Fancy Petit Fours Recipe
Fancy Petit Fours are elegant, bite-sized cakes coated with a smooth poured fondant icing and decorated with pastel confetti sprinkles. Made from a leveled pound cake base, these petite desserts are perfect for special occasions or sophisticated tea parties. The silky glaze offers a clean, polished finish, while the option to cut shapes or traditional cubes adds a playful touch.
- Author: Logan
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes (assuming pre-baked pound cake)
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: Approximately 4 dozen petit fours (1-inch cubes) 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: French
For the Cakes
- Pound cake, baked in a square or rectangular pan
For the Poured Fondant Icing
- 1 cup candy melts
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- ¼ cup light corn syrup
- ¼ cup hot water
- Pastel confetti sprinkles
- Level the Cake: Trim the top of your pound cake so it’s perfectly flat. If you want filled petit fours, slice the cake horizontally to add buttercream or jam filling. Make sure to chill the cake completely afterwards to prevent the filling from squishing out during cutting.
- Cut the Cake Into Squares: Use a ruler and sharp knife to cut the cake into 1-inch cubes, or use heart and circle cookie cutters for shaped petit fours. Arrange the pieces on a parchment-lined sheet pan and place them in the freezer for 15 minutes to firm up.
- Make the Glaze: Melt the candy melts in the microwave in a small heatproof bowl. In a larger bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, light corn syrup, and hot water until smooth. Incorporate the melted candy melts into the sugar mixture, stirring until fully combined. Use the glaze immediately, reheating as needed to keep it pourable.
- Dip the Cake Cubes: Insert a skewer or chopstick into the cut side of a cake piece. Dip the cake completely into the poured fondant icing, coating the sides and top. Tap the stick against the bowl to remove excess glaze.
- Add Sprinkles: While the icing is still wet, dip the tops of some petit fours into pastel confetti sprinkles to decorate.
- Let the Petit Fours Dry: Slide a fork under the dipped cake and gently lift it off the skewer. Transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet or drip rack to dry completely. Once dry, arrange on a platter or paper baking cups for serving. Store unfilled petit fours in an airtight container at room temperature for up to four days.
Notes
- For filled petit fours, chill the cake fully after adding filling before cutting and glazing.
- Use the poured fondant glaze quickly; if it thickens, gently reheat to restore pourability.
- Airtight storage is key to keep unfilled petit fours fresh for up to four days at room temperature.
- Avoid refrigerating filled petit fours as moisture can cause the icing to sweat and become sticky.
- Customize colors or decorations by swapping sprinkles for sanding sugar, crushed candy, or nonpareils.
Keywords: Petit Fours, Pound Cake, Poured Fondant, Fancy Dessert, Bite-sized Cake, Party Treat