French Napoleon Pastry Recipe

ByJulie Hession March 6, 2023July 3, 2024 Updated onJuly 3, 2024

I remember the very first time that I tried a Napoleon. I was with my mom at a quintessential French bistro, where we split one for dessert. It was one of the best things that I had ever eaten. The combination of the pudding-like pastry cream and the flaky, buttery layers topped with chocolate and vanilla glaze was unlike any dessert that I had ever tasted before. Well, years later, my French Napoleon Pastry Recipe is conjuring up mouthwatering memories of that very meal.

Slice of French Napoleon Pastry on a white plate next to the whole Napoleon on a platter

What (exactly) is a Napoleon?

I'm so glad you asked!

Napoleon pastry, also known as mille-feuille, is a classic French dessert that has been enjoyed for hundreds of years. Although its origins are somewhat disputed, its name is derived from Napoleon Bonaparte, who was said to have enjoyed the pastry during his reign as Emperor of France.

This delicate dessert features a trio or crisp, buttery layers separated by a rich vanilla bean pastry cream and topped with a "feathered" decorative glaze (more on that later.) It's ideal for sharing....but you certainly don't have to.

While there are many variations on this recipe, my version, using store-bought puff pastry, makes this dessert surprisingly easy to prepare. You are more than welcome to use a homemade puff pastry, but store-bought varieties save lot of time and are of surprisingly good quality.

French Napoleon Pastry recipe on a white serving platter

Ingredients

Please refer to the recipe card, below, for specific quantities.

Vanilla Bean Pastry Cream Ingredients

Vanilla Bean: A vanilla bean is the best way to add that true natural vanilla flavor in a recipe like this, where the Vanilla Bean Pastry Cream has a starring role. Plus, the little black specks of vanilla seeds create a nice visual contrast to the pale pastry cream. That said, 1 tablespoon of pure vanilla extract can be used instead. Do not use the imitation variety if at all possible! For a tutorial on how to scrape the vanilla seeds from the pod, see the FAQ section, below.
Milk: Whole milk or 2% milk will yield the richest results, but you can use skim.
Granulated Sugar
Cornstarch: Helps to thicken the pastry cream upon heating.
Egg yolks
Salt
Cream: Heavy cream is best, but you can substitute half-and-half or whole milk.
Butter: Unsalted variety. Gives the pastry cream a nice glossy finish.

Ingredients for French Napoleon Pastry Recipe

Ingredients for assembly and icings/glazes

Frozen puff pastry: As Ina Garten would say, "Store bought is fine!" Many versions of this recipe opt to use homemade puff pastry. Guys and gals, I have attempted the homemade version before. While this time-consuming method results in a buttery, flaky, and scrumptious product......I have found that the store-bought variety is just as good. My advice? Get thee to the frozen foods section. Life is too short to make homemade puff pastry for every recipe.
Confectioner's sugar: Also referred to as icing sugar or powdered sugar.
Corn syrup: Light corn syrup gives glazes and icings a glossy, luscious sheen, but you can omit it if you don't have it on hand.
Butter: Preferably unsalted. Helps to keep the icing/glaze from hardening completely.
Milk: Whole or 2% preferred, but you can substitute skim or even coconut.
Cocoa Powder: Sift if it is particularly lumpy.

How to make this French Napoleon Pastry Recipe

Below are some step-by-step photos to help you along the way, but if you'd rather watch a quick video tutorial, check this out!:

Vanilla Bean Pastry Cream Step-by-Step Photos:

This Vanilla Bean Pastry Cream recipe comes to you directly from my first cookbook, 175 Best Mini Pie Recipes. It's great for not only Napoleons, but for cream puffs, donuts, cake and pies!

Step 1

In a medium saucepan, combine milk and vanilla bean along with vanilla seeds. Then bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat.

(See video below in FAQ section, which shows how to scrape vanilla bean seeds!)

Egg yolk, cornstarch and sugar mixture for pastry cream

Step 2

In a large bowl, whisk cornstarch, sugar, egg yolks and salt. Whisk in cream until smooth.

Step 3

Carefully remove the vanilla bean from the hot milk and then set it aside. Gradually add milk to the egg mixture, whisking constantly, until thoroughly incorporated. This slow process will "temper" the eggs while keeping them from scrambling. Transfer the mixture back to the saucepan and whisk constantly over medium heat until it almost comes to a boil and is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon, 3-4 minutes. Remove from heat and whisk in butter until smooth.

