What is "puff pastry"?

Puff pastry is a type of pastry that is characterized by its light, flaky and buttery texture. It is made by folding layers of butter or margarine into a basic pastry dough, then rolling it out and folding it multiple times to create hundreds of layers. When baked, the butter or margarine melts and creates steam, which causes the layers to puff up and separate, resulting in a light and airy texture with a crispy and flaky crust. Puff pastry can be used in a variety of sweet and savory dishes, such as pies, tarts, turnovers, and croissants.