What are Petit Fours?
Petit fours refer to bite-sized pastries that are often served at the end of a large meal or with afternoon tea. Originally a French term, petit fours literally translate as “small oven” and derive their name from the method in which they were made. Historically, cakes in France were baked in coal-fueled ovens, which burned hotter than wood-fed ovens, in temperatures that were harder to control. After baking large cakes in the oven, the heat remaining while the oven cooled was enough for baking smaller ones. These came to be known in the modern day as petit fours.
