Description
These savory ham & cheese puff pastry stacks feature flaky, buttery layers with gooey melted cheese and salty ham, perfect for a quick lunch, party appetizer, or cozy snack.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 sheets puff pastry, thawed
- 8 ounces (225g) ham slices, thick-cut
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (100g)
- ½ cup shredded Gruyère cheese (optional, 50g)
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 1 large egg, beaten
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves (optional)
- Black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Thaw frozen puff pastry sheets according to package instructions (about 40 minutes at room temperature). Lightly flour your workspace and roll out the sheets if uneven or thick.
- Cut each puff pastry sheet into 9 equal squares (about 3×3 inches) using a sharp knife or pizza cutter. Keep squares on parchment paper for easy transfer.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the beaten egg and Dijon mustard to make the mustard egg wash.
- On one puff pastry square, brush a thin layer of the mustard egg wash. Top with a slice of ham (fold if needed), sprinkle shredded cheese, fresh thyme leaves, and black pepper.
- Place a second puff pastry square on top and press gently to seal the edges. Brush the top with more mustard egg wash. Repeat until all squares are used, making 9 stacks total.
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Place stacks on a parchment-lined baking sheet, spacing a couple of inches apart.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes until puff pastry is golden brown and puffed with flaky layers. Cheese should be melted and tops crisp.
- Let stacks cool for 5 minutes before serving. Serve warm.
Notes
Keep puff pastry cold until baking to ensure proper puffing. Brush edges with egg wash to seal stacks. Avoid overloading filling to prevent sogginess. For extra crispness, bake on parchment paper or use a wire rack halfway through baking. Can freeze assembled stacks before baking; bake from frozen adding 5-7 minutes.
- Prep Time: 7 minutes
- Cook Time: 15-20 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 puff pastry stack
- Calories: 290
- Sodium: 550
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 8
- Carbohydrates: 18
- Protein: 12
Keywords: ham and cheese, puff pastry, savory stacks, easy appetizer, flaky pastry, quick snack, party food