My daughter’s Leigh’s favorite dessert is Petit Fours, and these remind me just like her: sweet, pretty and incredible! I thought for Easter and spring, I would offer this recipe from Land O Lakes butter that I use when I’m short on time. It uses a cake mix which really cuts down on the work. These are light and taste as good as they look.
Petit Fours
20 minutes
2 hours
4 dozen
Cake Ingredients
1 (18 1/2-ounce) package white cake mix
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
Icing Ingredients
3 cups sugar
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 1/2 cups water
1 cup powdered sugar, sifted
1 teaspoon almond extract or vanilla
3 drops food color
Candy flowers, if desired
Frosting flowers, if desired
1. Heat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour 2 (8-inch) square baking pans. Set aside.
2. Prepare cake mix according to package directions, adding 1/2 teaspoon almond extract with water. Evenly divide cake batter between prepared pans. Bake for 20 to 30 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans. Cool completely. Trim edges from cake; cut each cake into 24 (1 1/2 x 1-inch) pieces.
For the icing:
1. Combine sugar, cream of tartar and water in 3-quart saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until mixture comes to a full boil (12 to 14 minutes). Cover; boil 3 minutes. Uncover; continue cooking until candy thermometer reaches (228°F. to 234°F.) or small amount of mixture dropped into ice water forms a 2-inch soft thread (15 to 20 minutes). Remove from heat; cool to 110°F. or until bottom of pan is slightly warm to touch (do not stir) (1 hour). Stir in powdered sugar, 1 teaspoon almond extract and food color.
2. Place wire rack on baking sheet. Place cake pieces cut-side up on wire rack. Carefully spread icing over edges of cake pieces using small spatula or spoon. Spoon about 1 tablespoon over top of each cake and let drizzle over sides. Repeat, coating each piece twice, if needed. (If icing becomes too thick, reheat over low heat until thin consistency and easy to drizzle (2 to 3 minutes)). Scrape icing from baking sheet; reuse, if needed. Garnish each petit four with candy flowers or frosting flowers, if desired.
How pretty! Perfect for Easter Sunday. How talented you are!
i worked on this recipe when I was a free-lancer in the test kitchens at Land O’Lakes. Mine didn’t look nearly as pretty!
I am a Savages petit four junkie! Cant wait to make these, What cake mix brand do you suggest?
When i was a little kiddo, my favorite treats were also petit fours! I think there’s something very Alice in Wonderland about these desserts – so pretty!
So sweet! I’ll bet your daughter absolutely loved these.
Alison, these are such a special and sweet treat for your precious daughter!