Spinach Puff Pastry Appetizer
This easy Spinach Puff Pastry appetizer is a delicious blend of crisp, golden brown puff pastry, cheesy creamed spinach, and bacon. It’s an easy appetizer recipe perfect for holiday parties!
Spinach puff pastry is a fantastic dish that combines the convenience of puff pastry with the freshness of spinach and the deliciousness of bacon and cheese. It’s an ideal choice for parties, gatherings, or to satisfy your cravings. Try making these delightful pastries yourself, and you’ll be sure to impress your guests.
In this article, we’ll guide you through the steps to create mouthwatering spinach puff pastry from start to finish.
Table of contents
Note: This post may contain affiliate links. That means if you click on a link and make a purchase we may receive a small commission. Thank you!
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Puff Pastry – Make sure to follow the thawing instructions on the package. Buy extra to make our Parmesan Puff Pastry Pinwheels!
- Frozen Spinach – The frozen spinach will need to be thawed. Place in a colander for 30 minutes to an hour to let it warm up enough to be broken up.
- Cream cheese – While the spinach is thawing set your cream cheese out to let it soften.
- Eggs – are used to bind the filling together and to make an egg wash which will give the pastry a beautiful golden brown color.
- Parmesan cheese – We love the salty, nutty flavor of Parmesan cheese, it pair beautifully with the spinach. For a different twist you can use feta cheese for a Greek flavor profile.
- Bacon – You’ll need fully cooked bacon for this recipe. Cook your bacon a day or two ahead of time and then finely chop it and put it in the refrigerator for later.
- Seasonings – a combination of garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper add a little boost of flavor to the dish. We don’t add salt because we feel the Parmesan cheese and bacon adds enough but you can certainly give your cheese mixture a taste before adding the eggs to see if you think it needs a little extra salt.
This appetizer is so simple to make and goes perfectly with any of our 100+ Bite Size Appetizers for Parties!
How to Make Cheese and Spinach Puff Pastry
Step 1 – Prepare. Preheat oven to 400°. Lightly grease two 12 cup muffin tins.
Step 2- Prepare spinach. Line a strainer with a thick paper towel or cheesecloth. Place the thawed spinach in a the strainer and wrap it in the paper towel before squeezing as much water from it as possible. Once the spinach is drained finely chop it (if needed).
Step 3 – Cheese mixture. Place the softened cream cheese into a large bowl and use a hand mixer to whisk until fluffy. Add two eggs, shredded Parmesan, cooked and chopped bacon, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper. Beat with the mixer until fully combined.
Step 4 – Add spinach. Add the spinach to the cheese mixture and stir it in until fully combined.
Step 5 – Roll out puff pastry. On a lightly floured surface, unfold thawed puff pastry. Lightly roll the pastry just enough to flatten out the creases. Cut each pastry sheet into nine squares.
Step 6 – Prepare puff pastry cups. Place the dough in greased muffin cups, pressing it gently down into the bottom of the cup, allowing the corners to point up. You will have three extra pieces of dough at the end, dispose of these.
Step 7 – Add filling. Fill each puff pastry cup with about 2 tablespoons of the spinach mixture. Gently fold the corners of the puff pastry inward. They don’t have to touch.
Step 8 – Egg wash. In a small bowl mix together the remaining egg and 1 tablespoon of water together to make an egg wash. Brush egg wash over the puff pastry
Step 9 – Bake. Place the muffin tins in the oven and bake for 15-18 minutes or until puff pastry is golden brown.
Step 10 – Cool and serve. Remove from oven and let cool for 5 minutes before serving.
What Dipping Sauce Pairs Well With Spinach Puff Pastry
- Lemon Aioli: A creamy lemon aioli adds a rich and bright element to your spinach puffs.
- Marinara Sauce: The tangy and tomatoey taste of marinara sauce pairs wonderfully with the spinach and cheese filling.
- Tzatziki: This Greek yogurt and cucumber dip brings a refreshing contrast to the flaky pastry.
Can You Make Spinach Puffs Ahead of Time
Yes, you have two different options:
Freeze – Follow the instructions up to step 9 (filling the puff pastry) and then place the muffin tin in the freezer for 1 hour to stiffen the pastry cups and then remove the filled puffs from the muffin tin and place them in a sealed container to store them in the freezer for up to 1 month.
When you are ready to use them place them back in the muffin tin and follow the rest of the instructions. You’ll need to extend the bake time to 25-30 minutes or until the center is warmed through.
Refrigerate – If you want to fully bake them ahead of time they can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
When you are ready to use them place them back in the muffin tin and bake at 350 degrees F for 10 minutes, or until warmed through.
How to Store Them
Storing your homemade spinach puff pastry is easy to do, and it allows you to enjoy them later. Here’s how to store them properly:
- Cool Completely: Before storing, make sure the spinach puff pastries have cooled down to room temperature. If you store them while they’re still warm, they might become soggy.
- Airtight Container: Place the cooled pastries in an airtight container. You can also use a resealable plastic bag, ensuring that you remove as much air as possible before sealing.
- Refrigeration: It’s best to store spinach puff pastries in the refrigerator. They can be kept for up to 2 days in the fridge. This is especially important if your filling contains dairy products like cheese.
- Freezing (Optional): If you want to store them for a longer period, consider freezing. Place the pastries on a baking sheet in a single layer and freeze until solid. Then, transfer them to a freezer-safe container or bag. They can be frozen for up to 2-3 months. When you’re ready to enjoy them, bake them directly from frozen, adding a few extra minutes to the baking time.
- Reheating: To reheat refrigerated or frozen spinach puff pastries, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Place the pastries on a baking sheet and bake until they are heated through and the pastry is crispy (about 10-15 minutes for refrigerated, or 20-25 minutes for frozen).
Like this recipe?
Make sure to follow us on Instagram and Pinterest for more recipes like this.
Spinach Puff Pastry
Ingredients
- 3 sheets Puff Pastry, thawed
- 16 ounces Frozen Spinach, thawed
- 12 ounces Cream cheese, softened
- 3 large Eggs, separated
- 6 ounces Shredded Parmesan cheese
- 6 slices Cooked Bacon, finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon Water
- 1/2 teaspoon Garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon Onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon Black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°.
- Lightly grease two 12 cup muffin tins.
- Line a strainer with a thick paper towel or cheesecloth. Place the thawed spinach in a the strainer and wrap it in the paper towel before squeezing as much water from it as possible. Once the spinach is drained finely chop it (if needed).
- Place the softened cream cheese into a large bowl and use a hand mixer to whisk until fluffy.
- Add two eggs, shredded Parmesan, cooked and chopped bacon, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper. Beat with the mixer until fully combined.
- Add the spinach to the cheese mixture and stir it in until fully combined.
- On a lightly floured surface, unfold thawed puff pastry. Lightly roll the pastry just enough to flatten out the creases. Cut each pastry sheet into nine squares.
- Place the dough in greased muffin cups, pressing it gently down into the bottom of the cup, allowing the corners to point up. You will have three extra pieces of dough at the end, dispose of these.
- Fill each puff pastry cup with about 2 tablespoons of the spinach mixture. Gently fold the corners of the puff pastry inward. They don't have to touch.
- In a small bowl mix together the remaining egg and 1 tablespoon of water together to make an egg wash. Brush egg wash over the puff pastries.
- Place in the oven and bake for 15-18 minutes or until puff pastry is golden brown.
- Remove from oven and let cool for 5 minutes before serving.
Thanks for sharing! Can they be made ahead of time?