Hosting Christmas this year? Skip the complicated recipes and make something simple, like these puff pastry Christmas appetizers. I have 21+ different amazing recipes to share, and there’s something for every taste on here – even picky eaters.
21+ Irresistible Christmas Puff Pastry Appetizers
1. Cranberry Goat Cheese Puff Pastry Swirls
These puff pastry swirls feature seasonal flavors and creamy goat cheese. They’re the perfect addition to your Christmas spread.
Puff pastry dough, dried cranberries, goat cheese, butter and cinnamon sugar are all you need to make this dish.
You can even start making these ahead of time. Just prepare the dough and filling and refrigerate your swirls until you’re ready to bake.
2. Puff Pastry Pinwheels with Blue Cheese, Pear and Honey
Golden puff pastry pinwheels with creamy blue cheese, pear and honey. Flaky, gooey and absolutely delicious. Everyone will beg you for this recipe, and it will easily be the star of your Christmas dinner.
They’re super simple to make, too. Just unroll the puff pastry dough, arrange the pear slices on top and scatter with blue cheese. Drizzle on honey, roll slightly from the long edge into a log and slice into spirals.
These only need to bake for 15-18 minutes before they’re ready to serve.
Related: 21+ Puff Pastry Appetizers That Look Fancy But Are So Easy
3. Nutella and Puff Pastry turkey
Of all the puff pastry Christmas appetizers on this list, this one is the cutest. While it looks complicated, it’s really not.
You just need a little patience and time.
Roll out the sheet of pastry dough, spread a layer of Nutella on top and add chopped hazelnuts. Place the other sheet of dough on top and start shaping the turkey.
The video in the Pin above goes through every step to make it as easy as possible to make your tasty “turkey.”
4. Upside-Down Onion Tarts
These tarts are a play on the viral upside-down pastry trend on social media. It’s one of the simplest recipes, but it’s so tasty.
It works by building your tart backwards. Create little pools of olive oil (the same number as your slices of pastry dough), and add a drizzle of balsamic glaze to each one. Then, top with a slice of onion and season with fresh herbs.
Add a layer of Swiss cheese and grated Parmesan cheese on top of your onion, and then cover with the square of pastry dough. Crimp the edges to keep the cheese fully enclosed.
All that’s left to do is bake and serve.
You can customize this recipe any way you want.
5. Caramelized Onions Puff Pastry Bites
Creamy, flaky and full of flavor, everyone will love these puff pastry bites. You’ll create puff pastry shells in a muffin tin and then fill each one with a delicious mix of:
- Ricotta cheese
- Sour cream
- Olive oil
- Roasted garlic
- Chives
- Parsley
Top with caramelized onions, more fresh chives and a drizzle of honey.
6. Pumpkin Puff Pastry Wheels
These pastry wheels are brimming with fall flavors. Creamy pumpkin, goat cheese and fresh herbs, all rolled up in a flaky puff pastry and baked until golden brown.
Make sure you use pumpkin puree (not pie filling). And if you don’t like goat cheese, you can use cream cheese instead. It pairs well with pumpkin.
7. Caramelized Onion and Bacon Puff Pastry Squares
One of the more traditional puff pastry Christmas appetizers on this list. They feature the fall flavors you love, like cranberries and pears, but add a tangy and savory twist, thanks to the Dijon mustard, bacon and caramelized onions.
Caramelizing the onions will take the most time, but the rest is simple.
8. Mini Brie and Blackberry Puff Pastry Pumpkins
This appetizer will impress everyone. And making that pumpkin shape is so simple. Just use a biscuit cutter to cut out your pumpkins from the pastry dough.
Add a round of Brie cheese on top of each piece of dough, top with a blackberry and wrap up the edges. Use twine to help keep the pastry together and create the wrinkles in the pumpkin.
Bake and then finish the presentation by inserting a cinnamon stick in the center to act as the pumpkin stem and a sprig of rosemary.
9. Flaky Fig and Goat Cheese Pinwheels
There are so many different ways to make pinwheels, and this recipe uses one of my favorite fall fruits: figs.
These flaky pinwheels are slathered in fig preserves and goat cheese.
Don’t like goat cheese? Try blue cheese or any other type of cheese you like.
10. Stuffed Apple Donuts
Serve something sweet as an appetizer with these easy apple donuts. And unlike regular donuts, these are on the healthier side.
Just core and slice apples and tip the slices into a mix of cinnamon and sugar. Then, slice your puff pastry dough into strips. Wrap those strips around the apple slices, brush on egg wash and top with more cinnamon before baking.
11. Artichoke and Cheese Puff Pastry Bites
Looking for unique puff pastry Christmas appetizers? This recipe combines flavors you don’t normally find at the Christmas table: artichokes and pepperoncini peppers.
It also adds delicious gouda and fontina cheeses and fresh herbs and spices.
Bake and drizzle some honey on top for a tasty, Mediterranean-inspired appetizer.
