Strawberry Napolean

Really. What's not to love in this picture? Crisp puff pastry, strawberries, vanilla pudding with fresh whipped cream and chocolate drizzled on top. That's pretty much what Strawberry Napolean is in a nutshell. Which is what Elli requested for her birthday dessert. And let me tell you. It was delish. I'm still a little stuffed from the big piece I ate - pictured here.

We have a lot of traditions in my family which I love. For your birthday your day starts off with a birthday parade. Doesn't matter your age. Everyone gets a parade. If you're a guest in my house on your birthday you get a parade too. It's a great way to start your day. Everyone brings you gifts and cards and treats you like royalty. Who wouldn't like that?

You also get to pick your favorite thing to have for dinner and dessert.  Elli picked pasta for dinner and Strawberry Napolean (as pictured on the Pepperidge Farm Puff Pastry package) for dessert. For the pasta we made my friend Rawan's special sauce and fettucini pasta. We also had super yummy, buttery garlic bread made with sourdough bread and a Caesar salad which Elli helped me make.

Now to the best part, dessert. Usually the birthday person doesn't have to do any work on their birthday but Elli wanted to help. So she was right by my side making dessert. It was really fun and tasted really great.

Elli cutting the puff pastry dough into three strips.

The baked puff pastry.

Adding the pudding and whipped cream, and strawberries....

and finally the chocolate drizzle.

Ta da!

Happy Birthday Elli!

The dessert was delicious. It didn't look perfect, it was a tad messy, but it tasted fantastic and was made with lots of laughs and love and that's all that matters.


Strawberry Napoleon


1/2 package Pepperidge Farm® Puff Pastry Sheets, thawed
1 package vanilla instant pudding and pie filling mix
1 cup milk

• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
• 2 teaspoon milk
• 1/2 cup sliced strawberries
• 1/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips melted

Heat the oven to 400°F.

1. Unfold the pastry sheet on a lightly floured surface.  Cut the pastry sheet into 3 strips along the fold marks.  Place the pastry strips onto baking sheets.

2. Bake for 15 minutes or until the pastries are golden brown.  Remove the pastries from the baking sheets and let cool on wire racks for 10 minutes.  Split the pastries into 2 layers, making 6 in all.

3. Prepare the pudding mix according to the package directions with 1 cup milk in a large bowl. Fold in the whipped cream. Cover and refrigerate for 10 minutes. Stir the confectioners’ sugar and 2 teaspoons milk in a small bowl.

4. Spread the confectioners' sugar mixture on 2 top pastry layers.  Spread 3/4 cup pudding mixture on 1 pastry layer. Top with about 1/3 cup strawberries. Repeat the layers. Top with an iced pastry layer.  Repeat to make a second dessert. 

5. Melt some chocolate and drizzle over the top.

Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate up to 4 hours.