Puff Pastry

Prepared puff pastry makes this easy.

Camembert aux Noix Amuse-Bouches Active time: 30 min Start to finish: 50 min

These simple tartes aux pommes are great with vanilla ice cream. What to drink: Barton & Guestier 1999 Sauternes "Tradition."

Supermarket staples — puff pastry and fruit jams — are transformed into delicate teatime treats that require very little effort.

This dessert, prominent in the window of virtually every Paris pastry shop, is a true classic. The puff pastry rounds are usually filled with an almond mixture, but my version features hazelnuts and chocolate. Purchased pastry makes it approachable for the modern cook. Since it reheats nicely, the Pithiviers can be made ahead.

This tart is a snap to put together, thanks to purchased puff pastry. The square shape is something different for the summer table.

A lovely appetizer or lunch dish.

This comforting dish is infused with the flavors of a traditional bouquet garni enhanced by celery leaves, and the filling of the pie is more brothy than that of most versions.

Active time: 35 min Start to finish: 1 hr

A French classic gets a little twist from Payard Pâtisserie & Bistro in New York.

These delicious small pastries are easy to make, and they're sure to disappear quickly.

Using frozen puff pastry for the crust makes this quiche-like tart super-easy.