Hosting a party and need appetizer ideas? Here’s the great news: you don’t have to make something complicated to impress your guests. In fact, I have 21+ amazingly delicious puff pastry appetizers that look fancy but are actually SO easy to make.
21+ Puff Pastry Appetizers That Look Fancy But Are So Easy
1. Apple & White Cheddar Tart
These apple and white cheddar tarts are divine, and you only need five ingredients to make them:
- Apples
- White cheddar
- Puff pastry
- Honey
- Thyme
Just thaw out the pastry dough, roll it out, spread the shredded white cheddar, top with apple slices and bake. Voila! You have a delicious appetizer that took just 20-25 minutes to make.
Top your tarts with fresh sprigs of thyme to add a splash of color.
2. Blackberry Goat Cheese Pastry Twists
How pretty are these pastry twists? You can use frozen or fresh blackberries for this recipe.
Start by making a blackberry sauce by heating your berries with cinnamon, honey and a little water in a pan. Simmer for 10 minutes until it thickens and let it cool.
The rest is easy. Just mix the blackberry jam and goat cheese, spread the mixture over the thawed puff pastry, fold, twist and bake.
Related: 25+ Quick & Tasty Appetizer Skewers Perfect for Parties
3. Wine and Caramelized Onion Tartlet
Puff pastry appetizers don’t get much tastier than this. These tartlets are loaded with delicious caramelized onions, cheddar and prosciutto.
The onions are cooked in white wine with roasted garlic, thyme and diced pears. The cooked prosciutto is added after the tartlets are cooked to add a crispy texture to this cheesy appetizer.
4. Tomato Tartlet
A flaky, cheese appetizer that’s ready in just 30 minutes. These tartlets feature creamy ricotta, Italian herbs and fresh, juicy tomatoes.
If you want to make individual tartlets, slice your puff pastry into 9 even pieces on a cutting board and slice rectangles inside each piece.
Each slice is topped with a creamy ricotta mix and slices of tomato. To finish things off, sprinkle on some fresh basil and a pinch of sea salt.
5. Apricot Jam and Gruyere Cheese Puff Pastry Bites
These puff pastry bites take 30 minutes to make but the presentation is sure to impress your guests. All you need are six ingredients to bring this recipe to life:
- Defrosted puff pastry
- Gruyere cheese cut into cubes
- Apricot jam
- Chopped almonds
- Honey and thyme (for garnish)
You’ll cook your puff pastry bites in a muffin tin. Start by rolling out the dough and cutting it into 6 squares (use a pizza cutter to save time). Add one square to each cup of your pan. Then, layer a cube of cheese, a teaspoon of jam and a pinch of almonds.
Bake for 18-22 minutes and you’re ready to serve.
6. Mushroom Vol Au Vent
These mushroom tarts are so simple to make and add something different to your table. Each round of flaky puff pastry is topped with a creamy, herbed mushroom sauce that’s absolutely delicious.
You can use whatever mushrooms you like for this recipe. All you have to do is roll out the pastry dough, cut it into circles and bake.
While baking, make the mushroom sauce, and top each baked pastry circle with the sauce.
7. Pumpkin and Rosemary Puff Pastry Bites
How fancy are these bite-sized appetizers? They’re loaded with flavor, too. Delicious caramelized onions, garlic, cinnamon, pumpkin and rosemary make these bites irresistible.
And while the recipe calls for pumpkin, you can substitute any type of squash you want – butternut, acorn, etc.
I recommend buying pre-cubed pumpkin just because it will save you so much time. Otherwise, you’ll have to microwave or roast your pumpkin until it’s soft enough to remove the skin and cube it.
The rest of the process? Easy! Just cook the pumpkin, caramelize the onions and prepare your pastries.
8. Jalapeno Popper Puff Pastry Twists
These puff pastry appetizers are amazingly crunchy with a hint of spice (depending on how you prepare your jalapenos).
Start by thawing your puff pastry and rolling it out. Top with soft cream cheese first, and then add layers of cheddar cheese, jalapeno slices and bacon to one half of the pastry sheet. Fold over the other half to make a sandwich. Slice, twist and bake.
I like to serve these with ranch dressing, but you can use any dipping sauce you want.
9. Pesto Parmesan Cheese Straws
Simple, delicious and fancy-looking. These cheese straws will be the star of your next gathering, and they couldn’t be easier to make.
You only need four ingredients:
- Puff pastry
- Pesto
- Parmesan cheese
- Egg (to brush on the dough while it bakes)
Just roll out the dough, slice, top with basil and cheese, twist and bake.
Jarred pesto will save you time, but it’s hard to beat the flavor of homemade.
Here’s a great tutorial to follow:
10. Mushroom Puff Pastry Appetizer
These little puff pastry bites look gourmet and taste even better. The flaky pastry pairs so well with the chicken, mushroom and cheese mixture.
Each bite is topped with a blend of shredded chicken, mozzarella, cooked mushrooms, mayo, dill, garlic, salt and pepper.
