10+ Puff Pastry Recipes for Easy and Delicious Homemade Treats
Puff pastry is a light, flaky dough you can use in all sorts of dishes. It’s made by layering butter and dough so you get a crisp, airy texture when it bakes.
You don’t have to be a pro to whip up really good puff pastry recipes at home. That’s part of the charm.
Puff pastry recipes are awesome because you can make sweet or savory treats in no time. Whether you’re craving a quick appetizer or something that feels a bit fancier, puff pastry’s got your back.
Ingredients:
- Puff pastry sheets (store-bought or homemade)
- Butter
- Flour (for dusting)
Cooking Instructions:
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Lightly flour your work surface.
- Roll out the puff pastry to desired thickness and shapes.
- Add fillings if your recipe calls for it.
- Bake on a parchment-lined tray until golden brown, about 15-20 minutes.
1) Classic homemade puff pastry dough
Making classic homemade puff pastry dough takes some patience, but wow, it’s worth it. Start by mixing flour, water, salt, and a touch of sugar.
Add cold butter, wrapping it inside the dough to form layers. Roll and fold the dough several times—this is what gives you those thin, buttery layers.
Make sure to keep the dough cold so the butter doesn’t melt everywhere. Once baked, it turns out crazy flaky and crisp.
This technique is a solid base for loads of pastries, both sweet and savory.
Ingredients
- 4 1/4 cups (510g) all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 1/4 cups (283g) cold water
- 1 cup (227g) cold unsalted butter
Cooking Instructions
- Mix flour, salt, and sugar in a bowl.
- Add cold water and combine to form dough.
- Roll dough into a rectangle.
- Place cold butter block in center and fold dough over it.
- Roll out dough, then fold into thirds.
- Chill dough in fridge for 30 minutes.
- Repeat rolling and folding 3-4 times, chilling between.
- Use dough for your recipe or bake at 400°F (200°C) until golden.
2) Cream cheese and fruit puff pastry tart
You can throw together a simple tart with puff pastry, cream cheese, and fresh fruit. Store-bought pastry keeps things easy.
The cream cheese filling is smooth and a little tangy, which goes perfectly with sweet berries or sliced fruit. Spread the cream cheese on the pastry, then top with whatever fruit you like.
Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries—honestly, use what you have. Bake until the pastry is golden and flaky.
It’s a quick dessert that looks impressive and tastes even better. If you want more inspiration, check out this Cream Cheese Puff Pastry Tart.
Ingredients
- Puff pastry sheet, thawed
- Cream cheese (softened)
- Sugar
- Vanilla extract
- Fresh berries or fruit
Cooking Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Roll out puff pastry on a baking sheet.
- Mix cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla until smooth.
- Spread cream cheese mixture onto the pastry, leaving edges clear.
- Top with fresh fruit evenly.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes until pastry is golden.
- Let cool before serving.
3) Spinach and Swiss cheese puff pastry pockets
Spinach and Swiss cheese puff pastry pockets make a quick, tasty snack. Fill flaky pastry with a creamy, mild spinach and cheese mix.
Start with thawed puff pastry sheets. Mix cooked spinach and shredded Swiss cheese, seasoning with salt and pepper.
Cut the pastry into squares, add filling, then fold and seal the edges. Pop them in the oven until golden and flaky.
The cheese melts into the spinach for a satisfying bite. Serve them warm—they’re especially good that way.
Ingredients
- 1 sheet puff pastry, thawed
- 1 cup cooked spinach, drained
- 1 cup shredded Swiss cheese
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 egg, beaten (for egg wash)
Cooking Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Roll out puff pastry on a floured surface.
- Mix spinach, Swiss cheese, salt, and pepper in a bowl.
- Cut pastry into squares and place filling in the center of each.
- Fold each square over to create a pocket; press edges to seal.
- Brush pockets with beaten egg.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown.
- Let cool slightly before serving.
4) Brie, honey, and walnut puff pastry bites
These puff pastry bites come together fast with store-bought dough. Cut the pastry into little squares and plop a piece of Brie in the center.
Add chopped walnuts and drizzle a bit of honey on each one. This combo of creamy, nutty, and sweet is hard to beat.
Bake until golden and puffed—usually around 15 to 20 minutes at 375°F (190°C). Serve them warm for maximum gooeyness.
Ingredients
- 1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed
- 1 (8-ounce) wheel of Brie cheese
- 2 tablespoons honey
- ¼ cup chopped walnuts
Cooking Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Cut puff pastry into 12 squares.
- Place Brie pieces in the center of each square.
- Sprinkle chopped walnuts on top of the Brie.
- Drizzle honey lightly over each.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes until golden.
- Let cool slightly, then serve.
5) Mini cranberry brie puff pastry appetizers
Mini cranberry brie bites are a breeze with store-bought puff pastry. Creamy brie and sweet cranberries get tucked inside crisp, golden pastry squares.
Just cut the pastry into small squares and add a chunk of brie. Spoon on some cranberry sauce or toss in dried cranberries.
Bake until puffed and golden brown. They look fancy but are honestly so easy.
Freeze the brie first if you want to cut it more easily. These take about 15-20 minutes to bake, so you can pull them together fast.
Ingredients
- Puff pastry sheets
- Brie cheese
- Cranberry sauce or dried cranberries
- Optional: chopped pecans or fresh herbs
Cooking Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Cut puff pastry into 2-inch squares.
- Place a small piece of brie in the center of each square.
- Add a spoonful of cranberry sauce or a few dried cranberries on top.
- Fold the corners of the pastry up or leave flat.
- Optional: sprinkle pecans or herbs on top.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes until golden and puffed.
- Let cool slightly before serving.
If you’re curious, here’s a cranberry brie bite recipe for more ideas.
