Pets de sœurs facts for kids

Pêtes de sœur is a unique French-Canadian dessert. Its name literally means Nun farts, which sounds funny, right? This sweet treat is made from dough, often leftover from making a savory meat pie called Tourtière. It's filled with butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon. After being rolled up and sliced, these delicious pieces are baked in a pan with extra brown sugar and milk. The milk helps them stay moist and yummy!

What Are Pêtes de Sœur?

Pêtes de sœur are a special kind of pastry. They are very similar to cinnamon rolls but have one main difference: they don't use yeast to make them rise. This means they are not as fluffy as cinnamon rolls. Instead, they have a denser, chewier texture. The key ingredients are simple: pie dough, butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon.

How to Make This Sweet Treat

Making Pêtes de sœur involves a few fun steps. First, you roll out the pie dough. Then, you spread butter all over it. Next, you sprinkle a mix of brown sugar and cinnamon on top. After that, you carefully roll the dough into a log shape. This log is then sliced into individual pieces. These slices are placed in a baking pan. Before baking, more brown sugar and milk are added to the pan. The milk is important because it keeps the pastries from drying out in the oven.

A Bit of History: Why the Funny Name?

The interesting name, Pêtes de sœur, comes from how and where they were often served. In some parts of Quebec, Canada, nuns at boarding schools used to serve this dessert. So, people started calling them "Nun farts" as a playful name! There's also a similar dessert called Nombrils de Soldats, which means Soldier belly buttons. If you make the dessert without adding milk, it should be called Nombrils de Soldats instead of Pêtes de sœur.

When Are They Eaten?

In Quebec, Pêtes de sœur are a popular dessert, especially during the Christmas holidays. They are often served as part of a special family gathering called Réveillons. This gathering happens on Christmas Eve for French Canadian Catholic families. It's a time for celebration, good food, and spending time together.

Other Delicious Versions

While the traditional recipe uses brown sugar, some people try different ingredients. You might find variations that use molasses, caramel sauce, or even maple syrup instead of brown sugar. However, these variations are not as common and are not considered the traditional way to make Pêtes de sœur. The classic recipe with brown sugar is usually the favorite!