Puff pastry is my secret weapons: it sounds super fancy, but requires minimal effort and has a delicious flaky texture. I buy the generic Dufour puff pastry at my local grocery store, and I can make anything from cheesy, savory goodness to a sweet, melt-in-your-mouth dessert. My current go-to puff pastry recipes are for deliciously gooey cheese bread and easy-bake churros.
1. Puff Pastry Cheese Bread
![dorm room cooking](https://spoonuniversity.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2015/02/IMG_1381-1024x790.jpg)
Photo by Katherine Surko
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10-15 minutes
Total Time: 20-25 minutes
Servings: 4
Ingredients:
1 package puff pastry or croissant dough
1 cup cheese of choice: Camembert or similar texture recommended, but I used cheddar and mozzarella and it tasted delicious (Camembert doesn’t need to be sliced, but cheddar and mozzarella need to be cubed)
Preserves (optional)
Directions:
1. Set oven to 390°F.
2. Roll out puff pastry and place on tray.
3. Put cheese in the middle of puff pastry. Add a layer of jam or preserves on top if you choose.
![dorm room cooking](https://spoonuniversity.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2015/02/IMG_1371-1024x917.jpg)
Photo by Katherine Surko
5. Wrap cheese up: fold the edges of the puff pastry over the cheese.
![dorm room cooking](https://spoonuniversity.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2015/02/IMG_1373-1024x672.jpg)
Photo by Katherine Surko
6. Bake for 10-15 minutes, until golden brown.
![dorm room cooking](https://spoonuniversity.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2015/02/Screen-Shot-2015-02-22-at-11.46.30-PM-1024x574.jpg)
Photo by Katherine Surko
2. Baked Churros
![dorm room cooking](https://spoonuniversity.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2015/02/Screen-Shot-2015-02-13-at-6.59.31-PM.jpg)
Photo by Katherine Surko
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 6
Ingredients:
1 package thawed puff pastry
1/4 cup sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 cup melted butter
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 450°F.
2. Unfold and cut puff pastry sheets in half lengthwise, and cut each half cross-wise into 1-inch-wide strips. Place strips on a lightly greased baking sheet.
![dorm room cooking](https://spoonuniversity.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2015/02/Screen-Shot-2015-02-13-at-7.02.42-PM.jpg)
Photo by Katherine Surko
3. Bake 10 minutes or until golden brown.
4. Combine sugar and cinnamon.
5. Remove pastry strips from oven, dip in butter and roll in cinnamon-sugar mixture.
6. Let stand on a wire rack 5 minutes or until dry.
![dorm room cooking](https://spoonuniversity.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2015/02/IMG_1334-1024x664.jpg)
Photo by Katherine Surko
Want more easy pastries? Check out these savory and sweet recipes: