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
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.
Photo by Katherine Surko
5. Wrap cheese up: fold the edges of the puff pastry over the cheese.
Photo by Katherine Surko
6. Bake for 10-15 minutes, until golden brown.
Photo by Katherine Surko
2. Baked Churros
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.
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.
Photo by Katherine Surko
Want more easy pastries? Check out these savory and sweet recipes: