Joe Dion of North Charleston, South Carolina, writes: "Because I work in a restaurant (I'm a chef at a place called Slightly North of Broad in Charleston), I don't let my cooking at home get too complicated. I'm at the restaurant five days a week and often work on weekends, but whenever I have the chance I enjoy getting together with friends and cooking for them."
Frozen puff pastry simplifies this dessert.
Recipe information
Total Time
50 Minutes
Yield
Makes 6 servings
Ingredients
Preparation
Step 1
Preheat oven to 375°F. Using electric mixer, beat cream cheese, 1/4 cup powdered sugar, and vanilla in medium bowl until fluffy. Using same beaters, beat whipping cream in another medium bowl until peaks form. Fold whipped cream into cream cheese mixture in 3 additions. Cover mousse and refrigerate.
Step 2
Roll out pastry sheet on lightly floured surface to 14x10 1/2-inch rectangle. Cut sheet into twelve 3 1/2-inch squares. Pierce squares all over with fork. Sift 1/4 cup powdered sugar over squares. Place squares on ungreased baking sheet. Bake 12 minutes. Using metal spatula, flatten squares and continue baking until crisp and brown, about 5 minutes longer. Cool pastry squares on sheet.
Step 3
Heat preserves in small saucepan until just melted. Transfer to medium bowl. Add berries and toss to coat.
Step 4
Place 6 pastry squares on work surface. Spread each with 1/4 cup mousse. Top with 6 to 8 berries. Cover with remaining pastry squares. Dust napoleons with remaining 1/4 cup powdered sugar. Top each with berry and mint sprig. Place napoleons on plates. Serve, passing remaining berries.
