The Perfect Mille-Feuille: Secrets of French Pastry Revealed

Introduction
The Mille-Feuille, also known as the Napoleon, is a classic French pastry featuring delicate layers of buttery puff pastry filled with silky pastry cream and topped with a beautiful glaze. This elegant dessert is crisp, creamy, and perfectly sweet—ideal for impressing guests or indulging in a luxurious homemade treat.

Ingredients
For the Puff Pastry:
230g butter (preferably Poitou-Charentes)

250g flour

½ tsp salt

120ml cold water

For the Pastry Cream:
375g pastry cream (see instructions below)

4 egg yolks

500ml milk

100g sugar

2 tbsp flour or cornstarch

½ tsp vanilla powder

For Decoration:
Powdered sugar (for dusting)

Melted chocolate (for the cone design)

How to Make
Step 1: Prepare the Puff Pastry