Puff Pastry 4 Ways
This recipe is all about creativity and ease — four delicious puff pastry ideas using one versatile base. Whether you're in the mood for something sweet, savoury, or a bit of both, these puff pastry bakes deliver big flavour with minimal effort.
From soft and spiced apple half moons, to rich turkey and cream pies, to earthy mushroom and bacon parcels, and finally to crispy bacon swirls brushed with honey — each variation is simple to make and packed with character. Ideal for brunches, snacks, parties, or lazy weekend bakes, these are the kind of recipes that make you fall in love with puff pastry all over again.
Equipment
- Baking trays
- Frying pan
- Pastry brush
- Mixing bowls
- Spoon or spatula
- Sharp knife or pizza cutter
- Baking paper
- Small saucepan (for apple filling)
Ingredients
For All Variations
- 2 2 sheets of puff pastry depending on size
- 1 egg beaten (for egg wash)
Apple Half Moons
- 2 apples peeled and diced
- 50 g sugar
- 30 g butter
- 1 tbsp cornflour
- 1 tbsp water
- Cinnamon to taste
- Nutmeg to taste
- Brown sugar for sprinkling
Turkey Pie
- 50 g turkey breast or steak diced
- 1 shallot finely chopped
- 1 garlic clove minced
- ½ cucumber finely diced
- 1 small carrot grated or finely chopped
- 2 tbsp white wine
- 75 ml cream
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Black sesame seeds for topping
Mushroom Bacon Pies
- 5 button mushrooms chopped
- 3 chestnut mushrooms chopped
- 1 shallot finely chopped
- 1 garlic clove minced
- 2 rashers of bacon diced
- 20 g butter
- 2 tbsp white wine
- 2 tsp soy sauce
- 30 ml double cream
- Salt to taste
Bacon Swirls
- Streaky smoked bacon enough to layer over pastry strips
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1 tbsp warm water
- Sesame seeds for topping
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180°C (fan) and line baking trays with parchment paper.
- Choose your filling from the variations below. Prepare as directed, then allow any hot fillings to cool slightly before assembling.
- Cut and shape the puff pastry according to the variation:
- – For pies: squares or circles, folded and sealed
- – For swirls: long strips, layered and twisted
- Brush with egg wash, sprinkle with toppings (if needed), and place on prepared trays.
- Bake for 15–20 minutes, or until puffed and golden.
Variation Instructions
Apple Half Moons
- In a small saucepan, melt butter and cook diced apples, sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg until slightly softened.
- Mix cornflour with water and add to the apples, cooking until thickened.
- Cut pastry into circles. Add a spoonful of filling, fold in half, and seal.
- Brush with egg wash and sprinkle with brown sugar before baking.
Turkey Pie
- In a pan, sauté shallot and garlic in a bit of oil. Add turkey and cook until browned.
- Deglaze with white wine, then add carrot, cucumber, and cream. Cook until thickened. Season to taste.
- Let cool. Add the filling to an oven-safe pie dish lined with pastry, place a rectangle of pastry, seal and crimple.
- Brush with egg wash and sprinkle with black sesame seeds.
Mushroom Bacon Pies
- In a pan, melt butter and sauté shallot, garlic, and bacon. Add mushrooms, wine, soy sauce, and salt.
- Cook until soft and slightly caramelised and add the cream. Let cool.
- Add filling to muffin tin lined with pastry, fold and seal.
- Brush with egg wash before baking.
Bacon Swirls
- Mix honey and warm water in a small bowl.
- Cut puff pastry into strips. Place a strip of bacon on each, twist into a spiral.
- Brush with honey-water glaze, then egg wash.
- Sprinkle with sesame seeds and bake.
Notes
All fillings should be cooled before adding to the pastry to avoid soggy bottoms.
You can prep fillings a day in advance and refrigerate until ready to assemble.
For extra crispness, chill assembled pastries in the fridge for 10 minutes before baking.
These bake best with puff pastry that’s cold but pliable — avoid overhandling.