Mille-feuille with Figs

The mille-feuille with figs is a refined and delicious dessert that combines the crispiness of puff pastry with the sweetness of figs. Here’s how to prepare it, with an Italian touch that never goes amiss.

Ingredients

• 250 grams of ready-made puff pastry (or homemade, if you prefer)
• 250 grams of fresh figs
• 250 ml of custard cream
• Powdered sugar to taste
• Honey to taste (preferably fig or wildflower)
• Toasted slivered almonds (optional)
• A pinch of cinnamon (optional)

Preparation

1. Start by preheating the oven to 200 °C.
2. Unroll the puff pastry and cut it into equal rectangles (for example, 8x12 cm). Place the rectangles of puff pastry on a baking tray lined with parchment paper.
3. Bake the rectangles of puff pastry until they become golden and puffed up, about 10-15 minutes. Once baked, allow them to cool completely.
4. In the meantime, wash the figs and cut them into thin slices.
5. When the puff pastry is cool, begin constructing the mille-feuille by alternating layers of puff pastry, custard cream, and slices of fig.
6. Continue to stack the layers until you finish with a layer of puff pastry on top, then dust with powdered sugar.
7. For a final touch, drizzle some honey over the figs and, if you like, a sprinkle of cinnamon and toasted almond slivers for decoration.

Curiosity

The mille-feuille is a classic of French patisserie, but with the addition of figs and cinnamon, it takes on a more Mediterranean character. It is important to work with cold puff pastry to maintain its crispiness. This dessert is perfect to serve as a meal’s finale, perhaps paired with a good sweet wine or a passito, which will enhance the sweetness of the figs without overwhelming it.