Raspberry Napoleans – Valentine’s Day Dessert!

Valentine’s Day is one of my favorite days of the year.  It’s a day devoted to sharing your heart with those special to you, whether it’s your significant other, child, parent or friends.  If you’re not one to share your feelings much, Valentine’s Day gives you reason to do so. Of course, this has never been an issue for me – I make no bones about sharing my feelings anytime.

If you get my monthly newsletter then you’ve already seen a special Valentine’s Day dessert plus this one.  However, if you don’t receive it, then here’s a wonderful dessert that looks difficult but is quite simple.  Taking no time to prepare the end result is tasty, pretty and the perfect expression of your affection!

Although I’m demonstrating this dessert in a heart shape, you could cut it to be any shape from squares, triangles, to holiday shapes.  Add raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, blackberries – any type of berry or blend of berries to suit your taste.

Here’s a how-to video I put together to assist, when you’re ready to make Raspberry Napoleans -blended with one of my favorite love songs by Anita Baker, called “Rapture.”

Below the video is the recipe.  I hope you enjoy it!

(Music: Antia Baker, “Rapture”)

Raspberry Napoleans
Ingredients: 

1/4 cup granulated sugar
1-2 sheets frozen puff pastry, thawed (depending on shape used)
1 pound fresh sliced strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and/or blackberries
Sugar to taste
1 cup whipping cream
2 Tablespoons Chambord or Framboise liqueur 

1/4 cup powdered sugar 

Directions: 

 Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. 

 Sprinkle work surface with the granulated sugar.  Unroll puff pastry and place on sugar.  Drizzle with additional sugar, and roll out puff pastry to 1/16 – 1/8 inch thick.  Prick entire surface with a fork. This is called, “docking” and will keep the puff pastry from rising too much.   Cut into desired shape. Transfer to baking sheets lined with parchment paper.
 Bake for 15 minutes or until golden brown. Check the dough about mid-way through the cooking. If it’s puffing up, poke it with a fork to deflate it. When done, transfer to a rack to cool. Puff Pastry shapes can be made 1 day ahead and kept in an airtight container. 

Mix desired berries with sugar to taste – can smash lightly with a fork to get the juices to macerate quickly.  Cover and set aside for 1 hour. You can prepare the berries several hours in advance. 

 Just before assembling the dessert, whip chilled cream at high speed until soft peaks start to form. Add powdered sugar and liqueur. Whip until the peaks firmly hold their shape. 

 To assemble, add a teaspoon of whipped cream on a plate and top with one of the puff pastry shapes – this will act like glue to hold the Napoleans in place. Top with whipped cream then berries. Repeat 2 more times until you have a 3 layered Raspberry Napolean.   Serve immediately!

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37 comments

  1. Vicki…these Napoleons are beautiful and just the perfect dessert for Valentine’s Day! And I love Anita Baker’s music. ‘You Bring Me Joy’…is another favorite! Thanks for sharing this wonderful recipe! : )

  2. Ohh Vicky, these are so lovely and so cute – just perfect to have on Valentine’s Day!!Love the pink of the raspberry – suits the occasion to a T:)Hope you have a lovely valentine’s Day with your loved ones!

  3. What a treat these look like! And raspberries are my absolute, all-time favorite berry. Wish I lived closer for more lessons. Hope your Valentine’s Day is lovely!

  4. Que postre mas delicioso!
    Preciosas fotos
    Un besito!
    http://janakitchen.blogspot.com

  5. Anne – I agree “You Bring Me Love” was another choice of mine but decided on “Rapture” I love her music. Glad you like the Napoleans. They’re delicious and so easy to prepare.

    Sudha – thank you and Happy Valentine’s Day to you as well!

    Rosemary – thank you. I wish you lived closer to. I’d love for you to take a class but at least we’re foodie blogger friends.

    Jana – thank you!

  6. These napoleans looks just delicious. I am totally in love with raspberries. Happy Valentines Day to you!

  7. This is a truly beautiful dessert, Vicki! Raspberries are a perfect addition to a Valentine’s Day treat. Yum!

  8. Beautiful and delicious. A dessert which makes you think of valentine! Well done. Lovely blog!

  9. Gosh, this is a wonderful Valentine’s Day dessert…I can’t imagine who wouldn’t be thrilled with this gorgeous napoleon! Happy Valentine’s Day, Vicki!

