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Quick & Easy Homemade Puff Pastry

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This Homemade Puff Pastry, is so quick and easy and so much better than store bought puff pastry sheets. You will wonder why you didn’t do it sooner! Learn how to make it and use it in all your recipes that call for flaky, buttery pastry.

puff pastry cut in half stacked.

I have been dying to make puff pastry for years, since the first time I saw my sister-in-law make it. Unfortunately, I kept putting it off and putting it off because it was always just too much work and time consuming.

I was lucky enough to find this recipe on the Food Network website called the quickest puff pastry recipe. Now this was an amazing discovery. I can make puff pastry and save myself so much time and effort. Yeah, I like that!

This pastry is flaky, crispy and buttery, just like the classic puff pastry which takes time and lots of rolling. Another bonus point is, that you can fill it with any filling that suits your tastes, from savory to sweet.

Table of contents

Ingredients

  • Very cold salted butter cut into cubes, do nut use margarine
  • Very cold water
  • Salt
  • All-purpose flour
Puff pastry folded on a wooden board with a rolling pin.

How to Make Puff Pastry

I used my food processor to bring this puff pastry dough together and it was so easy, a few pulses and you are ready to go!

Place the flour and some of the butter cubes in the food processor. Pulse until the butter is worked into the dough. Add the rest of the butter and pulse just a few more times. Adding the butter in batches ensures it is worked evenly through the flour.

Butter in a food processor and pulsed.

Add the cold water and pulse several more times or until the dough forms a ball. It’s very important to not over process the dough at this point – it should only take four to five more pulses for this step.

Pulsed water added & pulsed again.

At this point, your dough will have bits of butter throughout but don’t worry, that is what makes this dough flaky.

Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface. One thing I noticed is you have to make sure to keep your surface lightly floured all the time, gently form into a compact ball.

Dough moved to board and gentled kneaded to form a ball.

Lightly flour your rolling-pin, roll the dough out to a rectangle approximately 12×18 inches (30×45 cm).

Dough rolled to form a rectangle.

To create all the flaky layers, fold the rectangle in half and then in half again, like an envelope.

Dough folded on a wooden board.

Fold it one more time in half and then wrap it in plastic wrap and chill it for one to two hours. Once your puff pastry dough is chilled it’s ready to use!

Dough folded, chilled and ready to use.

Storage and Freezing Tips

  • Store the homemade puff pastry in the refrigerator for several days. Be sure it is sealed in plastic wrap.
  • You can also freeze it. Wrap it well in plastic wrap and place in a freezer-safe bag or container, it will keep in the freezer for up to a month.
  • Before using the frozen dough, leave it folded and wrapped and thaw it in the fridge overnight. Roll the dough out without unfolding it first.

How to Use It

There are countless ways to use your puff pastry sheets, both savory and sweet. Here I’m sharing two different pastry recipes that you might like to try!

Savory Filling

With the first part, I rolled the dough into a rectangle, lined it with slices of Cooked Ham and Shredded Gruyere Cheese, although any cream cheese would work.

I rolled it up as tight as possible, wrapped it in plastic and refrigerated it for about 20 minutes.

Making the ham & cheese pinwheels, rolled and placed on a cookie sheet for baking.

Then with a very sharp knife I made 1/4 inch slices, placed them on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet, sprinkled a little more shredded cheese and baked them for about 20 minutes

Ham & cheese pinwheels baked.

They make the perfect appetizers and were gone in minutes!

Sweet Filling

The remaining dough I rolled the pastry into a circle and made 8 triangles, on each triangle, on the bottom (large part) I placed one or two thin slices of pear, some chopped walnuts and a sprinkling of chocolate chips.

I then rolled them up starting at the bottom (large part) and placed the on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet.

Dough rolled & cut, stuffed to form crescents, ready for baking on a cookie sheet.

I brushed them with an egg wash and baked them for about 10-15 minutes. Let them cool and a little dusting of Powdered Sugar is all they need.

