Puff Pastry Squares Appetizer

Name: Puff Pastry Squares Appetizer
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 8
Ingredients: sheets of puff pastry, 2; Ham, 100g; Cream Cheese, 150g; red bell peppers,; Zucchini,; Mushrooms,; Cherry tomatoes,; Potatoes,; Onions,; Olive oil,; salt,; Oregano,

Total time: 45 mins

Difficulty: Low

Serves: 8 people

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By Jennifer Philipp

Buttery and flaky with an array of vegetable toppings, these Puff Pastry Squares make a wonderful appetizer during the holiday season or any time when you have plenty of guests to serve. This recipe makes a big batch that is great for when you are serving a crowd. These puff pastry squares include a cream cheese mixture and toppings like zucchini, mushrooms, tomatoes, and more.

To make them, you begin by roasting the vegetables. Then, ham and cream cheese are combined into a spreadable mixture before being spread on a sheet of puff pastry. Next, another sheet of puff pastry gets laid on top before being cut into squares and indented with a small glass. After that, they are each garnished with the vegetables and baked in the oven until puffed, golden, and crisp. Served warm or at room temperature, these make an excellent appetizer with your favorite cocktail.

What are Puff Pastry Squares?

There are many variations on puff pastry squares and they can contain both sweet and savory fillings. Sweet versions may include lemon curd, apple filling, or chocolate, whereas savory versions can include cheese, olives, smoked salmon, chicken, ham, and more.

Pro Tips

Keep the puff pastry chilled until you are ready to use it as it will make it easier to handle and will puff up better during the baking process.
To make the cream cheese easier to mix and spread, you can allow it to soften at room temperature before you use it.
To ensure the squares are evenly-sized, use a measuring tape to measure them.
You will know the puff pastry squares are baked when they are puffed and golden on their tops and bottoms.
If you prefer not to use dried oregano, you could replace it with Italian seasoning or dried basil.
For extra flavor, consider using an herbed cream cheese.

What to Serve with Puff Pastry Squares?

These puff pastry squares are perfect on their own or as part of a spread with other appetizers. Other appetizer dishes these can be served with are vegetable trays, charcuterie platters, baked brie cheese, gougeres, and more.

Can I Use Different Vegetables in the Puff Pastry Squares?

Yes, you definitely could! Broccoli, other colors of bell peppers, hot peppers, olives, asparagus, or Brussels sprouts would all be delicious additions to these squares. You could also omit some of the vegetables in the list if there are any you don’t care for.

Can I Make These Puff Pastry Squares Vegetarian?

Yes, if you would prefer to make vegetarian puff pastry squares, you can simply omit the ham from the recipe. They will be no less delicious without it.

Do I Have to Pre-cook the Vegetables?

Yes, for this recipe, pre-cooking the vegetables will ensure that they cook through completely once they are added to the puff pastry squares. If they are added to the puff pastry squares raw, they may not cook through in the time that it takes for the puff pastry to cook through.

How to Store Puff Pastry Squares

Since these puff pastry squares contain fresh vegetables, meat, and cream cheese, they should be stored in an airtight container in the fridge. They should keep for up to 3 days. When you are ready to eat them, you can simply re-warm them on a baking sheet in the oven.