25 Practically Perfect Puff Pastry Appetizers

Whether you’re planning an elaborate dinner party for friends or entertaining family at the annual holiday gathering, puff pastry appetizers are fairly easy to get creative with.

Puff pastry is a crisp, buttery, and delectably flaky shell for sweet or savory treats.  You can easily find puff pastry dough for sale at your local grocery store as it is widely available, especially as the holiday season approaches. Below, we will list the best puff pastry appetizers you can make at home to add a classy and delicious element to your menu.

25 Best Puff Pastry Recipes

From American to Greek, our list of 25 puffed pastry appetizer recipes encompasses every area of the culinary globe with something for sweet and savory snack lovers alike. 

The secret weapon for making these impressive appetizers is to use frozen puff pastry, available in the United States at most grocery stores, especially as the fall season approaches.

1. Cranberry Creamy Brie Cheese Bites

The combination of sweet, tangy cranberries with this creamy soft cheese wrapped in a buttery, flaky pastry will make this puffed pastry appetizer an instant crowd-pleaser. These cranberry brie bites are the best use for a mini muffin tin EVER.

2. Spinach and Cheese Puffs

This easy puff pastry appetizer recipe is like a self-contained spinach-artichoke dip. With budget-friendly ingredients like cream cheese, feta, and frozen spinach, you can dress up these spinach puffs with bits of bacon.

3. Asparagus Puff Pastry Tarts

These beautifully crafted asparagus tarts use mild mascarpone with a sharper Boursin cheese in puff pastry. Honey, lemon zest, and olive oil is drizzled over the fresh asparagus for a well-rounded flavor making this a tasty pick.

4. Mushroom Vol Au Vent

This delectable mushroom puff pastry appetizer combines meaty mushrooms with a creamy roux that you’ll spoon inside the puff pastry rounds, brushing them with an egg wash for a golden brown finish. You don’t have to pronounce it perfectly to enjoy these apps.

5. Mini Croque Monsieur

This clever recipe turns an all-in-one utterly decadent French sandwich into manageable puff pastry bites.

6. Pepper Jelly Cream Cheese Pinwheels

This recipe for pepper jelly cream cheese pinwheels provides a recipe for homemade pepper jelly, but you can always buy it. Cream cheese and the sweet and spicy nature of the jelly complement each other perfectly.

They have excellent tips on fixing pesky cracks and tears in your puff pastry sheets so that you won’t waste it due to salvageable imperfections.

7. Kronk’s Spinach Puffs

Spinach puff pastry appetizers are made famous in The Emperor’s New Groove and immortalized at Lynn’s blog.

8. Cream Cheese Puff Pastry Bites

These 3 ingredient cream cheese puff pastry bites are just three ingredients. I picture these like flaky sopapillas. Stuffed with cream cheese that melts in your mouth and ideally served sprinkled with icing sugar or drizzled in honey.

9. Mushroom Tart

Mushrooms, cheese, and caramelized onions make for a well-rounded flavor profile to every bite.

10. Egg and Bacon Puff Pastries

These elegant puff pastry pouches stuffed with bacon, eggs, and cheese would make an excellent appetizer for brunches and breakfast gatherings.

11. Pigs in a Puff Pastry Blanket

This breakfast appetizer recipe uses puff pastry dough as a lighter and easier shell than the traditional heavier croissant outer layer. 

12. Bacon Cheddar Straws

Bacon makes everything better. This easy puff pastry appetizer creates the kind of cheddar cheese straws you only see at fancy restaurants. The golden brown finish will definitely wow at your next dinner party.

13. Pepperoni Pizza Pastry Puffs

Serve these crunchy, comforting pizza puff pastry bites at your next super bowl party. With only 5 ingredients, this is an easy one to love!

14. Spinach Feta Pinwheels

This savory pastry takes on the famous Greek dish, Spanakopita, a feta and spinach quiche with a puff pastry crust rolled into bite-size pinwheels.

15. Lobster Newburg

If you want to impress your party guests, here’s a challenge: Savory puff pastry ingredients and a recipe that bathes lobster meat in cognac cream sauce. Just for the record, you can use that leftover white sauce on eggs the next morning. Yum!

16. Pear and Brie Tart

Just as sliced pears often appear on cheese plates to balance strong fontina cheese and tangy goat cheese flavors, this easy puff pastry recipe combines pear slices and creamy, rich brie.

A twist of black pepper before serving is a great way to add a nice bite, too.

17. Ham and Asparagus Puff Pastry Tart

You can customize this easy savory puff pastry tart with the seasonal veggie of your choice and substitute the ham for chicken, or skip the meat altogether. Get out your rolling pin for this one.

18. Roasted Garlic Puff Pastry Flatbread

Sweet roasted garlic combines beautifully with gorgonzola and mozzarella cheeses in this flavorful herb-sprinkled flatbread recipe. Parmesan cheese finisher is always a bonus.

19. Crab Rangoon Mini Pastry Puffs

This simple puff pastry recipe mixes luscious crab meat with cream cheese in this classic Chinese appetizer dip that you wrap in puff pastry squares instead of traditional wonton wrappers.

20. Margarita Shrimp Bites

Inspired by the tangy, refreshing Mexican cocktail, these puff pastry bites use tequila and plenty of lime juice to marinate the shrimp.

21. Green Chile Chicken Hand Pies

This easy puff pastry recipe puts a southwestern twist on a classic comfort food recipe by adding green chiles to these individual mini-pot pies.

22. Lobster Pot Pie En Croute

These extravagant and complex mini lobster pot pies fit the bill for the most elegant appetizer. If you’ve been wanting to use those cocottes or ramekins, here’s your chance!

23. Crab Puff Pastry Pinwheels

These puff pastry pinwheels offer a simple alternative to crab cakes that don’t sacrifice flavor, making it one of the more unique seafood appetizers with puff pastry sheets.

24. Chicken Chorizo Puff Pastry Rolls

These hearty and flavorful double meat puff pastry pouches are easy to make and can be enjoyed as appetizers or main courses. A large batch of these may be required as hands come at your platter before you can make it out of the kitchen.

25. Gouda & Honey Mushroom Tarts

These savory and rich puff pastry snacks feature golden brown, crisp pastry cups stuffed with cremini mushrooms, white wine, and smoked gouda. With some parchment paper and a baking sheet, these delicate mushroom tarts come out of the oven ready to serve.

The bottom line

If you’re looking for an appetizer that’s sweet, savory or both, one of these savory recipes will be a perfect choice as quick appetizers. With creative twists to traditional appetizers, they are sure to leave your dinner guests, friends, and family fully satisfied.