Easy Turkey-Shaped Ham & Cheese Puff Pastry Appetizer -

Easy Turkey-Shaped Ham & Cheese Puff Pastry Appetizer

Course: Appetizer, Breads & Buns

Cuisine: American, Canadian

Keyword: puff pastry, thanksgiving, turkey

Prep Time: 15

Cook Time: 25

Chill Time: 10

Servings: pastries

Calories: 499kcal

Get ready to win the award for the cutest appetizer at your next holiday gathering! These adorable turkey-shaped puff pastries are not only cute to look at but are also delicious and surprisingly simple to make.

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Ingredients

1 red bell pepper
1 yellow bell pepper
8 slices green olives
1 slice black olive
1 sheet store-bought, frozen butter puff pastry thawed (according to package)
4 slices marbled cheddar cheese or cheese of your choice that melts well such as swiss or provolone
4 slices Black Forest ham or cold cut of your choice such as turkey, salami

For the Egg Wash

1 whole egg
1 Tablespoon whole milk

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Instructions

Prep Ahead

Thaw your puff pastry according to the package instructions. You can make and assemble these appetizers 1 day ahead and refrigerate them until you're ready to bake them to serve.

Step 1: Prep the Decorations

Cut the yellow pepper into 4 small triangles to make the beaks. Cut the red pepper into 4 elongated triangles for the wattles. Quarter the black olive slice and place one piece inside the hole of each green olive slice to create 8 little eyes. Set aside.

Step 2: Roll the Pastry

Lightly flour your work surface. Unroll the thawed puff pastry sheet and gently roll it with a rolling pin just enough to smooth the creases and make it pliable. Use a pizza cutter or sharp knife to divide the sheet into 4 equal squares.

Step 3: Add The Filling

Place 1 slice of cheddar cheese and 1 slice of ham in the top-left corner of each square, leaving a 1 cm border at the edges. Fold that corner inward over the filling.

Step 4: Shape the Cone & Head

Roll the pastry from the folded corner to the opposite end to create a cone shape. Gently flatten the cone and pinch the seams to seal. To make the turkey head, pinch the pointed tip of the cone, fold it back onto the body, and press down firmly to secure it.

Step 5: Create the Feathers

Transfer the shaped pastries to a parchment-lined baking sheet. At the wide bottom edge of each cone, cut 5 vertical slits to create 6 strands. Lift each strand, twist it clockwise 3 times, pinch the tip flat, and fan them out into a half-circle to look like feathers.

Step 6: Egg Wash & Decorate

Whisk the egg and milk together in a small bowl. Lightly brush each turkey with the egg wash. Gently press the olive eyes, yellow beak, and red wattle onto the folded "head" of the pastry.

Step 7: Chill

Place the baking sheet in the refrigerator for 10 minutes. Do not skip this step; chilling the butter ensures the pastry puffs up and gets flaky! While they chill, preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).

Step 8: Bake

Remove the tray from the fridge and brush the turkeys with one more light layer of egg wash. Bake for 25 to 27 minutes, or until the pastry is puffed and golden brown and the cheese is crisp around the edges. Let cool slightly before serving.

Video

Notes

Keep it Cold: Puff pastry relies on cold butter to create those flaky layers. If your dough gets too soft or stretchy while you are folding the turkeys, pop it back in the fridge for 5 minutes.

What kind of puff pastry should I use?

An all-butter, pre-rolled puff pastry sheet will give you the best flavour and flakiest texture. Thaw it in the refrigerator according to the package directions for the best results.

Your thawed puff pastry should be soft enough to be pliable but firm enough to avoid being overly stretchy. This is the ideal texture for shaping your appetizers. If the pastry is too stretchy, return it to the fridge for 5 minutes before proceeding.

Can I use other fillings?

Absolutely! Feel free to get creative. Sliced turkey (sticking to the Thanksgiving theme) or salami would be delicious, and you could substitute the cheddar for Provolone or Swiss cheese.

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