Description
This Quick & Easy Homemade Puff Pastry recipe delivers a flaky, buttery pastry that surpasses store-bought versions. Made with simple ingredients and chilled butter, it forms a perfect base for both savory and sweet treats like ham and cheese roll-ups or pear and chocolate crescents. Ideal for impressing guests or enjoying as a luxurious snack, this versatile pastry is easy to prepare with a food processor and requires minimal active work.
Ingredients
Scale
Dough
- 2 cups All-Purpose Flour
- 0.25 teaspoon Salt
- 1.25 cups Very Cold Butter
- 0.5 cups Very Cold Water
Savory Roll-Ups
- 6-8 slices Cooked Ham
- 1.25 cups Shredded Gruyere or Cheese of Choice
- 1 Egg
- 1 tablespoon Water (for egg wash)
- 0.25 – 0.5 cups Shredded Cheese (for topping)
- 0.25 – 0.5 cups Freshly Grated Parmesan Cheese
- 1-2 tablespoons Chopped Fresh Italian Parsley (optional)
Sweet Crescents
- 0.5 – 1 Pear, sliced
- 0.25 cups Finely Chopped Walnuts
- 0.25 cups Mini Chocolate Chips
- 1 Egg
- 1 tablespoon Water (for egg wash)
- 3 tablespoons Brown Sugar
- 0.5 teaspoon Cinnamon
- 1 piece Apple, thinly sliced
Instructions
- Dough Preparation: Use a food processor to pulse together the all-purpose flour and salt. Add 3/4 cup of very cold butter, blending until combined. Then, add the remaining cold butter pieces and pulse a few times to maintain chunks, which help create flaky layers.
- Forming the Dough: Slowly pour in 1/2 cup of very cold water while pulsing until the dough just starts to come together. The dough should still have a few lumps to ensure flakiness. Transfer it to a floured surface and knead gently a couple of times to form a cohesive dough.
- Rolling and Chilling: Roll the dough into a 12 x 18-inch rectangle, keeping it even. Fold the dough like an envelope, wrap tightly in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 1-2 hours to rest and keep it cold.
- Savory Roll-Ups – Rolling: After chilling, roll the dough out to roughly 10 x 14 inches. Layer it evenly with slices of cooked ham and shredded Gruyere or cheese of choice. Roll tightly into a log shape and seal the edges with egg wash (mix egg with 1 tablespoon water).
- Savory Roll-Ups – Chilling and Baking: Refrigerate the log for 20-30 minutes to firm up. Slice into bite-sized pieces, place on a baking sheet, optionally sprinkle with more shredded cheese and Parmesan, then bake at 375°F (190°C) for 15-20 minutes until golden brown and flaky.
- Sweet Crescents – Shaping: Roll the dough into a circle and cut into triangles. Place pear slices, chopped walnuts, and mini chocolate chips at the base of each triangle. Roll up into crescent shapes and seal edges with egg wash.
- Sweet Crescents – Baking and Finishing: Bake at 375°F (190°C) for about 15 minutes until golden. Once cooled, dust with powdered sugar for a perfect sweet finish.
Notes
- Keep all butter and water as cold as possible to ensure maximum flakiness in the pastry.
- You can substitute ham with turkey or chicken for savory roll-ups.
- For sweet crescents, apples or peaches can be used instead of pears.
- Try different cheeses like cheddar or Romano based on availability or preference.
- Use egg whites for a lighter egg wash if desired.
- Do not over-process the dough in the food processor; lumps contribute to flakiness.
