As Christmas is approaching, this week’s post is a frivolous look at a mainstay of the French apéritif, le petit four. At a party recently, someone challenged me to investigate the origins of the name, and Life on La Lune can’t resist a challenge (but please don’t ask me to try bungee jumping or potholing). For those of you who thought petits fours were simply post-prandial sweets to be nibbled with coffee, think again.
My carefully-laid plan to eat my way through the alphabet of French dishes has gone slightly awry. I have jumped from F to P in my French Flavours series, thus bypassing galette aux pommes, jambonneau and mourtayrol. Hang in there, and I’ll get back on the case.
Petit four typology
In the meantime, let’s look at what petits fours actually are. As ever, when you start to delve into something, you find it’s more complicated than you first thought.
First, they are miniature iced cakes, such as éclairs, chocolate profiteroles or sweet tartlets. Miniature desserts, such as mini chocolate mousses are called mignardises.
Second, they are sweet, dry mouthfuls, such as meringues or macaroons.
Finally, they are bite-sized savouries, normally with a pastry base or case, such as mini pizzas, cheese puffs or vol-au-vents. Today, the word is often used in a general sense to mean appetisers with drinks.
Alternative words in French for appetisers are mise-en-bouche (put in the mouth) and amuse-bouche (literally mouth pleaser; I suppose you might say palate tickler). A canapé is more specific and is usually a piece of bread, toast or cracker topped with something savoury. I’m not sure if the French use the word canapé in the same sense today. Incidentally, it also means a sofa.
Light my fire
How did the term petit four (literally little oven) originate? One source says that it dates back to the Renaissance, a time when ovens were built of stone or brick and there was no means of regulating the temperature. The fire took some time to prepare and to attain the right temperature, when it was used to bake bread but also to cook dishes such as roasts and casseroles – à grand four.
The theory is that smaller, more delicate pastries and cakes were cooked in the oven once the temperature had started to diminish – à petit four. This was a way of economising on fuel and taking advantage of the residual heat of the oven. The smaller items took on the name.
Let them eat cakes
After the Revolution, it is said, a wider public could afford treats previously reserved for the aristocracy. Let them eat cake, indeed. Then a new metier was born: that of pâtissier de petit four, somewhere between that of a pâtissier, who made large pastries, and a confisier, or confectioner. They made sweet petits fours, while the savoury ones were made by traiteurs and charcutiers.
So, armed with this knowledge you have a topic of conversation for your Christmas cocktail parties, while consuming a few petits fours.
Next up in a few days is an event you cannot miss: the Life on La Lune French Christmas Quiz, a cultural institution in its own right.
You might also like:
All Fired Up: Bread Ovens
French Social Customs: Aperitifs
Walnut Wine: Vin de Noix
Quirky French Aperitifs
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Life on La Lune 
Fascinating as ever …. I hadn’t really got beyond idly wondering what the difference between a canopé and a petit four was (and the lightbulb moment a few years ago when I realized we were talking small oven here) … as ever your research benefits me beautifully. I may even share this knowledge knowledgeably at a rather posh party I am attending in Britain at the end of January. Mostly, though I am now full of pent-up excitement for your traditional quiz. I absolutely love it and though husband and I are on separate sides of the pond this year, you can be sure we will be following the tradition formed however many years ago it is now that I discovered your blog and tackling the questions together …. or can I introduce a competitive frisson and send him his and see who wins – 🤔
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I am working on the quiz today and will post it tomorrow. I think this will be the 7th edition of it. I like the idea of the competitive element. Let me know who wins! In the meantime, Bonnes Fêtes.
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I can never resist a competition! I will let you know who is le vainqueur and meantime wish you also très bonnes fêtes 🎉
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Thank you for explaining the alphabetical leap, I thought I had lost a slice of my life when I saw the title! Another challenge for you related to apero nibbles – aumoniere, beggars purse. I have a box of Lidl’s finest in the freezer for Christmas. There has to be a story behind THAT name. 🙂
Bonnes fetes xx
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Yes, I’m afraid I am dotting about a bit, but I will get back on the culinary case after Christmas. I must look up the origins of aumonières. I have eaten large ones filled with goat’s cheese, but I presume your Lidl ones are miniature. They sound good, anyway.
Bonnes fêtes à vous aussi.
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Yes, little bites. The dish that made me Google the name was one of fish wrapped in pastry… delish!
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Sorry, for some reason your comment ended up in the WordPress spam bin. Good thing I checked through it. Mostly, it’s good at separating out the spam comments, but sometimes WordPress bins a genuine one. Hope you have spent a good Christmas and the aumonières lived up to expectations!
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Enjoyable, we are looking forward to doing another housesit in France next month. I shall try to stick to the smaller slices of what takes my fancy!
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All the best for your housesit. Next month I shall be taking only very small slivers of everything!
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Well, you live and learn and petit four sounds a whole load more sophisticated than ‘nibbles’ which appears to be the current vogue. I do enjoy reading your blog. I wish you and yours a very happy holiday season and all the best for the new year.
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Thank you. I had often wondered why petits fours were called that, but had never thought to investigate until challenged! A very happy festive season to you too.
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Merry Christmas Vannessa, I really enjoy reading your blog.
Best wishes
Joan crooks
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Dear Joan, thank you for your kind words and a very Merry Christmas to you, too.
Amitiés,
Vanessa
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