Petit Four Glaze Recipe (2024)

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Last Updated On: March 18, 2023 | Published: October 21, 2012 by Melissa Diamond | 31 Comments

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This is our favorite classic Petit Four Glaze petit fours! When preparing for our "How to Make Petit Fours" video tutorial, we tried out SOmany different recipes for glazes. Most were ruled out for problems with consistency, flavor, firmness of the glaze, etc.

Finally, we decided to try the simplest recipe of all...this recipe, and it was the BEST! I love it when that happens. You can see the pretty petit fours that we made below...aren't they cute?!

This is the first batch of petit fours that I ever made that actually turned out like they were supposed to. I was so happy to finally figure out the "right" way to make petit fours, and a big part of that was the glaze!

Petit Four Glaze Recipe (1)

For years, just the idea of making petit fours was enough to give me nightmares. I avoided them at all costs because no matter how many hours I put into making them, they never had a consistent look.

In our free video tutorial on making petit fours, we share the techniques that have made the process SO much simpler for me, and I have a feeling that you are going to love making these sweet little cakes in no time.

Petit Four Glaze Recipe (2)

Petit Four Glaze

Petit Four Glaze Recipe (3)

We love this easy Petit Four Glaze! Also, learn how to make petit fours in our free tutorial below.

Ingredients

  • 9 cups sifted confectioners’ sugar (sift then measure) (945 g)
  • ½ cup (164 g) light corn syrup
  • ½ cup water (118g)
  • 1 teaspoon clear vanilla extract (4g)
  • ½ teaspoon almond extract (optional)

Instructions

  1. In a heatproof bowl set over (but not touching) simmering water, mix sugar, corn syrup, ½ cup water, and flavoring together until warm and smooth. I like a thin consistency and so approximately 115 degrees F was the temperature that worked well for us. Don't worry if you do not have a candy thermometer..I just wanted to give you an idea. I prefer a nice, thin consistency.
  2. Stir in enough food coloring until desired color is reached. Do not overheat.

Notes

  • *As you can see in the photo, the cakes were frosted on top before glazing so that the tops would not be transparent. These are from our cake video tutorial on Petit Fours!
  • This glaze behaves just as it should, and sets after several minutes so that it becomes dry to the touch. This thin coating will keep your little cakes nice and moist, and I love the elegant matte semi-transparent finish.

*As you can see in the photo, the cakes were frosted on top before glazing so that the tops would not be transparent. These are from our cake video tutorial on Petit Fours!

This glaze behaves just as it should, and sets after several minutes so that it becomes dry to the touch. This thin coating will keep your little cakes nice and moist, and I love the elegant matte semi-transparent finish. (However, you can dust over them withpearl dust using a dry brush if you'd like, as you can see in my photo below!)

Petit Four Glaze Recipe (4)

When we make petit fours, we use our FAVORITE Pound Cake recipe which you can find here!: Classic Pound Cake Recipe! Not only is this a fantastic pound cake recipe, but the density of pound cake makes for a clean and uniform cut when slicing your squares!

I can tell you from experience that trying to dip a square of cake with ragged edges makes for a very sad little petit four, haha. Still delicious...you'll just want your guests to avert their eyes. Stick to the dense cakes for these cuties!

We hope that you give this petit four glaze a try! This is a classic recipe that has been floating around for years, and for good reason. Super simple! Enjoy!

How to Make Petit Fours

Don't miss our step by step video tutorial on how to make petit fours the EASY way!

This is a video that was reserved for our members only for years, but we recently switched it to our free video tutorial section. We hope that you enjoy learning how to make these tiny cakes! Free Petit Fours Video Tutorial- How to make them the EASY way!

Related Recipes

Simple Vanilla GlazePeanut Butter Buttercream RecipeChocolate Buttercream Recipe

Leave a Reply

  1. Hello. Can I bake individual cakes in a mini square silicone pan instead of a cutting up a sheet cake? Will that result in the mini cakes being too dry? Thanks.

    Reply

    1. Hi Michelle, I'm sorry that we missed your question- yes, I don't see why not!

      Reply

  2. My poured fondant is drying sticky any idea why?? I’ve tried many different recipes, use very minimal water to thin it out

    Reply

    1. Hi Ivy- I don't know why that would be. We just haven't experienced it. It seems that if they sit out long enough at room temperature, any stickiness should dry and set up. How long have they been sitting out? I'm sorry that you are having this issue.

