Name: CHEESE PASTRY TWISTS - For Easy Entertaining
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 375 grams Puff Pastry; 80 grams Extra/Mature Cheese, grated; 1 Egg (small - medium) ((Medium - Large US size)); Sesame Seeds, Nigella Seeds. ((optional))

Here's my quick & simple recipe for making Cheese Pastry Twists, using shop-bought puff pastry.  A perfect, quick bake, great for entertaining & sure to please your guests.

Quick CHEESE PASTRY TWISTS

For Easy Entertaining

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Part Of The “Ways To Use Shop Bought Puff Pastry Series“

^{*Posted 22/11/21, edited new photos 30/12/23}

Cheese pastry twists on a white rectangular plate, partically seen with a dip and green napkin, with Nibbles In A Hurry title.

What Are Cheese Twists?

These quick cheese twists are simply puff pastries, filled with mature/sharp cheddar cheese, twisted, egg-washed with seeds and baked! And are ‘quick’ by using ready-made & pre-rolled puff pastry.

Why Make These Cheese Twists?

Quick
Easy
Looks Good
Tastes Good
No Special Ingredients or Equipment
Easily Adjusted
Inexpensive

Cheese pastry twists partially seen on a white plate, hand seen about to dip a twist in a dip, with party poppers on the table.

Many reasons for making these Cheese Pastry Twists, that are ideal for any time you are entertaining, making for special occasions such as Christmas or as an appetizer for a Valentine’s meal.

1. Quick To Make

These Cheese Pastry Twists are the easiest thing to make. No baking skills required at all. No need to spend most of the day making puff pastry, use shop bought.

The process of making the twists too only takes about 10 minutes, before popping them in the oven for the magic to happen. The whole process from starting till ready to eat is only about 30 minutes.

2. Easy To Make

The whole process of making these cheese pastry twists, is so simple even kids could make them. With only about 15 minutes hands on time, of rolling, filling, cutting and twisting. No prior baking knowledge or skills required.

3. Looks Good

These deceivingly simple to make cheese pastry twists, look not only tasty but you might fool some people into thinking you bought them. Or they might think you spent hours making them – that’s our little secret!

Cheese pastry twists partially seen on a white plate, hand seen with a twist already dipped, with party poppers on the table.

4. Tastes Good

The combination of buttery puff pastry and a strong cheddar cheese, pair perfectly. Add seeds of choice as a topping and enhance the flavour even more.

5. No Special Ingredients or Equipment

No special equipment or ingredients are required to make these pastry appetizers. If you don’t have a rolling pin, a large glass bottle will even do. Ingredients easily sourced and you don’t need to top with seeds either.

6. Easily Adjusted

Make with or without seeds, use a different cheese (but be sure to see notes on that) or make different sizes/shapes.

pastry twist after dipping and botong, showing the lovely laywrs of puff pastry texture above a table with dip.

7. Inexpensive

I find (at least in the UK), for it to often work out cheaper to buy puff pastry than make your own (but then the cost of butter has more than doubled in the last few years). You can of course buy shop bought pastry twists, but unless you buy from the more expensive supermarket range, you won’t get near the same quality or taste of pastry.

cheese pastry twists on whitel long platter on pale green table, with christmas decorations, baubbles, drinks and whine bottles and dip.

A Note On The Ingredients

These cheese pastry twists can be made from 3 or 4 ingredients – puff pastry, cheese, egg and seeds (optional).

Puff Pastry

I use very little processed foods or ingredients, but puff pastry is one thing I do often have in my freezer. Go for the frozen kind as it has even less additives and preservatives in it. It takes time to master making puff pastry, as well as the time needed to make the hundreds of layers, so shop bought is ok!

Cheese pastry twists up extra close on pale blue background.

Choice Of Cheese

I make these pastries with Scottish extra mature cheddar cheese as I love the depth of flavour it has and works so well in baked goods. The equivalent in the states is Extra/Sharp Cheddar. You could also use a hard cheese like Mozzarella or a mixture of both – that would be nice.

Egg Wash & Toppings

A whisked egg is brushed onto the cheese pastry twists to give them a deep golden colour once baked, and it also helps keep the seeds in place. I use sesame seeds and a mixture of sesame & Nigella seeds on others and some without any seeds for my youngest son. If not using seeds, be sure to still apply the egg wash. Egg wash, for bread & pastry, is not only great for colour, but provides flavour too.

4 photo collage of abbreviated process for making cheese pastry twists.

Recipe Process Overview

These pastries are simply made by filling half of the puff pastry sheet with cheese, folding over & rolling out a bit more. You are then cutting strips that you apply egg wash and seeds to, before twisting and finally baking. (See the photo collage).

Could not be easier to make these cheese pastry twists!

DIFFICULTY LEVEL: super easy, beginner

Cheese pastry twists partially on a white platter, on pale blue table, dip, white snowflake decorations, wooden reindeer, green napkin and title of Great For Holiday Entertaining.

**Top Tip** – mix a little mustard with mayo, or a little curry powder with mayo and have yourself a quick and easy dip for your pastry twists!

Click for more pastry recipes. View more Christmas & New Year recipes. Also, check out the Kids Baking page for more easy pastry ideas.

Or read my How To Increase A Recipe For A Bigger Tin article, for your holiday baking & entertaining.