  10. This looks delicious, Vicki and just perfect for Valentines Day! The video was terrific….seriously -great job!

  11. Vicki, I love your video! I think it was worth all that effort, don’t you? And Anita Baker is such a fabulous singer, she’s long been a favorite of mine. Now on to your Raspberry Napoleon, I’ve always wanted to try making the classic version of Napoleon but after looking at this, I’ve changed my mind and want to do a heart version instead! Have a wonderful Valentine’s to you, and may you with showered with much love and treats tomorrow and always <3.

    x Maya

  12. It’s so much fun to watch people cook. Thanks for sharing the video. (I particularly liked when you set down the spoon in the sugar and used your hand….that’s what I’d have done too!!). Napoleons are a fabulous treat for Valentine’s Day…lots of fancy without the fuss.

  13. Napoleons? Love the title and so will hubby in particular since he loves anything to do with Napoleon 😉
    Now that is one amazing, romantic dessert, Vicki.

  14. This dessert looks great! I would love it if you linked up this recipe to my blog hop for a chance to win a cookbook prize package: http://bit.ly/wJSl1h

  15. Thank you for all your comments. I hope you’ll have the chance to try this easy yet delicious recipe.

    Thank you Maya for helping me figure out how to add music easily to my video. Such an ordeal!

    Happy Valentine’s Day to those of you celebrating today in other parts of the world.

  16. Nice recipe! I don’t use puff pastry enough, and this is a particularly nice application. Great for Valentine’s Day – happy V Day to you! Thanks for this.

  17. Now that is the way to celebrate Valentine’s Day. Something sweet, comforting and downright decadent. 😉

  18. mmm..Napoleans…I can’t get enough of crumbly pastry.

  19. You make great video Vicki! I’m convinced that I can make this! Such a cute dessert. I like that you use pie sheet…because that’s pretty my what I can do with my baking skills. Enjoyed the video tutorial!

  20. These are fantastic Vicky! Your video makes it seem like even I could do this 🙂
    Happy Valentines Day, hop you are having a great one 🙂

  21. A perfect dessert to celebrate the occasion. Happy Valentine’s Day!

  22. Looks perfect – I love raspberry anything!

  23. What a beautiful dessert for Valentine’s Day or any day! Love the video Vicki–great job!

  24. What a gorgeous idea, using heart shapes and raspberries!
    Yours look heavenly Vicki! 🙂 As you know we posted a similare recipe for Valentines day using strawberries and round shapes – naughty but nice! My husband and I enjoyed them 🙂

  25. I agree Ruby!! Raspberrie anything is good for me too 🙂

  26. The video is super helpful! thansks so much!

  27. Hi Vicki, thank you for leaving a comment on my blog, I am flattered. I shall now look around your lovely blog, thanks! The napoleon looks wonderfully decadent and on a lovely holiday like Valentine’s Day it’s nice to splurge a bit.

  28. I am a *huge* Anita Baker fan and think her music is so romantic…I haven’t heard rapture in ages (have it playing as I type) – thank you for this! Your raspberries are Valentine’s Day perfect dressed up in these napoleans – looks beautiful Vicki. I feel the same way about Valentine’s Day. Any excuse to spread more love in the world works for me ;).

  29. Looks like the perfect dessert for Valentines Day! 😀

  30. Viki, what an easy explanation! The video is really useful. Thanks for sharing such an amazing Valentine’s post with all of us. Thinking of you…
    http://cosmopolitancurrymania.blogspot.com

  31. Oooh! Great video 🙂 I might actually be able to pull this one off! We spent Valentines at the vet…I’d have much rather have been eating one of your super yummy napoleans

  32. PS…my blog designer “thinks” my email button is working….I haven’t tested it, but it’s worth a shot 🙂

  33. What a great desserts for the home celebration of Valentine’s Day, very nice and tempting one Vicky.

  34. That really looks like an ultimate Valentine’s day treat. I would love that on any day!
    I love fruit in my desserts.

  35. What a beautiful dessert. I would like a plate, now!

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