Nikole Stewart
Want to impress without spending too much time or money? Store-bought puff pastry is your friend. You don’t have to spend all day making the perfect puff pastry to wow guests. All you need is premade dough and some other simple, inexpensive ingredients to make a worthy dessert. For the best puff pastry desserts, keep reading to learn our favorite recipes.
5. Nutella Twists
Along with store-bought pastry, you only need an egg, Nutella, and hazelnuts for added crunch, though that’s optional. To begin, just roll out your puff pastry, then spread an even layer of Nutella on one half of the dough. Sprinkle on your hazelnuts if you want to, and then fold your puff pastry in half.
From there, you’ll cut the dough into rectangles and then add even slits at the bottom. Twist each slit, sealing them gently with your fingers, and then roll the dough. Brush with whipped egg and bake them.
4. Cinnamon Palmiers
Start by mixing your brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt into a bowl. From there, spread sugar on a clean counter, then layer your dough over the sugar, using a rolling pin to push the dough into the sugar to embed it.
Evenly spread half of the mixture over the first pastry sheet, then fold the sides towards the center halfway, then fold both sides again to the edges so they meet in the middle. Fold one half over the other, creating a book-like fold to form a tight roll. Repeat a few times with the second puff pastry sheet. Use a sharp knife to slice the pastry and arrange the slices cut side up on a baking sheet, then bake.
3. Strudels
Strudels are a delicious puff pastry dessert that can come in various flavors. One of the most common is apples. To make this dish, start by slicing thin apple slices and mix with brown sugar, flour, apple pie spice, salt, and vanilla, then set aside. Roll out your dough and place your apple mixture in the middle; make sure you leave room on the sides.
With a sharp knife, cut the edges of the dough at a slight angle, then take each strip and place it over the dough, as if you’re braiding it. Cover in a egg and milk wash mixture and bake. This is great as is, or you can make a quick glaze with powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla.
2. Danishes
Danishes are one of the best puff pastry desserts because they’re easy, come in various combinations, and are impressive. Start with your cream cheese mixture. You can either combine cream cheese, lemon juice and zest, sugar, sour cream, and vanilla for a mixture, or grab the premade no-bake cheesecake at the store. From there, roll out your puff pastry and cut into 6 triangles.
Use a knife to gently create a perimeter of a rectangle on your 6 shapes, but don’t go all the way through the dough. Brush your egg wash onto the border of the pastry and sprinkle with sugar. Now, spread your cream cheese mixture into the small box you created, and top with your favorite fresh fruit or pie filling, like strawberries, apples, or cherries, and bake.
1. Turnovers
Not only are turnovers an exceptionally easy recipe, but it’s one of the best puff pastry desserts if you don’t want to spend too much money. All you need is store-bought pastry, some sugar and cinnamon, and your favorite fruit pie filling, like apples or cherries.
Unroll your dough, placing the second sheet on top of the first, on a cutting board, and cut into 6 wedges. Separate the wedges into 6 stacks of 2. Spoon the pie filling into the center of 6 wedges, dampening the edges of the pastry dough with water. Top with a matching wedge and press with a fork to seal edges. Combine sugar and cinnamon and brush over the turnovers, then bake.