Mary berry petit fours
Mary berry petit fours are small, bite-sized confections that are perfect for serving at tea parties or as a sweet treat after dinner. They typically consist of layers of sponge cake, jam, and buttercream frosting, which are cut into small squares or rectangles and then coated with fondant icing. The result is a colorful and elegant dessert that is both visually appealing and delicious. Mary Berry has several recipes for petit fours in her collection of cookbooks, each with its own unique twist on this classic French pastry.
Why people also love Mary berry petit fours
People love Mary Berry’s petit fours for several reasons. Firstly, they are visually stunning and can be decorated in a variety of ways to suit any occasion or theme. Secondly, the combination of sponge cake, jam, buttercream frosting and fondant icing creates a deliciously sweet and indulgent flavor that is hard to resist. Additionally, their small size makes them perfect for sharing with friends or enjoying as an individual treat without feeling guilty about consuming too many calories.
Ingredients:
- 175g self-raising flour
- 175g caster sugar
- 175g softened butter
- 3 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Apricot jam (or any other flavor you prefer)
- Buttercream frosting (flavored with lemon or orange zest)
- Fondant icing in various colors
Instructions:
- Preheat your oven to 180°C/160°C fan/gas mark 4.
- Grease and line an oblong baking tin with parchment paper.
- In a mixing bowl, beat together the softened butter, caster sugar, self-raising flour, eggs and vanilla extract until smooth.
- Pour mixture into the prepared tin and bake for around 25 minutes or until golden brown on top and a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Leave to cool in the tin for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
- Once cooled, trim off any edges and cut the cake into small squares or rectangles.
- Spread apricot jam over one side of each square/rectangle, followed by a layer of buttercream frosting on top of that.
- Place them in the fridge for about 30 minutes until they firm up slightly.
- Roll out your fondant icing on a surface dusted with icing sugar and cut it into pieces large enough to cover each petit four.
- Brush some water onto each petit four before placing them face down onto their respective piece of fondant icing – this will help them stick together better when you flip them over later!
- Carefully trim away any excess icing and use a knife to score lines or create patterns on the top.
- Leave them to set for a few hours before serving.
Quick Facts
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour and 55 minutes (including cooling time)
- Difficulty: Intermediate
- Yield: Makes about 20 petit fours
Equipment Needed:
- Oblong baking tin
- Parchment paper
- Mixing bowl
- Wire rack
- Knife or cutter
- Rolling pin
Serving Suggestions:
These petit fours are perfect for serving at tea parties, bridal showers, baby showers, or any other special occasion. They can be served on a platter with fresh flowers as decoration to make them look even more elegant.
Expert Tips & Tricks:
To save time and effort when decorating your petit fours with fondant icing, you can use pre-made fondant instead of making it from scratch. You can also use different colors of fondant to create a variety of designs and patterns on top of your petit fours.
Presentation:
To present your petit fours beautifully, you can arrange them on a platter or cake stand with fresh flowers or other decorative elements around them. You can also dust some powdered sugar over the top for an extra touch of elegance. Remember that presentation is key when it comes to making your baked goods look even more delicious!
Variations and substitutions you can make for Mary berry petit fours recipe:
- Flavors: You can switch up the flavors of your petit fours by using different types of jam, such as raspberry or strawberry, or even a fruit curd like lemon or passionfruit.
- Frosting: If you’re not a fan of buttercream frosting, try substituting it with cream cheese frosting instead. This will give your petit fours a tangy flavor that pairs well with sweet fondant icing.
- Cake Base: Instead of using sponge cake as the base for your petit fours, try using pound cake or genoise cake instead. These denser cakes will hold up better when layered with jam and frosting.
- Icing: If making fondant from scratch seems daunting to you, you can substitute it with melted chocolate ganache instead. Simply melt some chocolate and cream together, then pour it over your petit fours and let it set.
- Decoration: You can get creative with the decoration of your petit fours by using different types of sprinkles or edible glitter to add some sparkle and shine. You could also use fresh fruit slices on top for a more natural look.
- Gluten-Free Option: To make this recipe gluten-free, you can substitute the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend that is suitable for baking.
- Vegan Option: For a vegan version of these petit fours, you can substitute the butter in both the cake and frosting recipes with plant-based margarine or coconut oil, and use vegan-friendly jam instead of regular jam.
Recommendations and notices:
- Be sure to measure your ingredients accurately, especially when it comes to the sponge cake base. Too much or too little flour can affect the texture of your cake.
- Allow enough time for cooling between steps, as this will help prevent the layers from sliding around or melting together.
- When cutting your cake into small squares, use a sharp knife and wipe it clean after each cut to ensure neat edges.
- If you’re using fondant icing, be careful not to roll it too thin or it may tear when placing on top of the cakes.
- Don’t worry if your petit fours aren’t perfect – they’re meant to be a fun and whimsical treat!
- Store leftover petit fours in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or in the fridge for up to a week. They can also be frozen for longer storage.
- If you’re making petit fours for a special occasion, consider using food coloring to tint your fondant icing or frosting to match the theme of your event.
- Remember that this recipe requires some patience and attention to detail – but the end result is definitely worth it! Enjoy creating these beautiful and delicious treats with friends and family.
FAQ for Mary berry petit fours
Yes! You can bake the sponge cake up to a day ahead of time and store it in an airtight container at room temperature.
No, you can use any type of frosting or filling that you prefer – just be sure it’s thick enough to hold up between layers.
It usually takes about 30 minutes for fondant icing to set on top of your petit fours. If you’re using royal icing instead, allow several hours for it to harden completely.
Yes! Once your petit fours are fully assembled and decorated, you can freeze them for up to a month. Make sure to wrap them tightly in plastic wrap and store them in an airtight container.
Absolutely! Feel free to experiment with different flavor combinations – just keep in mind that some flavors may complement each other better than others.
This recipe makes about 24 petit fours, depending on the size of your cake squares.
Yes! You can substitute the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend and use plant-based margarine or coconut oil instead of butter for a vegan version.
Conclusion
Mary Berry’s petit fours are an elegant and delicious treat that are perfect for any occasion. They consist of layers of sponge cake, jam, buttercream frosting, and fondant icing which creates a sweet and indulgent flavor that is hard to resist. While they may take some time to prepare, following Mary Berry’s recipe will ensure impressive results every time – making these petit fours accessible even to novice bakers who want to impress their guests with something special!
