Savory Mexican Elephant Ears (Orejas de Elefante)

by Dorothy Reinhold on April 6, 2015


Print This Post Print This Post Savory Mexican Elephant Ears | Orejas de Elefante appetizer recipe | ShockinglyDelicious.com

I’ve been obsessed with elephant ears lately. Not the kind attached to elephants, but the kind made from dough.

Also known as palmiers, these treats are usually made from flattened puff pastry dough, sprinkled with cinnamon sugar and then rolled up, sliced, and baked. They emerge puffed, caramelized and golden, resembling oversize elephant ears, and are served with coffee or tea or as a dessert.

But let’s turn that idea on its head and go savory! You might remember my Irish Elephant Ears from mid-March, when leprechauns were amongst us.

Ingredients for Mexican Elephant Ears recipe | ShockinglyDelicious.comLet’s go Mexican today, and stuff our elephant ears with two kinds of Mexican cheese, a bit of chorizo for some flavor and oomph, and a few flecks of cilantro so we can say it was green. Roll it up in a fanciful shape, slice, bake and away you go!

Putting together Mexcian Elephant Ears on ShockinglyDelicious.comOnce baked, these will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for a couple of days. But trust me, they won’t last that long.

Savory Mexican Elephant Ears appetizer recipe on ShockinglyDelicious.comOrejas de elefante will be your new favorite snack.

Want to try these yourself? Head to the Cacique website for my recipe.

Mexican Elephant Ears recipe on a plateAnd keep in touch with Cacique on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram, like I do.

Savory Mexican Elephant Ears recipe on ShockinglyDelicious.comDisclosure: This is a sponsored collaboration with Cacique Inc. and Society Culinaria. All opinions are my own, and the photography and recipe are Shockingly Delicious originals. Thank you for supporting the brands that make this blog possible.

{ 34 comments… read them below or add one }

Miss @ Miss in the Kitchen April 7, 2015 at 7:35 pm

This looks so delicious! I really wish I had them to munch on right now.

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Heather | girlichef April 7, 2015 at 7:28 pm

I’m loving your creative twists on elephant ears – these would be gobbled up in my house!

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Dorothy Reinhold April 8, 2015 at 6:18 am

Heather,
They WOULD!

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Alyssa @ Simply Quinoa April 7, 2015 at 7:07 pm

Oh these sound amazing! Before I was gluten-free, I used to love getting elephant ears at the bakery, but have never had savory ones!! Love!

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Dorothy Reinhold April 8, 2015 at 6:18 am

Alyssa,
I think I like the savory ones even better than the sweet ones!

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Cathy@LemonTreeDwelling April 7, 2015 at 6:44 pm

I love this idea, and these flavors sound SO delicious!!

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Alice April 7, 2015 at 6:26 pm

ahhh Dorothy! You’ve inspired me to try this! These look so festive and fantastic!

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nancy@skinnykitchen.com April 7, 2015 at 6:01 pm

These look fantastic!

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Deb@ Cooking on the Front Burner April 7, 2015 at 4:20 pm

I always wanted to make a recipe like this – we love puffed pastry and the flavors in these look fantastic!

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Dorothy Reinhold April 8, 2015 at 6:19 am

Deb,
With frozen puff pastry that you thaw, this is pretty darn easy!

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Joanie @ ZagLeft April 7, 2015 at 3:36 pm

This is such a smart idea! I’ve only had sweet palmiers but would love to try this savory version.

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peter @feedyoursoultoo April 7, 2015 at 3:26 pm

Dorothy, one of my favorite recipes you have done to date.

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Dorothy Reinhold April 8, 2015 at 6:20 am

Peter,
Thank you! How nice of you to say that!

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Barbara @ Barbara Bakes April 7, 2015 at 2:08 pm

These would be eaten up in a flash at my place.

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Dorothy Reinhold April 8, 2015 at 6:20 am

Oh yes, Barbara. You might have to make both sheets of puff pastry.

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Josie April 7, 2015 at 1:00 pm

Thought these were real elephant ears for a sec! Phew! Glad to find out they weren’t 🙂 Looks delicious!

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Michelle ~ My Gluten-free Kitchen April 7, 2015 at 12:32 pm

Love the flavors you chose for these! I actually just found a gluten-free puff pastry dough at the store last week and bought it, although unsure what I wanted to make with it. Definitely leaning towards following your recipe with it! YUM!

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Dorothy Reinhold April 7, 2015 at 2:05 pm

Michelle,
I had no idea there was even such a thing as gf puff pastry!

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Angie | Big Bear's Wife April 7, 2015 at 11:45 am

I love everything that’s stuffed into these! Making asap!

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Dorothy Reinhold April 7, 2015 at 2:05 pm

Angie,
They were sooooo good!

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Karen @ Karen's Kitchen Stories April 7, 2015 at 10:40 am

These look soooo good! I’ve always wanted to try elephant ears. These added flavors will push me over the edge!

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Dorothy Reinhold April 7, 2015 at 11:20 am

Karen,
Go for it! They’re so easy.

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Toni | BoulderLocavore April 7, 2015 at 9:35 am

Dorothy these are not only eye catching but I love the savory filling. I’m familiar with Palmiers as pastries but not with such fabulous flavors as these!

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Dorothy Reinhold April 7, 2015 at 11:21 am

Thanks Toni. Going savory is definitely the thing to do!

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Connie Kaiser April 7, 2015 at 8:06 am

These are a serious MUST-TRY! Just went to the website and printed the recipe! Love Cacique!

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Dorothy Reinhold April 7, 2015 at 11:21 am

Connie,
These are right up your alley!

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Sally Newton April 7, 2015 at 7:53 am

Much rather have the savory type, love this!

I made palmiers once, my shaping needed a lot of improvement… 😉

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Dorothy Reinhold April 7, 2015 at 11:22 am

Sally,
They’re very forgiving, I think. Slice, bake and no one cares what they look like, after the first bite!

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Kacey @ The Cookie Writer April 7, 2015 at 7:50 am

Wow! I have never heard of elephant ears (the meal that is!) I cannot wait to try these. I love Mexican food, so this is right up my alley.

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Dorothy Reinhold April 7, 2015 at 11:22 am

Kacey,
You might like to try the sweet pastries then, too!

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Laura @MotherWouldKnow April 7, 2015 at 7:27 am

Love the idea of a savory appetizer made with puff pastry – spicy inside flavors rolled up in delicate pastry. Definitely a winner for both taste and appearance.

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Dorothy Reinhold April 7, 2015 at 11:22 am

Thank you Laura! So nice of you.

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Kathy @ Beyond the Chicken Coop April 6, 2015 at 6:40 pm

Wow! These are very beautiful. They look like the perfect appetizer.

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Dorothy Reinhold April 7, 2015 at 7:59 am

Kathy,
Thank you so much! They did disappear pretty darn fast.

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