Description
Delight your guests with these easy and elegant Pepper Jelly & Cream Cheese Puff Pastry Squares. Crisp, flaky puff pastry is topped with smooth cream cheese and sweet-spicy pepper jelly to create a perfect appetizer or party snack that’s quick to prepare and irresistibly tasty.
Ingredients
Scale
Puff Pastry Base
- 1 sheet frozen puff pastry (thawed)
Fillings
- 4 oz cream cheese (softened)
- 1/4 cup pepper jelly (any flavor)
Finishing
- 1 egg (beaten, for egg wash)
- Optional fresh herbs for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 400°F (200°C) to ensure it’s properly heated by the time you assemble your squares.
- Prepare Puff Pastry: Roll out the thawed puff pastry on a lightly floured surface and cut it into 12 equal squares to ensure even baking and portion size.
- Arrange Pastry Squares: Place the cut squares evenly on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper to prevent sticking and make cleanup easier.
- Mix Cream Cheese: In a small bowl, stir the cream cheese until smooth and creamy to allow easy spreading and balanced flavor.
- Assemble Toppings: Spread about 1 teaspoon of cream cheese onto the center of each pastry square, then carefully top with 1 teaspoon of pepper jelly for a perfect sweet-spicy contrast.
- Apply Egg Wash: Brush the edges of each pastry square with the beaten egg to help achieve a golden, glossy finish once baked.
- Bake: Place the baking sheet in the oven and bake for 15–20 minutes, or until the pastry has puffed up and turned a beautiful golden brown.
- Cool and Garnish: Remove the squares from the oven and let them cool for a few minutes on a wire rack. Optionally, garnish with fresh herbs before serving for a fresh aromatic touch.
Notes
- You can use store-bought or homemade puff pastry according to your preference and convenience.
- Substitute pepper jelly with fig jam or apricot preserves for a delightful twist on flavor.
- Serve warm or at room temperature as an appetizer or party snack for best taste and texture.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 square
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 90mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 10g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 15mg
