Italian Millefoglie using puff pastry sheets is so easy to make! Also known as Mille Feuille which is the French name. Layers of puff pastry are filled with a light and airy vanilla whipped cream, but the top layer is generally dusted with icing sugar.
Sometimes millefoglie are filled with Crema Pasticcera Italian pastry Cream also known as crème pâtissière and when combined with ready made puff pastry makes the perfect go-to dessert for sharing.
Like desserts made with puff pastry? Try my easy to make Cinnamon Cream Cheese Puff Pastry Rolls, Cream Filled Pastry Horns, or Nutella Puff Pastry Turnovers.
Jump to:
In this recipe for millefoglie using store-bought puff pastry we use Dream Whip and vanilla pudding to create a light and creamy pastry cream without egg yolks.
This is the perfect after dinner dessert for a small gathering or to bring over to a friends house whether it's homemade or purchased at a pastry shop. If you like larger desserts with layers of puff pastry sheets cream try this Strawberry Millefoglie Cake which can also double as the perfect wedding cake!
This page contains affiliate links, which means I may receive commissions if you choose to purchase through links I provide (at no extra cost to you). Thank you for supporting the work I put into this site! As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Here's Why You'll Love this Dish
- Easy to make - this dessert is very easy to make and doesn't take a long time in the kitchen.
- Light and creamy - the puff pastry and cream combination is very light and isn't filling
- Puff pastry - delicate puff pastry brings a little bit of a crunch and goes very well with the light pastry cream
- Appealing - looks delicate and impressive.
- Customizable - you can add any flavor to the cream or fresh fruit or fresh berries of your choice or leave it out completely
Ingredients
You will need the following ingredients to make millefoglie made with puff pastry: frozen puff pastry, dream whip, vanilla pudding, milk.
Milk is used as the liquid of choice to create the whipped cream filling.
Vanilla pudding is used to add flavor but to also thicken and stabilize the whipped cream filling.
Dream Whip Dessert topping is used as a filling for these delicate pastries.
Frozen puff pastry dough is used as a shortcut to making your own puff pastry at home.
See recipe card for full list of ingredients and quantities.
How to Make Millefolgie using Puff Pastry Sheets and Store-Bought Dough
Roll out your puff pastry on a surface dusted with flour. You want to role out the dough to a little under the size of your baking sheet.
Carefully transfer the store-bought puff pastry onto your baking sheet and cover it with parchment paper.
Place another baking sheet on top of the parchment covered puff pastry and bake in the oven until you get a golden brown colour.
You will need to flip the puff pastry (carefully) half way through the baking - about 15 minutes.
Transfer the puff pastry onto a cooling rack and let cool.
Cut in half, then cut in half again. A serrated knife or pizza cutter can help to cut clean lines.
Continue cutting the puff pastry in half until you have enough squares to make 4 pastries 3 layers each.
Prepare the pastry cream by making Dream Whip as per the box directions and adding a tablespoon of vanilla pudding.
Place the pastry cream in a pastry bag. If you don't have a pastry bag use a sandwich bag and cut a small piece of the corner.
Start assembling the millefoglie by piping cream onto the bottom layer. Place the middle layer on top. Top the middle layer with cream and then place the third layer on top. Continue until you have used up all of the puff pastry you have cut into squares. You can also add fresh fruit in the puff pastry layers or on the top of the pastry.
Dust the top of the pastry with icing sugar (confectioner's sugar) and refrigerate for at least one hour.
But, if you are courageous you can skip the powdered sugar and top with a decorative glaze by following these instructions.
How to Make a Glaze for Millefoglie (Optional)
To make the glaze add the 3 cups powdered sugar to a bowl then add ½ tsp vanilla and a few tablespoons of milk. Whisk together then add more milk as needed until you get a thick, spreadable consistency.
Transfer about ⅓ cup of the glaze to another bowl then whisk in the ¼ cup cocoa powder and add milk (½ cup more or less) as needed until you get a smooth consistency similar to the vanilla batch.
Transfer each batch to a piping bag. You can use a smaller round tip for the chocolate or just snip the tip off. If you don't have piping tips, don't worry, just snip tiny holes.
Spread the white glaze carefully over the top layer. Then pipe out 3 chocolate stripes. Using a toothpick score across the three lines making a wish bone pattern.
Then score evenly the other way making wish bone (or chevron) patterns in the opposite directions until you have evenly made patterns right across the entire pastry top.
Don't worry if it looks messy! It will still be delicious.
If your family is like mine, you likely will not have any leftovers. So you won't need to worry about storage options!
Storage: Once you have finished assembling these pastries, they should be stored in the refrigerator for a couple of hours and then consumed within 2 days. Regrettably, these pastries do not store very well because the longer they are leftover the more the cream will soften the pastry dough.
Meal Prep Tips
It's the crispiness of the dough that really makes these pastries so special. Therefore, if you are making these you will need to make them on the day that they are consumed.
Alternatively, you could make the puff pastry ahead of time (the day before) and then make the cream filling at the time your assemble the pastries.
Possible Ingredient Substitutions
There is no doubt that Millefoglie Pastries alone are absolutely delectable. But you can too make these unique by using your imagination and creating a pastry that is all your own.
Here are some ingredients for you to consider:
- Add nuts
- Add berries
- Use a flavoured cream
- Use ganache topping
The perfect recipe isn't that far away. I'd love to know how you substituted ingredients to fit you
Mille-feuille (pronounced meel-foy) is a French pastry by origin and is made from layers of thin puff pastry alternated with a cream filling and topped with a ganache. A Mille-feuille recipe is very similar to the Italian dessert, Napoleon. The main difference is that a Napoleon is layered with almond paste instead of cream.
