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be my valentine napoleons

(1 rating)
SBcooks avatar
Blue Ribbon Recipe by
Suzanne Banfield
@SBcooks
Basking Ridge, NJ

My sweetheart (aka my husband) prefers desserts that are not too sweet. Since our wedding anniversary and Valentine’s Day occur in the same week, this luscious pastry is our special annual treat. Crisp puff pastry is filled with mascarpone cream and brightened with a cranberry-orange-pecan relish. A drizzle of dark chocolate adds to the decadence.

Blue Ribbon Recipe

What a beautiful dessert for someone special. Cutting hearts out of the puff pastry is easy and the final outcome is very impressive. The filling is so creamy I could eat that alone with a spoon! The cranberry relish is sweet and sour, and the nuts add an occasional crunch. Loved chocolate drizzled on top. It's the perfect final touch!

— The Test Kitchen @kitchencrew
(1 rating)
yield 5 servings
prep time 40 Min
cook time 12 Min
method Bake

Ingredients For be my valentine napoleons

  • 1/2 md
    thin-skinned orange
  • 6 oz
    fresh or frozen cranberries
  • 1/2 c
    granulated sugar
  • 1/4 c
    toasted pecans, finely chopped
  • 1/2 tsp
    fresh grated ginger
  • 8 oz
    mascarpone cheese
  • 1 c
    plus 3 tablespoons heavy cream, divided use
  • 6 Tbsp
    powdered sugar plus more for garnish
  • 1 tsp
    vanilla
  • 1/2 pkg
    (17.3-ounce) puff pastry sheet
  • 1 oz
    dark chocolate, coarsely chopped

How To Make be my valentine napoleons

  • 1
    Heat oven to 400 Degrees F. Line baking sheet with parchment paper. Wash and dry the orange half, then coarsely chop it.
  • 2
    In a bowl of food processor, pulse orange and cranberries until finely chopped but not pureed. Transfer to bowl; stir in granulated sugar, pecans, and ginger. Refrigerate 2 hours or overnight.
  • 3
    Beat mascarpone on medium speed of mixer until soft. Add 1 cup of cream, 6 tablespoons powdered sugar and vanilla; beat until fluffy. Refrigerate until needed.
  • 4
    Thaw pastry sheet as directed on package. Unfold thawed pastry on lightly floured surface and lightly flour the top surface. Roll out to an 11x11-inch square.
  • 5
    Using cookie cutters, cut out five large (4-inch), five medium (3-inch) and five small (1 1/2-inch) hearts. Cut out extra small hearts with any remaining dough to use as garnish.
  • 6
    Place all the hearts on the prepared baking sheet; bake for about 12 minutes or until golden. Cool on wire rack for at least 10 minutes.
  • 7
    Heat remaining 3 tablespoons cream in microwave for 30 seconds; add chocolate and stir to melt. Microwave for 10 seconds at a time if needed to fully melt chocolate.
  • 8
    To assemble pastries, split the large and medium hearts in half with a serrated knife. Pipe (or spoon) filling into bottoms of hearts, add a spoonful of cranberry relish and finish with the top hearts. Add a layer of filling and relish to top of the large heart; set the filled medium heart on top. Then add cream and relish to the top of the medium heart and finish with the small heart.
  • 9
    Drizzle chocolate sauce over the pastry. Repeat with remaining hearts. Extra small hearts can be dusted with powdered sugar and used as a garnish.
  • Last Step: Don't forget to share! Make all your friends drool by posting a picture of your finished recipe on your favorite social network. And don't forget to tag Just A Pinch and include #justapinchrecipes so we can see it too!
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