Ingredients
October 11, 2024 By PastryClass

What is Feuilletine and How Does It Add Crunch to Pastries?

Feuilletine is a crispy, caramelized pastry ingredient that adds an irresistible crunch to desserts. Learn how to use it to elevate your pastries!
What is Feuilletine and How Does It Add Crunch to Pastries?
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Feuilletine is a crispy, caramelized confection made from thin layers of baked crêpes, broken into delicate flakes. Known for its subtle sweetness and irresistible crunch, feuilletine has become a go-to ingredient for pastry chefs looking to add both texture and flavor to their creations.

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What is Feuilletine Made From?

Feuilletine is traditionally made by baking very thin crêpes until they’re golden and crisp, then crushing them into small flakes. These flakes have a lightly toasted, nutty flavor and a brittle, crunchy texture. Though they are delicate, feuilletine flakes hold up well in many pastry applications, adding a satisfying crunch to otherwise soft or creamy desserts.

Why Use Feuilletine in Pastries?

Feuilletine’s unique texture makes it an ideal addition to layered desserts, confections, and chocolates. Here's why it's beloved by pastry chefs:

  • Crunch Factor: Feuilletine provides a contrasting crunch in desserts like mousses, pralines, and chocolate confections. This textural contrast elevates the eating experience, balancing creamy or soft elements with a satisfying bite.
  • Flavor Enhancement: Its toasty, caramelized flavor complements rich ingredients like chocolate, nuts, and buttercream, adding depth to the overall flavor profile of the pastry.
  • Versatility: Feuilletine can be used in a variety of ways—folded into ganache, layered between cream and cake in entremets, or added to pralines and chocolate bars for a crispy surprise.

Here are a few classic and creative ways feuilletine can be incorporated into pastry creations:

  • Crunchy Praline Layers: In layered desserts like entremets, feuilletine is often combined with praline paste to create a crunchy layer between softer components, such as mousse or sponge cake.
  • Chocolate Bars & Bonbons: Feuilletine adds a crisp texture to chocolate confections. It’s frequently folded into melted chocolate to create a delicate yet crunchy praline filling in bonbons.
  • Pastry Bases: Some chefs mix feuilletine into chocolate or caramel and press it into the bottom of tart shells or other desserts to create a crunchy, flavorful base.
  • Cakes & Entremets: Feuilletine can be layered between cake and mousse to provide a surprising, crispy bite that contrasts with the softness of other elements.

Feuilletine vs. Other Crunchy Additives

While there are other ingredients that add crunch to desserts, such as nuts or cookie crumbs, feuilletine stands out for its lightness and delicate texture. It doesn’t overpower a dessert the way some heavier elements might, making it a perfect choice for creating refined, intricate textures in modern pastry.

Where to Find Feuilletine

You can find feuilletine in specialty baking stores or online suppliers. If you can’t find it, you can make a substitute by baking crêpes or thin wafers and crushing them into flakes, though achieving the perfect balance of caramelization and crispness may take some practice.

Feuilletine may be a subtle ingredient, but it plays a powerful role in elevating the texture and flavor of pastries. Its versatility and delicate crunch make it a favorite among pastry chefs who are always looking for new ways to enhance their creations. Whether folded into chocolate or layered in a cake, feuilletine adds a delightful surprise to every bite.

October 11, 2024 By PastryClass
Ksenia Penkina
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Ksenia Penkina

The only way of making your glaze shiny is by looking from inside of the cake.

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