Baked crescents dusted with powdered sugar on a wire rack.

If pears aren’t to your liking, then you could fill them with 2-3 apples slices tossed with a little brown sugar and cinnamon.

If you have any leftover dough you could always make some double cheese savory twists. They would be perfect with a big bowl of Soup or Stew.

I hope you decide to give this 10 Minute Homemade Puff Pastry a go. Let me know what you think and how you filled yours. Enjoy!

Puff pastry stacked on a wooden board.
puff pastry cut in half stacked.

Quick & Easy Homemade Puff Pastry

Rosemary Molloy
This Homemade Puff pastry, is fast & easy, flaky and buttery, better than store bought. Use it to make your favourite sweet or savory treats.
4.97 from 292 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 20 mins
Chilling Time 1 hr
Total Time 30 mins
Course Appetizer, Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 1 dough recipe
Calories 2944 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

FOR THE PUFF PASTRY

  • 1 1/4 cup very cold butter (salted)*
  • 1/2 cup very cold water
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt*
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour

*If using unsalted butter then add ¾ teaspoon of salt.

    HAM & CHEESE ROLL UPS

    • 6-8 slices cooked Ham
    • 1 1/4 cups Gruyere or cheese of choice shredded

    PEAR, WALNUT & CHOCOLATE CHIP CRESCENTS

    • 1/2 – 1 pear sliced (not too thick/firm but ripe)
    • 1/4 cup finely chopped walnuts
    • 1/4 cup mini chocolate chips

    EGG WASH

    • 1 egg
    • 1 tablespoon water

    MORE RECIPE IDEAS

      DOUBLE CHEESE TWISTS

      • 1/4 – 1/2 cup shredded cheese fontal or gruyere
      • 1/4 – 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan Cheese
      • 1-2 tablespoons chopped fresh Italian Parsley

      APPLE CINNAMON FILLING

      • 3 tablespoons brown sugar
      • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
      • 1 apple peeled, cored and sliced thin

      Instructions
       

      10 MINUTE PUFF PASTRY

      • Using a food processor, fitted with the metal blade, add flour and salt to the bowl, then add 3/4 cup (170 grams) cold butter cut in cubes and pulse until butter is absorbed (about 10 to 12 one second pulses), then add the remaining cold butter (cubed) and pulse two or three times (no more) to combine, add the cold water and pulse four or five times just until the dough comes together to form a ball (really important not to over process).
      • On a lightly floured surface place dough and knead lightly approximately 10 times. With a lightly floured rolling- pin (lightly flour the dough so it doesn’t stick) roll into a rectangle approximately 12 x 18 inches (30 x 45 centimeters).
      • Fold the dough like an envelope (see photos) then fold in half, wrap in plastic and refrigerate for 1 – 2 hours (I left mine in the fridge for two hours).

      Pre-heat oven to 375° (190° celsius) (for all recipes).

        HAM & CHEESE ROLL UPS

        • Remove from the fridge and on a lightly floured surface, using a lightly floured rolling-pin roll the still folded dough (I cut the dough in two parts, refrigerate the unused dough until needed) into a rectangle (approximately 10 x 14 inches / 25 x 35 cm). I covered the dough with thin slices of cooked ham and sprinkled with shredded cheese.
        • Roll up length wise as tight as possible and brush the edges with egg wash to seal. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate 20-30 minutes.  Unwrap and slice with a sharp knife into 1/4 inch slices.  Place on prepared cookie sheet, brush with the egg wash and sprinkle with more cheese, bake for approximately 15-20 minutes or until golden.  Serve immediately. 

        PEAR, WALNUT & CHOCOLATE CRESCENTS

        • Roll the remaining dough into a large circle, make 8-10 triangles.  Place 1-2 slices of pear on the large part of the triangle, top with some chopped walnuts and chocolate chips.  Roll up from the large part, place on prepared cookie sheet, brush with egg wash, sprinkle with a little sugar and bake for approximately 15 minutes or until golden.  Let cool then dust with powdered / icing sugar.  Enjoy.

