If you’re anything like us, then you probably also subscribe to the belief that the best way to start your day and the best way to end your day is one and the same: with a decadent pastry. But there’s no need to spend a fortune at the bakery to make this dream a reality – instead, you can make delicious next-level pastries from the comfort of your very own kitchen. Add some creamy blue cheese to the mix and you’ll be serving up 4 sweet & savory baked goods in no time!
1. Puff Pastry Daffodils
Yield: 5
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cooking Time: 30 minutes
Difficulty Level: Easy
You’ll Need:
- 5 puff pastry sheets
- 4 oz blue cheese
- 1 egg
- 1 whisked egg for the egg wash
Here’s How:
1.1 Use a shot glass to cut out 8 smaller circles from each puff pastry sheet. Use a wine glass to cut out 1 larger circle from each puff pastry sheet.
1.2 Brush a little water over each puff pastry circle and arrange 8 of the smaller puff pastry circles around the rim of the wine glass so that they overlap. Place 1 of the larger puff pastry circles over the opening of the wine glass and gently press it into the rest of the dough to create a seal.
1.3 Carefully upend the dough flower onto a baking tray lined with parchment paper. Repeat the previous steps 4 more times until you have 5 puff pastry daffodils.
1.4 For the blue cheese filling, combine the blue cheese and 1 egg until smooth. Spoon the mixture into the opening in each puff pastry daffodil, filling each flower about halfway. Transfer the baking tray to the fridge and chill for 45 minutes.
1.5 Brush the egg wash over the chilled dough. Transfer the baking tray to a preheated oven and cook at 375°F for 30 minutes until golden brown.
2. Puff Pastry Tulips
Yield: 6
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cooking Time: 30 minutes
Difficulty Level: Easy
You’ll Need:
- 1 puff pastry sheet
- 4 oz blue cheese
- 3 oz sun-dried tomatoes, diced
- 10 oz chopped spinach, cooked
- 1 whisked egg for the egg wash
Here’s How:
2.1 For the blue cheese filling, combine the blue cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, and cooked spinach until smooth. Cut the puff pastry sheet into 6 equal pieces and divide the mixture between the 6 squares.
2.2 Fold the puff pastry corners of each square up diagonally over the filling. Place the 6 stuffed puff pastry balls on a baking tray lined with parchment paper, with the folded side facing down. Use scissors to cut 3 intersecting lines in the top of each puff pastry ball. Transfer the baking tray to the fridge and chill for 20 minutes.
2.3 Brush the egg wash over the puff pastry tulips. Transfer the baking tray to a preheated oven and cook at 375°F for 30 minutes until golden brown.
3. Puff Pastry Bouquet
Yield: 1
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cooking Time: 30 minutes
Difficulty Level: Easy
You’ll Need:
- 1 puff pastry sheet
- 1 whisked egg for the egg wash
- 12 oz blue cheese, divided
- 2 tbsp blueberry jam
- 2 tbsp lemon curd
- 2 tbsp strawberry jelly
Here’s How:
3.1 Cut the puff pastry sheet horizontally into 8 even strips. Fold 8 pieces of parchment paper into quarters and roll each piece up into a cone – be sure to tuck the openings of the cones inwards after rolling to hold the cone shape. Wrap 1 puff pastry strip around each parchment paper cone and place the puff pastry cones on a baking tray lined with parchment paper. Transfer the baking tray to the fridge and chill for 20 minutes.
3.2 Brush the egg wash over the puff pastry cones. Transfer the baking tray to a preheated oven and cook at 375°F for 30 minutes until golden brown. Let the puff pastry cones cool and then remove the parchment paper from each cone.
3.3 Divide the blue cheese into 3 even portions and mash each portion with a fork until smooth. Add blueberry jam to the first portion of blue cheese and mix well. Add lemon curd to the second portion of blue cheese and mix well. Add strawberry jelly to the third portion of blue cheese and mix well. Transfer each filling to a piping bag with a star tip and pipe 1 filling into each puff pastry cone. Arrange the filled puff pastry cones to make a flower bouquet that is equal parts delicious and gorgeous.
4. Puff Pastry Roses
Yield: 6
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cooking Time: 30 minutes
Difficulty Level: Easy
You’ll Need:
- 1 puff pastry sheet
- 4 oz blue cheese
- 3 pears
- 1 whisked egg for the egg wash
Here’s How:
4.1 Cut the puff pastry sheet horizontally into 6 strips that are slightly wider at one end and spread some blue cheese over each strip of dough. Use a vegetable peeler to slice 2 long, intact strips from each pear, making sure to keep the strips as long as possible. Place 1 pear strip on each puff pastry strip, leaving some space at the bottom of each puff pastry strip. Fold the bottom edges of the puff pastry strips up over the pear strips.
4.2 Loosely roll up each puff pastry strip, starting at the wide end. Place the puff pastry roses on a baking tray lined with parchment paper, transfer the baking tray to the fridge, and chill for 20 minutes.
4.3 Brush the egg wash over the puff pastry roses. Transfer the baking tray to a preheated oven and bake at 375°F for 30 minutes until crispy.
There’s no need to make a special trip to the local bakery anymore, because there’s a new pastry maker in town – you!