be my valentine napoleons

Name: Be My Valentine Napoleons
Prep time: 40 min
Cook time: 12 min
Yield: 5
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1/2 medium thin-skinned orange; 6 ounce(s) fresh or frozen cranberries; 1/2 cup(s) granulated sugar; 1/4 cup(s) toasted pecans, finely chopped; 1/2 teaspoon(s) fresh grated ginger; 8 ounce(s) mascarpone cheese; 1 cup(s) plus 3 tablespoons heavy cream, divided use; 6 tablespoon(s) powdered sugar plus more for garnish; 1 teaspoon(s) vanilla; 1/2 package(s) (17.3-ounce) puff pastry sheet; 1 ounce(s) dark chocolate, coarsely chopped

(1 RATING)

498 Pinches 2 Photos

Suzanne Banfield

Basking Ridge, NJ

Updated on Feb 23, 2016

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.

Rate

Be My Valentine Napoleons - beautiful, decadent, fun-to-make and not too sweet!

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

prep time 40 Min

cook time 12 Min

method Bake

yield 5 servings

Ingredients

1/2 medium thin-skinned orange
6 ounces fresh or frozen cranberries
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup toasted pecans, finely chopped
1/2 teaspoon fresh grated ginger
8 ounces mascarpone cheese
1 cup plus 3 tablespoons heavy cream, divided use
6 tablespoons powdered sugar plus more for garnish
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 package (17.3-ounce) puff pastry sheet
1 ounce dark chocolate, coarsely chopped

How To Make be my valentine napoleons

Step 1

Heat oven to 400 Degrees F. Line baking sheet with parchment paper. Wash and dry the orange half, then coarsely chop it.

Step 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.
Step 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.
Step 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.
Step 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.
Step 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.
Step 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.
Step 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.
Step 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.
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