        MORE RECIPES

          DOUBLE CHEESE TWISTS

          • In a small bowl mix together Parmesan cheese and chopped parsley, set aside. Roll (1/2 or 1/3) the dough into an 1/8″ thick oval, sprinkle shredded cheese on the top half of oval, bring up the bottom half to cover the top,  brush with the egg wash and sprinkle with parmesan cheese mixture, slice into 1/2 inch strips, twist and place on parchment paper lined cookie sheets.  Bake for approximately 20 minutes or until golden.  Eat warm.  Enjoy!

          APPLE CINNAMON FILLING

          • In a small bowl toss together, sliced apples, brown sugar and cinnamon.
          • Roll out the  dough into a large rectangle or square 1/8 ” thick, then cut into 6-8 squares.  Top each square with 2-3 apple slices, brush the edges of the square with egg mixture.  Fold over and seal.  Brush tops of pastry with the egg wash, sprinkle with sugar and bake for approximately 20 minutes or until golden. Drizzle with a little frosting if desired.

          EGG WASH

          • In a small bowl beat together the egg and water.

          Notes

          You can also leave the dough in the fridge over night.
          If you find your dough is browning too much, then cover it with foil and continue baking.
          Store the homemade puff pastry in the refrigerator for several days. Be sure it is sealed in plastic wrap.
          You can also freeze it. Wrap it well in plastic wrap and place in a freezer-safe bag or container, it will keep in the freezer for up to a month.
          Before using the frozen dough, leave it folded and wrapped and thaw it in the fridge overnight. Roll the dough out without unfolding it first.

          Nutrition

          Calories: 2944kcal
          Keyword easy puff pastry, Homemade puff pastry, puff pastry recipe, puff pastry sheets
          Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

          .

          Thanks to the foodnetwork.com.

          I am republishing this recipe from October 19, 2014 with photo and video updates.

          Comments

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          1. Antonina says

            4 stars
            Hi ya, I really liked the ease of the recipe ( I did follow it exactly) and it all seemed to look good but my pastry didn’t puff. What could I have done wrong?

            Reply

            • Rosemary says

              Hi Antonina, make sure everything (butter and water) are very cold, even put it in the freezer for about 30 minutes before using. Try not to handle it too much and maybe chill longer if you have time. Hope that helps.

              Reply

          4. Joan says

            5 stars
            Rosemary, I followed your instructions exactly which resulted in perfection! So happy I did not need to buy a brand recommended in another online recipe that costs $14.50 a box! If I can include a picture of my Tarte Soleil will. Thank you so much for sharing the know-how!

            Reply

          5. Robin K. says

            5 stars
            I used this pastry recipe to make a braided raspberry cheese danish out of a bumper crop of raspberries we had last fall. Buttery flaky lovely layers of puff pastry bliss! I did add one more rolling & folding step because who doesn’t live more layers when you have the time! Wish I could attach a picture because its a beauty. Thank you so much

            Reply

          6. Michelle says

            5 stars
            This puff pastry was everything the recipe promised- so easy and delicious! I wrapped it around a beef Wellington for Christmas dinner (with hesitation, never having made puff pastry before, and worried my first attempt might not be up for the big assignment). I was a proud chef presenting this perfectly golden, flaky, many-layered crust. Thank you from my whole family for your part in our tasty holiday celebration!

            Reply

          9. Jennie Galpern says

            how many recipes can you make out of this recipe? ex 1 recipe—> 1 baked brie or more than 1 new recipe can be made

            Reply

            • Rosemary says

              Hi Sherri, yes you could make it by hand with a pastry cutter just make sure your don’t over knead, bring it together as per the recipe. Let me know how it goes.

              Reply

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