Get the Recipe:Quick and Easy Puff Pastry Appetizers
Three varieties of quick and easy puff pastry appetizers, all starting with store-bought, all-butter puff pastry sheets. Gruyere and Dijon Sticks, Pesto and Sun Dried Tomato Twists and Cheddar and Chipotle Cut-outs.
2Tablespoonsoil-packed sun dried tomatoes, finely chopped
Cheddar and Chipotle Puff Pastry Cut-outs:
110x10-inch rollall-butter puff pastry, thawed
1/4cupaged cheddar, finely grated
1/4-1/2teaspoonchipotle chili powder
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Instructions
For the Gruyere and Mustard Puff Pastry Sticks: Place the thawed square of puff pastry on a lightly floured cutting board. Spread the Dijon mustard on the lower half of the square, leaving about 1/2 inch uncovered along the edges. Brush the exposed edges with egg wash. Fold the bare top half of the puff pastry over the half with the mustard, lining up the edges. Place in the refrigerator (still on the cutting board) to chill for 15 minutes.
Remove from fridge. With a sharp knife or pizza cutter, trim the two short sides and un-folded long edge by about 1/4 inch. Cut the block in to nine 1-inch by 5-inch slices. Remove the slices to a parchment lined baking sheet, leaving at least an inch in between each piece. Carefully brush the tops with egg wash, ensuring that egg doesn't drip down the sides. Sprinkle Gruyere and Parmesan evenly over-top, the finish with a sprinkling of coarse salt.
Place the baking sheet in the refrigerator to chill for 15 minutes.
Preheat oven to 400F. (regular setting/not fan assisted) Remove baking sheet from refrigerator and place into preheated oven. Bake for 15-18 minutes, or until golden and puffed. Remove to a baking sheet to cool.
For the Pesto and Sun-Dried Tomato Puff Pastry Twists: Place the thawed square of puff pastry on a lightly floured cutting board. Spread the pesto on the lower half of the square, leaving about 1/2 inch uncovered along the edges. Sprinkle the chopped sundried tomatoes over-top. Brush the exposed edges with egg wash. Fold the bare top half of the puff pastry over the half with the pesto, lining up the edges. Place in the refrigerator (still on the cutting board) to chill for 15 minutes.
Remove from fridge. With a sharp knife or pizza cutter, trim the two short sides and un-folded long edge by about 1/4 inch. Cut the block in to nine 1-inch by 5-inch slices. Take each slice and holding the ends, gently twist several times. Remove the twisted pieces to a parchment lined baking sheet, leaving at least an inch in between each piece. Carefully brush the tops with egg wash. Place the baking sheet in the refrigerator to chill for 15 minutes.
Preheat oven to 400F. Remove baking sheet from refrigerator and place into preheated oven. Bake for 15-18 minutes, or until golden and puffed. Remove to a baking sheet to cool.
For the Cheddar and Chipotle Puff Pastry Cut-outs: Place the thawed square of puff pastry on a lightly floured cutting board. Brush bottom half of square with egg wash. Fold bare top half over the brushed half, lining up the edges. Place in the refrigerator (still on the cutting board) to chill for 15 minutes.
Remove from the refrigerator. Using a cookie cutter, cut shapes from the piece of puff pastry. Place on to a parchment-lined baking sheet, allowing at least 1-inch between pieces. Carefully brush tops with egg wash, ensuring that the egg doesn't drip down the sides. Sprinkle tops with grated cheddar, then dust with a bit of chipotle chili powder (to taste). Place the baking sheet in the refrigerator to chill for 15 minutes.
Preheat oven to 400F. Remove baking sheet from refrigerator and place into preheated oven. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until golden and puffed. Remove to a baking sheet to cool.
Cooled pastries can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 24 hours. You can re-warm on a baking sheet in a 350 oven for a few minutes.
Notes
Notes: To make ahead and freeze, instead of placing in the fridge for the chill before baking, place the baking sheet in the freezer with the pieces on the baking sheet. Leave in freezer for 30-45 minutes, or until frozen, then carefully remove to a freezer bag to freeze. To use, simply place frozen pieces on a parchment lined baking sheet and bake in 400F oven for the prescribed recipe time, plus a few minutes longer as they are starting from frozen.