      Reply

  3. Hi cn you make the petit fours 2-3 weeks
    ahead and freeze them unfrosted. Thanks

    Reply

    1. Hi Asheema, yes as long as they are wrapped tightly in plastic wrap and foil, the unfrosted petit fours can be frozen for up to a few months!

      Reply

Petit Four Glaze Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is a petit four glace? ›

Petit* fours glaces: Tiny cakes that are topped with marzipan and then enrobed in either fondant or chocolate. This type of petit four is usually elaborately decorated with intricate piping. These are often the images that come to mind when people think of the traditional petit four.

How do you prepare caramelized coating for petit four? ›

Coating caramelized petit fours

Dip the product into the hot caramel.  Take a dipping fork into oil and then pick up the product and let it drop into the toffee. the prepared surface that has been smeared with oil to prevent sticking.  Allow caramel to cool before removing to paper cup for storage.

What are the 4 components of petit four? ›

Common types of petit* fours include cakes, cookies, chocolate pieces, and meringues.

What are petit fours glace generally either glazed with? ›

Petit Fours glacé are generally either glazed with fondant or dipped in chocolate before the final decoration is added. The term glacé is also used to indicate any iced pastry. Such as a small tartlet or those made from pate a choux or meringue.

Why is it called petit four? ›

Petit fours are small decorated tea cakes that originated in France. Despite how the name sounds in English, these miniature desserts have nothing to do with the number four. In French, four means "oven." Back in the days before gas or electric ovens, bakers used large brick or stone coal-fired ovens.

What preparation do you need to do before applying glaze to a petit four? ›

Answer: To apply any of these glazes the petit four needs to have sharp edges and smooth lines. Surface needs to be dry and free of moisture. If the surface is not dry then the glaze may not bind to the surface of the petit four.

What is a cooked sugar used to coat petit fours before the are served? ›

Caramelized sugar can be used to coat petit fours before it is to be served.

What different bases can be used for petit four glace? ›

Petit four bases can be made from any edible product. Normal products used are: · Sponge · Cake · Shortbread · Pastry · Chocolate · Marzipan · Choux pastry. Main requirement of a petit four base is that it is strong enough to 'hold' the petit four when it is picked up by the customer to be eaten.

What does petit fours mean in French? ›

French, literally, small oven.

Do petit fours need to be refrigerated? ›

Petit fours should be stored in an airtight container. They will keep at room temperature for two days or refrigerated for up to a week. They may also be frozen for two to three months.

Why is it necessary to freeze first the base of a petit four? ›

If you don't want to make a large quantity of petit fours, then wrap and freeze the extra cake. You can make more, or enjoy the cake as is later. Freezing the cake really helps get clean cuts; if you are not confident cutting the cake down the middle to make the layers, then freeze the cake first.

Can you use candy melts for petit fours? ›

For quick and easy decorating, turn your favorite color of Candy Melts candy into a pourable ganache or mirror glaze. By combining your candy with heavy cream or condensed milk, you can quickly cover cakes, petit fours, cookies and more with a sweet and colorful topping.

What is the best icing to use in preparing and displaying petit fours? ›

To make a great petit four, you need a good glaze. This poured fondant icing is thick enough to give the cakes a clean, opaque finish, but still thin enough to make dipping and tapping off excess icing a breeze. To make it, melt the candy melts in the microwave in a small heatproof bowl.

What are the characteristics of caramelized petit fours? ›

Caramelized petit* fours include fresh or dried fruits and nuts, filled or unfilled, coated with a pale amber-coloured caramel.

Why do you decorate a petit four with glace? ›

Answer: Attractively displayed petit* fours are great product for catching the customers' attention. Explanation: Decorated petit* fours (in particular the iced variety) lend themselves to immaculate craftsmanship and decorating skills.

What does petit four taste like? ›

Inside, there are layers of cake made with butter, eggs, sugar and malted barley flour. Strawberries, lemons, oranges, and apricots flavor the cream fillings. The petit* fours are sweet, redolent of almond paste and incredibly tender.

What different bases can be used for petit four glacé? ›

Petit four bases can be made from any edible product. Normal products used are: · Sponge · Cake · Shortbread · Pastry · Chocolate · Marzipan · Choux pastry. Main requirement of a petit four base is that it is strong enough to 'hold' the petit four when it is picked up by the customer to be eaten.

What is the difference between a confectionery and a petit four? ›

Petit fours are basically miniature, bite-sized confections. The name comes from the words in French: petit—small or little, and four—oven. Therefore, essentially small, baked pastry items, although some confections are considered by some to be petit fours that are not baked (see fruits déguisés below).

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