Instead of the usual puff pastry dough, you’ll use puff pastry shells, which are already shaped and ready for topping.
11. Ham and Cheese Puff Pastry
These puff pastry pockets are filled with savory ham, gooey cheese and tasty Dijon mustard. They take just 15 minutes to prep and 25 minutes to cook, so you’re ready to serve in no time.
Roll out the thawed puff pastry, cut into 6 rectangles and top with your filling (ham, gruyere, mustard and fresh herbs). Brush the edges with egg wash, and pinch two corners together to seal the pastry over the filling.
Sprinkle with thyme and everything bagel seasoning before baking in the oven.
Related: 21+ Budget-Friendly Party Appetizer Ideas Your Guests Will Rave About
12. Mini Croque Monsieur
These mini puff pastry appetizers are delicious. Puff pastry rounds are topped with a creamy bechamel sauce, ham, gruyere cheese and Dijon mustard.
The sauce will take some time to make, but it’s so worth it.
You can see the tutorial for making this appetizer below:
13. Spinach Puffs Recipe
These spinach puffs have a filling made with fresh spinach, cream cheese, mozzarella, feta and spices – all tucked inside a flaky pastry.
Want to take the flavor to the next level? Try adding artichokes into the mix.
14. Feta Spinach Bacon Puffs
These puffs are the perfect party appetizer. A rich filling with salty bacon, spinach and tangy feta wrapped in a flaky puff pastry dough.
You’ll bake these in a muffin tin to make shaping and sealing easy.
The filling ingredients are blended together with a handheld beater and added to each puff pastry cup in the tin.
If you’re not a fan of bacon, you could use diced ham or Canadian bacon. Any type of cheese will also work for this recipe, including ricotta or mozzarella.
15. Apple and Brie Pastry Bites with Honey and Thyme
These pastry bites are more like tartlets, and it takes all of 25 minutes to make them (including the cooking time).
Just roll out the pastry dough and top with small pieces of Brie cheese and apple slices. Once cooked, top with honey and fresh thyme.
16. Fig, Goat Cheese and Thyme Puff Pastry
These pastry boats are filled with fresh figs and goat cheese and topped with honey and fresh thyme. They’re so easy to make and can be customized however you please.
Don’t like goat cheese? Try ricotta instead.
17. Baked Garlic Parmesan Puffs
Eat Well 101’s garlic parmesan puffs are a treat. Simple and easy to make, you only need olive oil, Parmesan cheese, minced garlic, Italian herb blend, fresh parsley, salt and pepper and puff pastry sheets.
18. Jalapeno Popper Pinwheels
Add a little spice to your appetizers with this jalapeno popper wheel that’s easy to make:
- Mix cream and cheddar cheese, ranch seasoning, jalapenos and bacon together in a medium bowl.
- Roll your puff pastry into a 9×12-inch square on a lightly floured surface.
- Spread your cream cheese mix over the dough and leave about one-half an inch on the edges.
- Wet the edge with water or a beaten egg and then roll into a tightened log.
- Cut your log into 12 squares, bake on a large baking sheet until golden brown and serve.
19. Prosciutto Asparagus Puff Pastry Bundles
Do you have 30 minutes? If so, these puff pastry appetizers may be the right choice for you. Fox and Briar walk you through making 12 servings of these delectable bundles made out of:
- Asparagus ends
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Salt and pepper
- Frozen puff pastry
- Shredded gruyere
- Prosciutto slices
- Egg
I do recommend a pizza cutter for making your squares, along with a sheet pan.
20. Dabeli Puff Pastry Swirl
Festive and known for being a crowd pleaser, these pastries are made with a dabeli filling, which consists of:
- Oil
- Dabeli masala
- Potatoes
You’ll then use a store-bought puff pastry and top with flavorful ingredients, such as sweet, green and garlic chutneys, masala peanut, sev, pomegranate and freshly chopped onions. This recipe does call for a 9×13 rectangle pastry sheet.
21. Crack Chicken Pastry Puffs
Plain Chicken shows you how to make these pastries in under 30 minutes with just five main ingredients: chicken, bacon, puff pastry, cheddar cheese and ranch dressing. You can even make this one ahead of time and freeze it.
Related: 25 Mouthwatering Cheese Appetizers That Will Steal the Show
22. Spinach Puffs Recipe
Buttery spinach puffs are always a welcomed treat, and they take all of 10 minutes to prep, 20 to cook and 10 to cool. Cheesy and savory, this recipe includes pops of bacon flavor thanks to the addition of bacon bits.
You’ll start by spraying cooking spray on your muffin pan and then combining:
- Soft cream cheese
- Egg
- Oil
- Dill
In a separate bowl, you’ll combine your bacon, feta and spinach together before pouring your cream cheese mixture on top to recombine.
Cut pastry sheets into squares, fill your muffin pan with them and then divide your mixture among them before baking at 400℉.