6) Quick rough puff pastry method
Rough puff pastry is your shortcut to flaky layers without all the fuss. Work cold butter into flour in chunks—don’t overmix.
Roll out the dough, fold it a few times, and chill. It’s less finicky than the classic version but still puffs up nicely.
You can use this for both sweet and savory recipes—think tarts or pies. Just keep everything cold and don’t overwork it.
Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups (320 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp salt
- 12 tbsp (170 g) cold unsalted butter, cut into small cubes
- ¾ cup (180 ml) cold water
Cooking Instructions
- Mix flour and salt in a bowl.
- Add cold butter cubes and rub with your fingers until coated but still chunky.
- Slowly pour in cold water and mix until it forms a rough dough.
- Roll out the dough on a floured surface into a rectangle.
- Fold the dough into thirds like a letter.
- Repeat rolling and folding 2 more times.
- Chill dough in the fridge for 20-30 minutes before using.
- Bake at 400°F (200°C) until golden brown.
7) Sweet puff pastry with berries and jam
Sweet puff pastry with berries and jam is a no-fuss dessert. Lay out the pastry and spread your favorite jam on top.
Scatter fresh berries—strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, whatever you’ve got. Fold or cut the pastry however you want.
Bake until golden and puffed, about 12–15 minutes. It’s a quick way to use up summer berries or leftover jam.
You get a flaky crust and a sweet, fruity filling that’s hard not to love. Want more? Here’s an easy berry puff pastry recipe.
Ingredients
- 1 sheet puff pastry
- ½ cup mixed berries
- ¼ cup fruit jam (any flavor)
Cooking Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Lay puff pastry on a baking sheet.
- Spread jam evenly over the pastry.
- Scatter berries on top of the jam.
- Fold or cut pastry as desired.
- Bake 12–15 minutes until golden brown.
- Let cool slightly before serving.
8) Savory puff pastry pinwheels with herbs
Savory pinwheels are a breeze with puff pastry and a handful of herbs. Spread a mix of cream cheese and fresh herbs—like thyme, parsley, or oregano—over the dough.
Toss on some parmesan or sharp cheddar for a salty kick. If you’re feeling it, add prosciutto or pancetta before rolling.
Roll the dough up tight and slice into pinwheels. Bake at 400°F (200°C) until they’re golden and puffed, about 12 to 15 minutes.
They’re great for snacks or parties and taste good warm or at room temp.
Ingredients
- 1 sheet puff pastry, thawed
- 4 oz cream cheese
- 1 tbsp mixed fresh herbs (thyme, parsley, oregano)
- ½ cup shredded parmesan or cheddar
- 4-6 slices prosciutto or pancetta (optional)
Cooking Instructions
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Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
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Roll out the puff pastry on a floured surface.
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Spread cream cheese across the dough as evenly as you can.
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Sprinkle herbs and cheese on top. Toss on some prosciutto if you’re using it.
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Roll the dough up tightly so you get a nice log shape.
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Slice into ½-inch rounds and arrange them on a baking sheet.
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Bake for 12-15 minutes. You’ll know they’re done when they’re golden and puffy.
9) Upside down brie and nut tarts
These upside down brie and nut tarts are ridiculously easy. Puff pastry forms the base, and you top it with creamy brie and a handful of nuts—walnuts or pecans work great.
Bake it all together and you’ll get golden, flaky pastry with perfectly melted cheese. Place the nuts and brie on the pastry, then bake the tart face down.
Let them cool for a few minutes, then flip the tarts so the nuts and brie end up on top. The result? A pretty tart that tastes fantastic, whether you’re snacking or hosting friends.
Add a drizzle of honey if you want a sweet note, or scatter on some fresh herbs for something more savory. These always look impressive, but honestly, they’re super simple.
Ingredients:
- 1 sheet puff pastry
- 4 oz brie cheese
- ½ cup walnuts or pecans
- Honey (optional)
- Fresh thyme or rosemary (optional)
Cooking Instructions:
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Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
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Cut the puff pastry into small squares.
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Put the nuts and brie slices on each pastry square, with the nuts facing down.
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Bake for 12-15 minutes. You want the pastry golden.
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Let them cool for about 5 minutes, then flip the tarts over.
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Drizzle with honey or sprinkle on herbs if you feel like it.
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Serve warm or at room temperature.
Craving more inspiration? Take a look at this brie and walnut tartlets recipe.
10) Frozen puff pastry quick appetizer ideas
Frozen puff pastry is such a lifesaver for fast appetizers. Thaw the dough, toss on some cheese, jam, or sausage, and you’re basically set.
These little bites come together quickly and look like you put in way more effort than you actually did.
Try cheese and apricot jam bites if you want something sweet and savory. They’re simple and always a hit.
Or wrap sausage in puff pastry for mini sausage pies—perfect for grabbing and snacking.
You can make pinwheels with Mediterranean flavors, or brie and cherry cups. Most of these just need pantry staples and bake up in about half an hour.
Ingredients
- Frozen puff pastry sheets
- Cheese (Gruyere, brie, or whatever you like)
- Apricot jam or cherry preserves
- Sausage links or ground sausage
- Eggs (for egg wash)
- Herbs or spices, if you’re feeling fancy
Cooking Instructions
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Set your oven to 400°F (200°C).
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Let the puff pastry thaw—just follow the directions on the box.
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Slice the pastry into shapes you like. Squares or circles both work.
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Drop in your fillings. Cheese and jam? Sausage? Go wild.
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Fold or roll the pastry so it wraps around the filling.
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Brush the tops with a beaten egg. That’s how you get that shiny, golden look.
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Bake for 15-20 minutes. You want them puffed up and nicely golden.
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Give them a few minutes to cool before you dig in.
Need more quick puff pastry appetizer ideas? Check out this link.