Crispy Christmas Puff Pastries: a magical dough for an elegant and easy appetizer

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• Key ingredients to make your crispy Christmas puff pastries succeed
  • The simple method for a golden and fragrant appetizer
• Vary pleasures: three fillings for always successful appetizers
  • Tips for a stress-free and easy appetizer
• The pleasure of a crispy and refined homemade appetizer
  • Shopping list for a festive and quick appetizer 🎄
  • Can you prepare puff pastries in advance and freeze them?
  • What puff pastry should you choose for a successful appetizer?
  • How to vary the fillings according to tastes?
  • Should puff pastries be served hot or warm?
  • Can these puff pastries be used beyond Christmas?
• Crispy Christmas Puff Pastries
  • Ingrédients
  • Instructions
  • Video
  • Notes
  • Nutrition Facts

I discovered these little Christmas puff pastries thanks to Sylvia Mareuse, a true muse of simple and creative cooking. A puff pastry, a bit of cream cheese, and three easy fillings: tuna & chives, candied vegetables & oregano, smoked salmon & dill. And you know what? You can shape them however you want, it’s a real playground.

The preparation takes ten minutes flat, no more. I often do it with my kids, they choose their filling, spread the cheese, and have fun cutting the dough. I love this slightly crazy moment in the kitchen before the rush of guests.

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I promise you, by following this recipe, your appetizer platter will look stunning. There is something elegant about these golden bites, dill sprigs, sesame seeds rolling under the plate… it’s festive and warmly welcoming.

Ah, and the best part? You can prepare everything in advance and fill just before serving. Ideal to avoid running around at the last minute, you can really enjoy your evening without feeling guilty behind the stove.

Key ingredients to make your crispy Christmas puff pastries succeed

To delight 4 to 6 people, you need: 2 puff pastries (no need to make it yourself, there are wonderful ready-made ones), an egg yolk for that perfect golden color, and a box of cream cheese like St Môret that melts like magic.

Then, for the fillings, I suggest simple but punchy ingredients: canned tuna, shallot, fresh chives, smoked salmon slices, lemon, dill. For the vegetables, a few candied tomatoes, artichoke hearts, and a pinch of oregano. Don’t forget a pinch of Espelette pepper to awaken everything, a mix of black and white sesame seeds, and a drizzle of olive oil for softness.

You see, with this, we play on textures, flavors, and colors. It’s far from the classic peanuts, I find it more refined while remaining simple.

The simple method for a golden and fragrant appetizer

Preheat the oven to 180 °C. Fold each dough in half, it makes the dough thicker, crispier. Then, use a cookie cutter or even a glass, and cut circles. No need to be precise, it gives character.

Place the rounds on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, generously brush with the egg yolk (that’s where the magic of the golden color happens), then sprinkle with sesame seeds. Finally, send them into the oven for 10 to 12 minutes, the time for them to puff up and brown perfectly.

While baking, prepare the three fillings. First, mix in a bowl a spoonful of cream cheese with chopped candied tomatoes, artichoke hearts, a hint of oregano, and a pinch of Espelette pepper. It gives a Mediterranean taste that instantly reminds me of summer holidays… even in the middle of winter.

Second bowl: mix St Môret with crumbled tuna, finely chopped shallot and chives, then season with a bit of salt, pepper, and a drizzle of olive oil. It’s fresh, light, perfect with the crispiness.

Finally, the last one: cream cheese, smoked salmon cut into thin strips, lemon juice, and chopped dill. Simple, but oh so effective to awaken the taste buds.

Once the Christmas puff pastries have cooled slightly, spread a good spoonful of each preparation on the little golden bites. Arrange them carefully on a beautiful board or plate, and there, it’s a party.

Vary pleasures: three fillings for always successful appetizers

I admit I love this Christmas puff pastry recipe because it adapts to whatever you have on hand. Not a fan of tuna tonight? Replace it with mackerel rillettes or even crab for a more delicate taste.

For the candied vegetables, you can swap this version for homemade ratatouille or grilled peppers. I’ve tested both, and it always works great.

Smoked salmon? You can vary the pleasures with smoked trout or why not chopped shrimp, spiced with a zest of lime for an unexpected twist.

That’s really the idea: play with combinations, don’t get stuck on the recipe, and above all please every taste. If you have a large table, double the quantities, believe me, these puff pastries go fast.

Tips for a stress-free and easy appetizer

• 🌟 Prepare the fillings the day before, they will be even better and you will save time on the day J.
• ⏲️ Cut the dough in advance and freeze the raw dough circles, it’s a life saver when short on time.
• 🔥 Not a fan of the oven at 180 °C? You can put them under the grill for a few minutes at the end for even more crunch.
• 🥂 Serve these bites with a good fresh white wine or a glass of Champagne, it always makes a good impression.

The pleasure of a crispy and refined homemade appetizer

It’s incredible how a few well-chosen ingredients, a puff pastry, and 15 minutes can transform a banal appetizer into a moment of sharing eagerly devoured by all your guests.

I love that this Christmas puff pastry recipe is accessible, it doesn’t require special skills, just a bit of desire and curiosity. It reminds me of those Christmas Eves where everyone is happy, and where we remake the world around a platter of golden bites.

You can even prepare these puff pastries well in advance, keep them warm a few minutes before serving. It’s a real wildcard for evenings when timing is tight.

Honestly, simpler you die, and it’s perfect for a stress-free Christmas, exactly what I offer you in this article to discover on a stress-free appetizer.

Shopping list for a festive and quick appetizer 🎄

• 2 puff pastries
• 1 egg yolk
• Cream cheese like St Môret (approx. 250 g)
• 1 can of tuna
• 1 shallot
• Fresh chives
• 2 slices of smoked salmon
• 1/2 lemon
• Dill
• 5 candied tomatoes
• 5 artichoke hearts
• Oregano
• Espelette pepper
• Black and white sesame seeds
• Olive oil
• Salt, pepper

Can you prepare puff pastries in advance and freeze them?

Yes, you can cut the dough and prepare the fillings in advance. Raw cut puff pastries freeze very well, just bake them directly frozen by extending the cooking time slightly.

What puff pastry should you choose for a successful appetizer?

A pure butter pastry is ideal to get that crispy and rich flavor. You can easily find it in most supermarkets. Otherwise, some homemade recipes can be tried, but they take more time!

How to vary the fillings according to tastes?

Feel free to replace ingredients depending on what you have: crab or rillettes instead of tuna, ratatouille or peppers for the vegetables, trout or shrimp instead of salmon. The essential thing is that the filling is fresh and well seasoned.

Should puff pastries be served hot or warm?

I recommend serving them warm so that the dough stays crispy and the fillings are melting. But nothing prevents serving them cold, that’s also very good!

Can these puff pastries be used beyond Christmas?

Absolutely! This recipe is perfect for winter, friendly aperitifs or even lazy January brunches. We want more all season long!