Vanilla bean custard mixture ready to refrigerate

Step 4

Transfer the pastry cream to a heatproof bowl and then cover with plastic wrap, pressing the plastic directly onto the surface. Refrigerate until cold, about 2 hours or up to 3 days.

Step-by-Step Photos for Napoleon Assembly and the Icing(s)

Puff pastry sheets rolled out and trimmed to a 12 X 12 inch square

Step 1

On a piece of parchment paper, stack the two separate pieces of thawed puff pastry. Roll them out to one 12X12-inch square, trimming with a knife afterward to make even sides. A tape measure comes in handy here!

Puff pastry sheets cut into rectangles and pricked with a fork

Step 2

Cut the square into three 4X12 inch strips and then transfer the strips to a parchment lined baking sheet, spacing apart. Prick the dough all over with a fork and chill until firm, 30 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 400F.

Baking sheet placed on top of partially baked puff pastry rectangles

Step 3

Transfer the baking sheet to the preheated oven. Bake the pastry sheets for 10 minutes, until golden around the edges. Lower oven temperature to 375F. Set another baking sheet directly on top of the pastry strips and continue to bake for 8 minutes more.

Fully baked puff pastry layers for the French Napoleon Pastry Recipe

Step 4

Remove the top baking sheet and continue to bake until the pastry is golden brown on top and bottom, checking frequently to prevent burning 5-8 minutes more. Cool completely.

Chocolate and vanilla icings for Napoleon pastry recipe. Chocolate icing is in a piping bag with a ⅛ inch piping tip

Step 5

Make the icings. In a medium bowl, whisk the confectioner's sugar, corn syrup, butter and enough of the milk to reach a consistency that is pourable but still thick. Then transfer ¼ of the icing to a small bowl and whisk in the cocoa powder until smooth. Transfer the chocolate icing to a piping bag fitted with a ⅛-inch tip.

Chocolate icing feathered with vanilla icing on Napoleon pastry top layer

Step 6

Pour the white icing onto one of the pastry strips, then spread it evenly with an offset spatula. Immediately afterward, pipe lines of the chocolate icing horizontally across the white icing, about ½-inch apart. Drag the tip of a toothpick down the length of the glazed strip in alternating directions to create a pattern. This is called "feathering." Let icing set 10 minutes.

Pastry cream piped onto Napoleon pastry layers.

Step 7

Fit a pastry bag with a ½-inch round tip then fill it with half of the pastry cream. Pipe an even layer of the pastry cream onto one of the remaining pastry strips. Then fill the pastry bag a second time with the remaining pastry cream and pipe evenly onto the remaining strip. Transfer these two pieces to a serving platter or plate, and stack them on top of each other.

Iced and stacked French Napoleon Pastry recipe on a platter

Step 8

Finally, place the glazed piece of puff pastry on top of the pastry cream. Slice with a serrated knife and serve.

Frequently Asked Questions about this French Napoleon Pastry recipe:

Can Napoleon pastries be made ahead of time?

While Napoleons can be made in advance, the pastries are best eaten the day that they are assembled. They will keep for 2-3 days in the refrigerator, tightly covered, but keep in mind that the puff pastry will soften over time.

Can pastry cream be made in advance?

Yes! The pastry cream can be prepared up to three days in advance. Line the top surface with plastic wrap and keep chilled.

What are some common variations of the French Napoleon pastry?

Napoleons are a versatile dessert, allowing for creativity with the filling and topping. You can alter the flavor of the pastry cream, or even opt for two different flavors if you are feeling ambitious. The filling can also be supplemented with fresh berries, chocolate chips, or a layer of raspberry jam. Sprinkle the glaze with chopped nuts, toffee bits, toasted coconut, or chocolate shavings.

How do you remove the seeds from a vanilla bean?

To remove the seeds from a vanilla bean, just follow these easy steps:
1. Lay the vanilla bean on a work surface and use a sharp knife to slice it down the middle, lengthwise.
2. Use the knife to scrape along the inside of the bean, from one end to the other, pressing firmly. This will remove the small black beans from the inside.
3. Place the seeds in a small bowl and use them as desired in your recipe.

**Empty vanilla bean pods can be used to infuse flavor into liquids or other ingredients. Add the pod to your container of sugar to make vanilla sugar or steep in for several months in vodka to make homemade vanilla extract!

Slices of French Napoleon Pastry on white serving plates

Want more decadent dessert recipes? Try some of these!

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