Petits Fours: Delectable And Dainty Desserts

Petits fours are small bite-sized cakes or pastries that are generally served as a dessert after or as part of a large buffet meal. Petits fours are also often served with afternoon tea.

The French term petits fours when literally translated means “small oven”, which came from the cooking method use to make these cakes. In the past, the French baked cakes in ovens fueled by coal, which reached high temperatures, and after large cakes are baked the ovens would still be hot enough to bake smaller cakes. These small cakes are what are known today as petits fourss.

Generally, petits fours are about an inch square and 2 inches high. They are made with layers of cake and frosting, usually, butter cream but you can also use other flavors such As chocolate, coffee, almond or vanilla extract, orange, or cream cheese. The layers then are coated with fondant, often in pastel colors. Because petits fours are basically small cakes, you can decorate them with candy embellishments much like you would regular sized cakes although sugar roses are typically used.

These dessert treats have two basic types, which are called sec and glacé. Sec means dry so petits fours sec are the ones that do not require any embellishments once baked. You can serve them for dessert as is and these confections include puff pastries, ladyfingers, baked meringues and macaroons.

Glacé, on the other hand, means iced so petits fours glace need icing, glaze or some other decoration after they are baked. Petits fours glacé may also be filled with jam, chocolate, cream or other sweet filling. A good base for petits fours glace is a mini sponge cake or angel food cake. Examples of petits fours glacé are tarts, eclairs and mini fondant or frosted cakes.

As an afternoon snack, petits fours are traditionally served with tea accompanies by ice cream or any sweet frozen dessert. As a dessert after a large meal, petits fours are served with a dessert beverage such as coffee, tea, dessert wine or liquor.

Some excellent flavor combinations for petits fours are vanilla with marzipan and raspberry filling, orange chocolate petits fours, and fudge mint petits fours. Of course, the variety of flavors that you can use as well as the shapes and decoration are practically endless. That is why you can petits fours make delightful desserts in any occasion from baby or bridal showers to a formal business dinner or luncheon or a wedding reception.