Description
Delightful Cream Cheese and Pepper Jelly Puff Pastry Bites combine flaky puff pastry with rich cream cheese and sweet-spicy pepper jelly, perfect for holiday gatherings or elegant appetizers.
Ingredients
Scale
Ingredients
- 1 sheet puff pastry (thawed)
- 4 ounces cream cheese (softened)
- 1/3 cup red or green pepper jelly
- 1 egg (beaten, for egg wash)
- All-purpose flour (for dusting)
- Fresh thyme leaves or chopped chives (optional garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prepare for baking the puff pastry bites.
- Prepare Puff Pastry: Lightly dust your work surface with flour and roll out the thawed puff pastry sheet into a 10×10-inch square to ensure even sizing.
- Cut Squares: Cut the rolled-out puff pastry into 16 equal squares, preparing individual portions for the bites.
- Shape Pastry: Gently press each square into the cups of a mini muffin tin for a cup-shaped bite, or place them directly on the baking sheet for flat bites.
- Add Fillings: Place about 1 teaspoon of softened cream cheese in the center of each square, then add 1/2 teaspoon of pepper jelly on top for a sweet and spicy contrast.
- Fold & Egg Wash: Fold the corners of the pastry squares toward the center for a pinched look or leave open-faced. Brush the exposed pastry edges with the beaten egg to achieve a golden, glossy finish when baked.
- Bake: Bake the prepared bites in the preheated oven for 14 to 17 minutes until golden brown and puffed up.
- Cool & Garnish: Allow the bites to cool slightly before garnishing with fresh thyme leaves or chopped chives if desired.
- Serve: Serve these delicious bites warm or at room temperature for a perfect appetizer experience.
Notes
- These bites can be prepared ahead of time and reheated in a 300°F oven for a few minutes before serving to refresh their texture.
- Experiment with flavored cream cheeses or different varieties of pepper jelly for unique taste variations.