12. Potato and Cheese Puff Pastry Tart
A flaky puff pastry tart topped with melty Gruyere cheese, Dijon mustard and slices of potatoes. This is a filling appetizer that your guests will devour right away.
What I really love about this recipe is that it’s so flexible. You can add fresh herbs that you love. You can add onion, or you can skip the Dijon mustard.
I’ve also used other types of cheese for this recipe, and they were just as delicious.
Related: 15 Easy Cheese Appetizers for Every Party and Gathering
13. Prosciutto, Sage and Gruyere Puff Pastry Pinwheels
These flaky puff pastry pinwheels are filled with crispy prosciutto, Dijon mustard, sage and creamy Gruyere cheese.
Spread the mustard on the rolled-out dough and top with slices of prosciutto, shredded cheese and minced sage. Roll, slice and bake.
14. Feta and Honey Puff Pastry Bites
Golden and crispy puff pastry bites filled with delicious honey and feta cheese. It doesn’t get much simpler and tastier than this appetizer.
All you have to do is unroll and cut the pastry, layer the feta cheese and add a drop of honey on top. Top each bite with another slice of pasty dough, seal the edges and bake.
15. Pumpkin Cream Puff Pastry Snowflake Flower
Look at how amazing this puff pastry looks. You’ll feel like an artist after making these, which are broken down into two parts:
- Vanilla pastry cream filling with half and half, egg yolk, pure vanilla, sugar, flour and salt.
- Pumpkin butter, which requires canned pumpkin, brown sugar, allspice, cinnamon, ginger and milk/half and half.
Don’t worry, Portlandia Pie Lady explains how to make the flower shape in great detail.
16. Brie and Jam Puff Pastry Bites
Brie and jam puff pastry Christmas appetizers are one of my favorite additions to this list, and they’re overflowing with flavor. Everyday Pie + Pastry does well walking you through all of the steps to make these, and this recipe is a little more in-depth than some of the others on the list.
And you’ll need puff pastry, all-purpose flour, egg wash, jam, brie cheese and rosemary.
17. Savory Leek & Blue Cheese Puff Spirals
Simple and easy to make, you’ll spend all of 25 minutes on these. You’ll need:
- Puff pastry
- Crumbled blue cheese
- Olive oil
- Medium leeks
- Salt and pepper
- Eggs
Heat a skillet with olive oil on medium heat and then saute your sliced leeks until they turn translucent. Combine your leeks, blue cheese, salt and pepper in a bowl and then roll out your puff pastry.
Spread the mixture on the pastry, roll it into a log and then cut it into sections.
Brush with beaten egg and then bake for 20 – 25 minutes until the pastry is golden brown.
18. Boursin Puff Pastry Turnovers
You’ll need a chef’s knife, frying pan, mixing bowl and baking tray for this dish. Preheat your oven to 400°F and take your pastry sheets out to warm up. Add oil to your frying pan and allow to heat up before adding onions and pepper.
Fry for 8 to 10 minutes and transfer to a medium mixing bowl.
Add your Boursin and black pepper and mix well. Lay out your pastry sheets, cut into six squares and then spoon your mixture in before folding the pastry over the filling. Dab any exposed pastry with egg and then bake for 20 minutes.
Enjoy your six turnovers.
19. Tapenade Puff Pastry Pinwheels
Pinwheels are very easy to make, but they do take a little over an hour from start to finish. Begin by lining two baking trays with parchment paper and preheating the oven to 350°F. Roll out your puff pastry and then spread your tapenade on top, allowing about ¼-inch space from the edges.
Sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top and then roll your pastry into a log. Refrigerate for half an hour before cutting into ¼-inch circles.
Place on your baking sheet, brush with beaten eggs and then add sesame seeds on top. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes and enjoy.
20. Sweet Potato and Goat Cheese Puff Pastry Galette
Frozen puff pastry, goat cheese, parsley, sweet potatoes, thyme and salt and pepper come together well with this appetizer. You’ll make an almost pizza-like galette with sweet potato, cheese and thyme on top.
21. Spinach Puffs with Cream Cheese
Savory and flaky, these puffs are a delight every time I make them. You’ll fill your pastry puffs with baby spinach, olive oil, garlic and cream cheese. You’ll also add eggs to the filling to whip the ingredients together well.
Brush your egg yolk on top of the pastry to create a nice browning.
Prepare the filling, puff pastry and then assemble your puffs before baking.
Related: 25+ Light Appetizers for Your Christmas Gathering
22. 30-Minute Puff Pastry Pecan Pie Bites
For this recipe, you can use either store-bought puff pastry or homemade – it’s up to you. Molly’s Home Guide uses frozen puff pastry before making filling with:
- Dark brown sugar
- Vanilla extract
- Unsalted butter
- Pecans
- Heavy cream
- Salt
Start by lining your baking sheet with parchment paper, and preheat your oven to 400°F. Making your pecan filling is up next, and it’s as easy as heating a medium saucepan and melting your butter in it. Stir in your brown sugar, salt and chopped pecans.
Add your vanilla and heavy cream before removing the filling, allowing it to cool and then fill your pastries before baking.