The term millefoglie translated to English means a thousand layers.
Millefoglie is made from puff pastry. You can make your own puff pastry or cut corners by buying it premade in the frozen section at your local grocers.
Other Recipes Using Puff Pastry Dough
Recipe Details
Homemade Italian Millefoglie using Puff Pastry
https://easyhomemaderecipes.caEquipment
Ingredients
- 7.9 oz puff pastry frozen, prepared - 1 sheet
- 1½ oz KRAFT Dream Whip Dessert Topping Mix 1 package
- ½ cup milk
- 1 tbsp vanilla Pudding Mix
Instructions
Puff Pastry
- Preheat oven to 350ºF.
- Roll out your puff pastry on a surface dusted with flour. You want to role out the dough to just the size of your baking sheet.
- Place the puff pastry on a baking sheet and cover with parchment paper.
- Place another baking sheet on top of the parchment covered puff pastry and bake in the oven until you get a golden brown colour. You will need to flip the puff pastry (carefully) half way through the baking - about 15 minutes.
- Transfer the puff pastry onto a cooling rack and let cool.
- Cut in half, then cut in half again. A pizza cutter can help to cut clean lines.
- Continue cutting the puff pastry in half until you have enough squares to make 4 pastries 3 layers each.
Pastry Cream
- Prepare the pastry cream by making Dream Whip as per the box directions and adding a tablespoon of vanilla pudding. Instead of milk use full fat cream or whipping cream.
- Place the pastry cream in a pastry bag and cut the end off, no tip is required. If you don't have a pastry bag, use a sandwich bag and cut the corner off.
Assembly
- Start assembling the mille feuille by piping cream onto the bottom layer. Place the middle layer on top. Top the middle layer with cream and then place the third layer on top. You can also add fresh fruit in the puff pastry layers or on the top of the pastry.
- Continue until you have used up all of the puff pastry you have cut into squares.
- Dust the top of the pastry with icing sugar (confectioner's sugar) and refrigerate for at least one hour.
Notes
How to Make the Glaze (Optional)
To make the glaze add the 3 cups powdered sugar to a bowl then add ½ tsp vanilla and a few tablespoons of milk. Whisk together then add more milk as needed until you get a thick, spreadable consistency. Transfer about ⅓ cup of the glaze to another bowl then whisk in the ¼ cup cocoa powder and add milk (½ cup more or less) as needed until you get a smooth consistency similar to the vanilla batch. Transfer each batch to a piping bag. You can use a smaller round tip for the chocolate or just snip the tip off. If you don't have piping tips, don't worry, just snip tiny holes.Nutrition
PIN FOR LATER HERE
Food Safety
Note that the storage guidelines provided on this page and site are estimates from personal experiences. We are all adults and as an adult you are responsible to ensure that the food you eat is safe to eat. Since, I'm not a food safety expert, you are responsible to review your local guidelines on food storage prior to storing any food left-overs.
Remember to:
- Not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
- Wash hands after touching raw meat
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave cooking food unattended
- Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove
For Canadian Guidelines check the Government of Canada Food Safety Guidelines or see more guidelines at USDA.gov.
Recipe Details
Homemade Italian Millefoglie using Puff Pastry
https://easyhomemaderecipes.caEquipment
Ingredients
- 7.9 oz puff pastry frozen, prepared - 1 sheet
- 1½ oz KRAFT Dream Whip Dessert Topping Mix 1 package
- ½ cup milk
- 1 tbsp vanilla Pudding Mix
Instructions
Puff Pastry
- Preheat oven to 350ºF.
- Roll out your puff pastry on a surface dusted with flour. You want to role out the dough to just the size of your baking sheet.
- Place the puff pastry on a baking sheet and cover with parchment paper.
- Place another baking sheet on top of the parchment covered puff pastry and bake in the oven until you get a golden brown colour. You will need to flip the puff pastry (carefully) half way through the baking - about 15 minutes.
- Transfer the puff pastry onto a cooling rack and let cool.
- Cut in half, then cut in half again. A pizza cutter can help to cut clean lines.
- Continue cutting the puff pastry in half until you have enough squares to make 4 pastries 3 layers each.
Pastry Cream
- Prepare the pastry cream by making Dream Whip as per the box directions and adding a tablespoon of vanilla pudding. Instead of milk use full fat cream or whipping cream.
- Place the pastry cream in a pastry bag and cut the end off, no tip is required. If you don't have a pastry bag, use a sandwich bag and cut the corner off.
Assembly
- Start assembling the mille feuille by piping cream onto the bottom layer. Place the middle layer on top. Top the middle layer with cream and then place the third layer on top. You can also add fresh fruit in the puff pastry layers or on the top of the pastry.
- Continue until you have used up all of the puff pastry you have cut into squares.
- Dust the top of the pastry with icing sugar (confectioner's sugar) and refrigerate for at least one hour.
NANCY says
love mille feuille and thanks for this mille feuille hack with pastry!!
Terri says
Love this shortcut version😊
Terri says
I’ve never made this before and have always wanted to! I love your shortcut! Pinned for later!!
Lisa says
This looks so delicious and I love the use of store-bought puff pastry. Thanks for sharing!
Nicoletta says
This is an awesome recipe! Easy and quick to make, and you have a bakery-style dessert!
Colleen says
Store-bought puff pastry is the best thing ever! These pastries look delicious!
Vanessa says
This is one of my husband's favourite desserts. I love how easy this version is to make at home!
Cindy Mom the Lunch Lady says
These look so good and I love how easy they are to make thanks to store bought dough!
Stephanie says
I loved making this recipe for my family! It was quick & easy, and the family really enjoyed it.
AmyG says
I'm glad to hear!