Petits Fours

Total Time Prep: 1-1/4 hours Bake: 20 min. + cooling
Yield about 4 dozen (3 cups frosting)
Test Kitchen Approved
Our petits fours recipe creates traditional intricate and delicate mini cakes that look straight out of a boulangerie.

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup butter, softened
  • 1/4 cup shortening
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1-1/3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2/3 cup whole milk
  • 3 large egg whites, room temperature
  • GLAZE:
  • 2 pounds confectioners' sugar
  • 2/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons water
  • 2 teaspoons orange extract
  • FROSTING:
  • 6 tablespoons butter, softened
  • 2 tablespoons shortening
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 3 cups confectioners' sugar
  • 3 to 4 tablespoons whole milk
  • Gel, liquid or paste food coloring
  • Gold sugar pearls, optional

Directions

  1. In a large bowl, cream the butter, shortening and sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Beat in vanilla. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with milk, beating well after each addition. In a small bowl, beat egg whites until soft peaks form; gently fold into batter.
  2. Pour into a greased 9-in. square baking pan. Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack to cool completely.
  3. Cut a thin slice off each side of cake. Cut cake into 1-1/4-in. squares. Place 1/2 in. apart on a rack in a 15x10x1-in. pan.
  4. In a large bowl, combine glaze ingredients. Beat on low speed just until blended; beat on high until smooth. Apply glaze evenly over tops and sides of cake squares, allowing excess to drip off. Let dry. Repeat if necessary to coat squares thoroughly. Let dry completely.
  5. For frosting, in a small bowl, cream butter, shortening and vanilla. Beat in confectioners' sugar and enough milk to achieve desired consistency. Place 1/3 cup in each of 2 bowls; tint 1 pink and 1 green. Leave remaining frosting plain.
  6. Using a small star tip, decorate petits fours with frosting. If desired, garnish with sugar pearls.

Nutrition Facts

1 petit four: 171 calories, 4g fat (2g saturated fat), 7mg cholesterol, 70mg sodium, 33g carbohydrate (30g sugars, 0 fiber), 1g protein.

Add a delicate touch to your dessert table with these bite-sized cakes. We decorated the tops with simple buttercream rosettes and gold sugar pearls, but feel free to try your hand at other designs. —Taste Recipes Test Kitchen
Recipe Creator

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