What are petit fours?

These sweet and savoury bites are a favourite part of afternoon teas where their small size and mix of both sweet and savoury flavours makes them perfect for sharing. The name petit four means ‘small oven’ in French and refers to them being made in the stored heat of 18th century brick ovens as they slowly cooled down so as not to waste any of the heat. Today you are likely to find a small plate of petit fours presented at the end of a meal or enjoyed with a pot of tea in a café.

Petit four types

There are three main types of French petit fours:

Petit four frais

These are the iced and decorated cakes that are usually covered in fondant or other types of glossy icing. This category also includes sugar-coated fruit and rinds and any sweet treat that has a very short shelf life. Some of the most famous petit four frais include:

Miniature éclairs

These small éclairs can be traditional chocolate or something a little more unexpected, like passionfruit or green tea. Éclairs are best made just before serving so that they don’t turn soggy.

Miniature cakes

Here you’ll usually find small versions of larger cakes, such as gateaux opera. Opt for miniature teacakes, iced sponges or even little friands.

Tartlets

Here the most common tartlets are those that are light and fresh, such as a fruit tart or lemon tart. Make a simple fruit tartlet by filling pastry shells with pastry cream and topping with seasonal fruit.

Cream puffs

Fill your cream puffs with billowy Chantilly cream and finish them with a dusting of icing sugar.

Other petit fours frais to try:

  • Babas
  • Marzipan truffles
  • Miniature iced cakes
  • Small fruit and chocolate mousse cups
  • Orangettes

Petit four salé

These are the savoury bites that usually accompany a glass of wine or champagne. These are likely to appear at the beginning of a meal and are perfect to nibble on while you wait for the main affair. Some of the most famous petit four salé include:

Cheese straws

These savoury bites are easy to make, requiring just a few ingredients, and are the perfect nibble with a glass of wine. Try using your favourite cheese, add a sprinkling of poppy seeds or sesame seeds and finish with a dusting of sea salt and smoked paprika.

Gougeres

These cheesy choux pastry puffs are impossibly light and the perfect accompaniment to a glass of champagne. Here, the cheese of choice is gruyere, and it’s worth finding the very best that you can as it really is the hero of the dish.

Miniature croissants

Make a miniature version of this breakfast favourite to balance out a selection of sweet and savoury treats, or as a nibble as part of the larger canapé spread. Try toasting them with a ham and cheese filling for something a little more filling.

Miniature quiches

These French favourites can be filled with anything you like – salmon, cheese, herbs, crab or ham.

Other petit fours salé to try:

  • Cheese biscuits
  • Savoury tartlets
  • Puff pastry pinwheels
  • Mini pizzas
  • Savoury palmiers

Sec

Meaning ‘dry’ in French, these refer to the dainty biscuits, meringues, puff pastry treats and other cooked, but un-glazed treats. Some of the most famous petit four sec include:

Meringues

Leave the cream and fruit behind and instead choose French-style meringues that are served plain but packed full of flavourful additions including coffee, caramel, chocolate or ground nuts.

Macarons

Nothing says French petit fours quite like a plate a delicate macarons. Available in a whole spectrum of colours, from candy cane pink to sunshine yellow, letting you choose a hue to match your colour scheme. Although macarons can be intimidating to make, once you master the base recipe you can alter them to make a whole selection of different flavours.

Marshmallows

If you’ve ever wanted to make your own marshmallows, this is a great opportunity. One thing you’re sure to find is they’re not nearly as difficult as you imagine. To achieve the perfect fluffy consistency, don’t cut down on the time it needs to beat. Set a timer for 10 minutes and let it fluff up to its full potential.

Shortbread

Opt for delicate plain butter shortbread, or perhaps add a little citrus zest to lighten the biscuits and add a little zing. These biscuits can be made well ahead of time and stored in an airtight container until needed.

Palmiers

Made from rolled up all-butter puff pastry, these delicate leaf-shaped biscuits are crispy, crunchy and sinfully sweet. They are quick and easy to make and can also be made with savoury ingredients, turning them into a petit four sal.

Other petit four sec to try:

  • Tuiles
  • Langues de chat
  • Butter biscuits
  • Sablés
  • Financiers

How to serve petit fours

When serving petit fours, pay attention to presentation as this is an important part of displaying these delicate bites. Savouries should be presented on a serving tray or plate, and never piled on top of each other. Sweets should be presented on a small plate so that your handy work can be on full display.

If you opt to serve them at the end of a meal, include two different petit four per person. For an opulent afternoon tea, choose three savoury and five sweet options. For a savoury-only selection, allow six petit four sal per person to keep everyone happy.