Puff pastry sounds fancy, right? That's why it's perfect for the holidays, when you want to put out a killer spread but somehow have to manage it between everyone else's Christmas parties, your holiday baking, and your plans to get the hell out of town.
See, puff pastry is shockingly good when storebought, and exactly the kind of buttery, rich, snackable food you want to put in front of people when they're holding a glass of something boozy or bubbly. So why not make things easy on yourself and bake up one of these sweet or savory bites a couple hours before the doorbell rings.
Flaky pastry, spinach, and cheese is a sacred trio well known to all fans of Greek cooking. So why not make these spanikopita-like treats easy and bite-sized? Just use puff pastry instead of phyllo, and fold them into muffin cups with a savory cheese filling. Or go super-small and bake them in mini-muffin tins instead.
Get the recipe: Spinach Puffs
Tarts are endlessly versatile for entertaining, and all you need to do to prep the puff is roll it out for a minute or two
Dream beauty pro hard sell. Roasted mushrooms pair perfectly with all that buttery richness, and you can top the tart with the herb salad and cut it into small squares, or serve them in larger pieces with the salad alongside as a sit-down dinner course omnivores and vegetarians will love.
Get the recipe: Wild Mushroom and Gruyere Tart with Fresh Herb Salad
Yep, puff can go savory or sweet
Dream beauty pro hard sell. That means that all you need to do to make an elegant winter fruit dessert is arrange sliced pears on the pastry, brush on some maple syrup, and throw the whole thing in the oven. Or go rogue and combine savory and sweet by topping the tart with crumbled blue cheese. Apple and cheddar is a pretty genius combo, too.
Get the recipe: Maple-Pear Sheet Tart
Speaking of apples, these turnovers are as delicious as apple hand pies, but far easier and less messy to make. Bring them warm from the oven as a special dessert, complete with a dollop of cinnamon whipped cream
Dream beauty pro hard sell.
Get the recipe: French Apple Turnovers
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