In this instructable I will show you how to make Napoleon. This is an easy homemade strawberry Napoleon made from a puff pastry. What is a Napoleon Dessert? It is a traditional French dessert similar to but slightly different then Mille-feuille. It consists of layers of flaky puff pastry filled with some kind of pastry cream and then the top is decorated as well. There are so many variations that you can do. This one is super easy to make if I can do it, you can do it. Let's get baking!

Have you ever had a Napoleon or Mille-feuille? Drop a comment down below and let me know what your favorite kind is. :)

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Follow the easy steps or watch the video tutorial or do both! :)

Step 1: Ingredients/Tools

You may print this recipe here.

Ingredients:

1 frozen puff pastry sheet (or homemade) (245g)
1 box of instant vanilla pudding (3 ounce size) (95g)
1 cup of milk (250ml)
1 1/2 cups of whipped topping or sweetened whipped cream (90g)
1 1/2 cups of sliced strawberries (165g)
Powdered sugar (confectioner's sugar) for dusting
Melted chocolate for drizzle (optional)

Tools:

pizza roller or knife ruler (optional)
bowls
sheet pan
parchment paper or silicone mat
spatula
whisk

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Step 2: Cut That Pastry

First we need to thaw out our frozen puff pastry, or you can make your own puff pastry. At some point I will make a video and instructable on how to make your own puff pastry. Now let's cut 12 equal rectangles from our puff pastry. I like to use a clean ruler and a pizza roller.

Step 3: Bake Bake Bake

Next let's place those pastries on a silicone mat lined sheet pan or you can use parchment paper as well. Bake in a preheated oven at 400 F (205 C) for 13 to 15 minutes until nice and golden brown. After they are done let them cool for a few minutes in the pan, then place them on a wired rack and let them cool completely.

Step 4: Start the Pudding

Next let's add our pudding mix to a medium bowl and add the milk. Mix well with a whisk and spatula. Then let it set for a few minutes.

Step 5: Combine With Whipped Topping

Now let's combine our sweetened whipped cream or whipped topping with our vanilla pudding. Don't mix, fold them together with a spatula.

Step 6: Cut Those Pastries

Now let's cut all of our puff pastries in half with a knife.

Step 7: Put It All Together

Now it is time to assemble these! :) Put your pastry cream mixture in a pastry bag or use a large ziplock bag with the corner snipped, or you can just spoon it on. Then add some to one of the pastry pieces. Next add some strawberries and a bit of cream on top of those. Next layer again, until we have three layers of puff pastry with the pastry cream and strawberries in between. Then on the very top you can do a dollop of cream and a slice of strawberry.

Step 8: Top and Serve

Now we can also add some melted chocolate if you like, and don't forget to unleash a snow storm of powdered sugar (confectioner's sugar). For the chocolate, I just added some chocolate to a small ziplock bag and snipped the corner to created a small piping bag. Place the Strawberry Napoleons in the fridge until ready to serve. :) Enjoy!