSO PETITS FOURS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Grease 13x9-inch pan with shortening; lightly flour. In medium bowl, beat egg whites with electric mixer on high speed until stiff peaks form, gradually adding 1/4 cup of the granulated sugar. Set aside.
• In large bowl, beat 3 egg yolks, remaining 1/2 cup granulated sugar and 1/2 cup melted butter at medium speed until creamy. Add flour, baking powder and salt. Mix on low speed until moistened. (Batter will be thick.) In small bowl, mix 1/3 cup water and espresso powder; add to batter. Beat at low speed until blended. Beat at medium speed until smooth. Fold in beaten egg whites. Spread in pan.
• Bake 18 to 23 minutes or until top springs back when touched lightly in center. Cool in pan 10 minutes. Run knife around edges to loosen; turn cake upside down onto cooling rack. Place another cooling rack on cake and turn upside down so top of cake is upright. Cool completely, about 30 minutes. Cover loosely and freeze 15 minutes or refrigerate 30 minutes.
• With long thin serrated knife, cut cake horizontally in half. Brush 3 tablespoons liqueur over cut side of bottom half. In small bowl, beat 1/2 cup butter, 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar and vanilla with electric mixer on low speed until mixed. Beat at medium speed until smooth and creamy. Place 1/2 cup almonds in food processor with metal blade. Process 10 to 15 seconds or until finely chopped. Stir into filling. Spread filling evenly over bottom half of cake. Place top of cake over filling, cut side down. Press down firmly. Cover with plastic wrap; freeze 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in medium bowl, beat all icing ingredients on low speed until smooth, adding water if necessary for drizzling consistency. Remove cake from freezer. Trim outside edges of cake to create a 10 1/2x7 1/2-inch rectangle. Cut into 7 rows by 5 rows, forming 35 squares. Place on 2 large cooling racks set over sheets of waxed paper. Using fork or spoon, drizzle and slightly spread each cake with icing. Top each with coffee bean and 1 sliced almond. Let set, about 15 minutes. Flatten 35 mini paper baking cups slightly. Place 1 cake bite on each paper. Cover loosely to store.

CHRISTMAS PETITS FOURS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, beat eggs and egg yolks until slightly thickened. Gradually add sugar, beating until thick and lemon-colored. Combine flour and baking powder; gradually add to egg mixture with milk and butter, beating well after each addition. (Batter will be thick)., Spread evenly into a greased and floured 15x10x1-in. baking pan. Bake at 350° for 12-15 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. , Cool for 10 minutes before inverting onto a wire rack to cool completely. Cut a thin slice off each side of cake. Cut cake into 1-1/4-in. squares. Freeze cakes. , In a large saucepan, combine the sugar, water and cream of tartar. Bring to a boil, without stirring, until a candy thermometer reads 226°. Cool to 100°; beat in confectioners' sugar until smooth. , Keeping glaze warm, dip cake squares into glaze with a two-tine fork, allowing excess to drip off. Place on wire racks over waxed paper. Add hot water, 1 teaspoon at a time, if glaze becomes too thick. Let dry completely. Decorate with frosting and sprinkles.

ICED PETITS FOURS

Steps:

• TO MAKE TOPPING, press jam through a fine strainer into a small saucepan; stir in water. Cook, stirring, 1 to 2 minutes or until mixture is smooth. Cool slightly. Brush over top of cake.
• Roll out marzipan thinly between 2 sheets of waxed paper. Remove 1 sheet of waxed paper from marzipan. Invert marzipan on top of cake; peel off waxed paper.
• Trim marzipan edges even with cake. Chill 30 minutes.
• Using a very sharp knife, cut cake into 1-inch squares and chill to firm. Place on a wire rack set over a baking sheet.
• If making round petits fours use a pastry cutter to cut circles of cake. Brush top and sides with topping. Cut circles of marzipan with pastry cutter. Place on top of cake. To coat sides, roll on strip of marzipan.
• TO MAKE ICING, combine corn syrup and 2 Tablespoons water in a bowl or top of a double boiler set over a pan of simmering water. Add powdered sugar and mix well. Add 1 to 2 more Tablespoons of warm water. Warm until mixture is smooth. Tint with food coloring, if desired. Carefully spoon icing over marzipanned cake. Leave to set. Decorate with flowers or fruit or pipe with melted chocolate.
• TO MAKE GENOISE: Preheat oven to 350°F Grease and flour bottom and sides of a 14 inch x 10 inch baking pan. Shake out excess flour.
• Combine eggs and sugar in a medium mixing bowl. Place bowl in a pan of hot water. Beat until mixture is very thick and just warm. Mixture should form a ribbon when beaters are lifted. Remove from heat and add vanilla. Continue beating until mixture is almost cool. Fold flour into egg and sugar mixture. Mix in butter.
• Pour batter into prepared greased pan; level top. Bake in a preheated oven 20-25 minutes or until set on top. Cool pan on a wire rack 10 minutes. Run a knife carefully around the edge. Remove from pan. Cool completely on wire rack. Use within 36 hours or wrap and freeze up to 6 weeks.
• TO MAKE MARZIPAN: Combine ground almonds and sugar in a medium bowl. Add lemon juice, sherry or brandy, and almond extract, if desired.
• Gradually mix in enough egg white to ensure that paste is sticky, but not wet.
• Knead paste until smooth on a pastry board dusted with powdered sugar. Wrap in plastic wrap. Store in refrigerator up to 4 weeks.
• Chocolates & Petits Fours.