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Strawberry Napoleons: Easy Puff Pastry Dessert with 5 Flaky Layers

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These Strawberry Napoleons feature five layers of crisp, golden puff pastry stacked with sweet strawberries and pillowy whipped cream, finished with a dusting of powdered sugar. It’s an easy, bakery-worthy dessert perfect for celebrations or a special treat at home.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 sheets frozen puff pastry, thawed
  • 1 pound fresh strawberries, hulled and thinly sliced
  • 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice, freshly squeezed
  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream, cold
  • 2 tablespoons powdered sugar (plus more for dusting)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 egg, beaten with 1 tablespoon water (for egg wash)
  • Optional: vanilla syrup for brushing baked layers

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. Unfold puff pastry sheets on a lightly floured surface. Roll each sheet lightly to about 1/8-inch thick if needed. Slice each sheet into 10 rectangles (about 2×4 inches). You’ll have 20 pieces total.
  3. Arrange rectangles on the prepared baking sheet, leaving space between each. Brush tops lightly with egg wash. Prick each rectangle a few times with a fork.
  4. Bake for 12-15 minutes, until deep golden brown and puffed. Cool completely on a rack.
  5. While pastry cools, toss sliced strawberries with granulated sugar and lemon juice. Let sit for at least 15 minutes, then drain excess liquid.
  6. In a chilled bowl, beat heavy whipping cream with powdered sugar and vanilla extract until soft peaks form (2-3 minutes). Optionally, add 1 tablespoon vanilla syrup.
  7. To assemble, lay out one pastry rectangle as the base. Top with whipped cream and strawberries. Repeat, stacking four more pastry layers, cream, and berries, ending with a pastry top.
  8. Brush pastry tops with vanilla syrup if desired, then dust with powdered sugar.
  9. Chill assembled Napoleons for 10 minutes before serving. Garnish with a strawberry fan or fresh mint.

Notes

For best results, keep puff pastry cold until baking. Drain strawberries well to prevent soggy layers. Assemble Napoleons just before serving for maximum crispness. For gluten-free or dairy-free versions, use gluten-free puff pastry and coconut whipped cream. Stabilize whipped cream with instant pudding mix if making ahead.

Nutrition

Keywords: Strawberry Napoleons, puff pastry dessert, easy French dessert, strawberries and cream, bakery-style, brunch, spring dessert, flaky layers, whipped cream, fruit dessert

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