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Preheat the Oven: Set your oven to 400°F (200°C) so it’s nice and hot when the puff pastry goes in.
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Prepare Your Filling:
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Cheese and Veggies: Combine the shredded cheese with your choice of veggies (spinach, mushrooms, or bell peppers). Season with a pinch of salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
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Meat Option: If you want to add some meat, chop your cooked chicken, ham, or bacon and mix it into the cheese and veggie combo. You can also add a dollop of cream cheese or sour cream for richness.
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Roll Out the Pastry: Lay your puff pastry sheets on a floured surface. Use a rolling pin to lightly roll them out, just to smooth out creases.
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Cut into Small Squares or Rectangles: Use a knife or pizza cutter to slice the puff pastry into bite-sized squares (about 2×2 inches each). You should be able to cut each sheet into 12-15 pieces, depending on how large you want them.
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Fill the Pastry:
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Seal the Pastry: Fold each square into a triangle or rectangle (like little turnovers or pockets). Press the edges together gently with a fork to seal them. If you want to make a crisscross pattern, you can use the fork to press the edges down decoratively.
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Egg Wash: Beat the egg in a small bowl and brush it lightly over the top of each pastry. This will give them a beautiful golden-brown color when they bake.
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Bake: Place the filled pastry squares on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until they’re golden brown and puffed up. Check them halfway through; if some look like they’re browning too quickly, rotate the tray.
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Cool and Serve: Let them cool for a couple of minutes before serving. You’ll have about 100 mini puff pastry snacks in no time!
Flavor Variations:
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Spinach and Feta: Swap out the cheese for feta and add cooked spinach with a bit of garlic.
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Cheese and Ham: Use Swiss cheese with ham for a classic combo.
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Cheese and Tomato: Add thin slices of tomato and fresh basil with mozzarella for a Caprese-style snack.
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Cheese and Pesto: Spread a little pesto on the pastry before adding cheese and veggies for extra flavor.
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Sausage and Peppers: Cook some sausage and peppers, chop them up, and fill the pastry with this hearty filling.
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Smoked Salmon and Cream Cheese: Add a spoon of cream cheese and a small piece of smoked salmon for a more gourmet snack.
Tips for Speed and Efficiency:
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Make the Filling Ahead of Time: If you’re really pressed for time, you can prepare the fillings ahead of time and just assemble them when you’re ready to bake.
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Use a Pizza Cutter: It’s the fastest way to slice your puff pastry into perfect squares or rectangles.
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Double Up: If you’re making a larger batch, just double the puff pastry sheets and filling quantities. You can easily make 200 of these in one go with a little extra work.
These savory puff pastry snacks are super flexible—mix and match the fillings based on what you have at hand! They’re perfect for parties, game nights, or just a quick snack on the go.
Are you thinking of a specific filling for these, or would you go with the classic cheese and spinach combo?
