Favorite Ham & Cheese Puff Pastry Appetizer
This recipe brings together crispy puff pastry with melted Gruyère cheese & black forest ham. Super simple to make, it’s the perfect easy puff pastry appetizer, or enjoy it alongside a salad as a quick meal. Recipe adapted from Ina Garten.
- Prep time
- 15 min
- Cook time
- 25 min
- Yield
- 12 servings
- Difficulty
- MEDIUM
Ingredients
- 1 package (2 sheets) frozen puff pastry, defrosted*
- 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1/4 lb black forest ham, thinly sliced
- 1/2 lb Gruyère cheese, grated
- 1 egg
- flour for dusting
Instructions
- 1
Preheat your oven to 450 F.
- 2
To make the egg wash, lightly beat an egg with 1 tbsp. of water. Set aside.
- 3
Place a piece of parchment paper onto your work surface and dust lightly with flour.
- 4
Lay one sheet of puff pastry on top of the paper.
- 5
Using the back of a teaspoon, brush the dough with mustard leaving a 1-inch border around the edge. Use a ruler if necessary.
- 6
Staying within the border, add the sliced ham in overlapping layers.
- 7
Add the cheese.
- 8
Brush the border with some of the egg wash to create a seal.
- 9
Place the second sheet of puff pastry on top of the filled pastry lining up the edges.
- 10
Using a sharp knife, trim the dough so that the edges line up and the square is even. It’s just like cutting the crust off of a sandwich. Make sure to cut the dough in a swift downward motion (think paper slicer). If you drag your knife, it will not rise properly. Press down lightly.
- 11
Brush the top with more egg wash and cut a few slits in the top to allow steam to escape.
- 12
Transfer the dough to a baking sheet by lifting up the parchment paper.
- 13
Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until puffed and golden brown.
- 14
Allow to cool for a few minutes and cut into squares (about 12-16 depending how large you want them).
- 15
Serve hot.