Advertisement. I used ingredients bought at IKI for this recipe.
This time, while waiting for guests, I’m not trying to surprise anyone. I’m hoping to make someone happy instead 😊 Puff pastry, cream cheese, melting cheese, ham and a scattering of seeds: a few simple ingredients turn into a whole tray of golden little bites. They’re delicious warm or cooled.
This really isn’t a recipe that needs perfect measurements. The basic method matters most, and there’s plenty of room to experiment with the filling and the size of the pieces. The quantities below are what I used for this batch. Feel free to use another cheese or leave out the ham altogether.
Two pastry sheets and a filling you enjoy
I used two sheets of puff pastry, a 200 g tub of cream cheese, about 200 g of Gouda and about 150 g of cooked ham. Lay one pastry sheet on baking paper, spread it with cream cheese, add layers of cheese and ham, then cover with the second pastry sheet.
Choose a cheese that melts well. I used Gouda, but mozzarella or another favourite melting cheese will work too. You can also use a different ham or try sliced sausage instead.
Cut first, then brush with egg
Before baking, cut through all the layers to make pieces as small or large as you like. I find it easiest to cut the pastry in half, halve each section again and repeat until the pieces are the size I want. Do the same in both directions. My batch made an 8 × 8 grid: 64 small bites.
That’s just the size I chose. Larger pieces are fine too. The key is to make the cuts before brushing the pastry with egg and scattering over the seeds. Use a seed mix or whichever seeds you already have.
How long do they bake?
I baked mine at 170°C fan for about 30 minutes. From there, keep an eye on them and bake a little longer if needed, until nicely golden. The time is a guide: look at the pastry as well as the clock. Serve warm or cooled.
A cheese-only version
You can leave out the ham completely. Spread the first sheet with cream cheese, then add a few layers of Gouda, mozzarella or another cheese that melts well. You can mix different cheeses too. Cover with the second sheet and carry on in the same way: cut, brush with egg, scatter with seeds and bake. Enjoy!
Ham and cheese puff pastry bites
Ingredients
- 2 sheets puff pastry
- 200 g cream cheese
- 200 g Gouda approximately, or another cheese that melts well
- 150 g cooked ham approximately
- 1 egg for brushing
- seeds for sprinkling, as desired
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 170°C fan.
- Lay one sheet of puff pastry on a baking tray lined with baking paper. Spread with cream cheese, add the Gouda and ham, then cover with the second pastry sheet.
- Cut through all the layers into pieces of your preferred size. Halve the pastry, then halve the sections again in both directions. An 8 × 8 grid makes 64 small bites.
- Brush the cut pastry with beaten egg and scatter over the seeds.
- Bake for about 30 minutes. Keep an eye on the pastry and bake longer if needed, until nicely golden.
- Serve warm or cooled.
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