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Why not also join my Facebook group – Easy Online Baking Lessons, dedicated to this baking lessons website, as well as providing one-on-one support with myself & my team? Be sure to answer all security questions when requesting to join. Click to join the group.

Recipe Card

CHEESE PASTRY TWISTS – For Easy Entertaining

Cheese pastry twists on a white rectangular plate on pale blue table with wine and whisky and glasses and dipps and party poppers.

Here’s my quick & simple recipe for making Cheese Pastry Twists, using shop-bought puff pastry. A perfect, quick bake, great for entertaining & sure to please your guests.

Caro @ Caroline’s Easy Baking Lessons

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 15

Cooling Time 5

Total Time 30

Serving Size

Equipment

Baking/parchment paper
Rolling Pin (or large glass bottle)
Grater/Shredder
Knife
Chopping Board (optional)
Pastry Brush (I use artist style brushes)
2 Baking Trays/Sheets
Timer

Ingredients

375 grams Puff Pastry (13¼ oz, preferably ready-rolled & frozen kind)
80 grams Extra/Mature Cheese, grated (2 ¾oz, ¾ Cup Extra/Sharp Cheddar, shredded)
1 Egg (small – medium) (Medium – Large US size)
Sesame Seeds, Nigella Seeds. (optional)

Instructions

Prepare Oven & Baking Sheets/Trays

Begin by putting your oven on to pre-heat to: 180°c/160°c Fan Oven/350°c/Gas Mark 4.
Prepare your baking sheets/trays by lining with baking/parchment paper, and grease in position if they don't have a lip around them.

Prepare Cheese Pastry Twists

Break the egg in to a small bowl and add a splash of milk before whisking together. (You can use oil if you don't have milk).
If your frozen puff pastry came in a block, not ready-rolled, roll out to a rectangle about – 26cm x 38 cm (10 inches x 15 inches), between 2 sheets of baking/parchment paper. If ready-rolled, open out and leave on the paper it comes with. See Photo 1 above.
Next sprinkle the grated/shredded cheese on one half of the pastry. See Photo 2 above.
Fold the pastry on top of the cheese side, fold over the ends and squeeze the ends together. Then roll out to a rectangle a little smaller than before – 21 x 33cm (8¼ x 12½"). See Photo 3 above.
Cut the pastry block in half and then cut 8 strips in both halves. I like them to be the same size so marked off where to cut, so they would be even but this is not essential. The strips of pastry were about 2½ x 16½cm (1 x 6¼") in size. This will made 16 strips. See Photo 4 above.
Take one strip of pastry and brush whisked egg on top, before sprinkling on sesame seeds and pressing in place. You can omit the seeds if you like, but still add the egg wash for colour and flavour. Lift the pastry over and repeat on the other side. See Photo 5 above.
Place on top of the prepared baking sheet/tray and use two hands to twist the pastry. Repeat with the rest of the pastries, leaving a little space in-between each. See Photo 6 above & 7 below.

Bake The Pastries

Place the prepared cheese pastry twist in the oven to bake for about 13-15 minutes till golden and crispy. Let them develop a good colour to them – this translates as flavour and also ensures no soggy bottoms! (If your oven has not come to temperature yet, place the prepared pasties in the fridge until ready and this will help reduce the amount of cheese escaping when baking).
Once ready, leave on the baking sheet/tray for 5 minues, before transferring paper and all to a cooling rack to cool completely.

Storage & Uses

Eat once ready as they are or with a dip. **Top Tip – mix a little mustard with mayo, or a little curry powder with mayo and have yourself a quick and easy dip for your pastry twists!
Store in an airtight container – I prefer cake tins. Stored properly, they can last a few days. Left out, they will soften.
You can also freeze the uncooked pastry twists – quick freeze on a tray that will fit your freezer and then transfer to a tub, with the pastries layered and separated by baking/parchment paper. Let defrost at room temperature and bake once thawed but still a little cold. Bake as normal.
These are great as they are, or used to dip into hummus or any of your other favourite dips.

Notes

Frozen shop-bought puff pastry better as less additives & preservatives.

Ready-rolled puff pastry easier.

If using thawed puff pastry, add a little flour if too moist.

Try with other hard cheeses or seeds.

Click for more pastry recipes.

Click for more Christmas & New Year recipes.

Also, check out the Kids Baking page for more easy pastry ideas.

Or read my How To Increase A Recipe For A Bigger Tin article, for your holiday baking & entertaining.

Check out my CONVERSION OF UK & US COMMON BAKING INGREDIENTS article with a handy table.

Extra close shot of a table with pink napkins and crackery, alcohol bottles and glasses to the back and puff pastry swirls served.

Here’s another quick and easy recipe using ready-made puff pastry. Go to Quick Cream Cheese Pastry Swirls

Nutrition – I am not a professional nutritionist & all nutritional information is approximate and calculated with the above ingredients & recipe yield, via website MyfitnessPal.com. It assumes 16 pieces were made and 1 serving is based on one cheese pastry twist. Make less or more twists, and the nutritional values will change.

Nutrition Facts

CHEESE PASTRY TWISTS – For Easy Entertaining

Serving Size

1 serving

Amount per Serving

Calories

109

% Daily Value*

Fat

Saturated Fat

Monounsaturated Fat

Cholesterol

Sodium

Potassium

Carbohydrates

Protein

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Overhead photo of pink napkin and crockery on table with nuts and drinks, and 2 plates with cheese puff pastry twists.

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