Mille-feuille

Creamy, flaky, and delicate, this French dessert can be literally translated as a thousand leaves. Mille-feuille consists of thin layers of pastry and fillings topped with cocoa, almond, or vanilla icing. Fillings may include jam, whipped cream, custard, puréed fruit, or nut paste. The first recipe for this decadent dessert appeared in La Varenne’s 1651 cookbook Le Cuisinier François. Mille-feuille’s alternative name, the Napoleon, refers not to the emperor but to the Italian city of Naples, which is known for its layered desserts. There is also a savory version of the mille-feuille filled with cheese and spinach, and it is usually served as an appetizer, especially in Italy and the United States.