This post is sponsored by Honest Cooking and Castello Cheese. As always, all opinions and recipe are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands who support Shared Appetite!
An easy entertaining holiday appetizer recipe for Havarti, Pear, and Walnut Puff Pastry Bites with a make-ahead and freeze option!
Guys. Big accomplishment time. Asheley and I completed our very first DIY project together this past weekend.
When we moved into our home this past summer, the first thing Asheley did was rip out all the weird-looking vine looking plants growing out of a brick half wall/planter-thingy right by our front door. Our plan was simple. Remove plants. Close off top of brick planter with a slab of wood. Distress wood. Stain wood. Sit back and relish in the fact that we are DIY heroes.
What actually happened... after Asheley ripped out the plants, it was left in that state for months. We just blankly stared at the barely started project daily, holding our heads low in shameful disappointment. Getting a customized wood slab big enough was WAY easier in our heads than in real life. After numerous calls to lumber joints around the area (and mini heart attacks upon hearing the price for wood... I mean, it's wood), we thankfully were told by a friend that his brother could make us what we needed. Sweet! A week later, the wood slab arrived and fit perfectly. Now all we gotta do is distress it and stain it...
We were paralyzed by fear. It took so long to get this darn wood, what if we mess it up with distressing it! We've never tried anything like this before. So it sat there, unfinished, for another 2 months. #lame. Finally this past weekend I told Asheley, enough is enough. Let's put on our big boy (and girl) pants and do this thing. We wacked the crap out of the wood with chains, hammers, nails... and I even pulled out a secret weapon. My kitchen torch. Asheley rolled her eyes but whatevs... I felt like a bad donkey. A quick coat of stain and boom... kiss our butts Pottery Barn.
Sure, it took us 5 months to complete. But hey, we did it.
::smooth segue into recipe::
So everytime we entertained and had people over the house these past 5 months, that darn brick planter was the bane of our existence. None of our guests cared (I mean, hey, we just moved in), but we did.
But now? Now Asheely and I can have people over to our house, have them gawk at this better-than-West-Elm distressed wooden beauty and serve them these ridiculously tasty Havarti, Pear, and Walnut Puff Pastry Bites.
See, I told you it was a smooth segue.
Guys, I literally cannot believe this is my first time making anything with puff pastry!! Like, where has this been all my life? And more importantly, why have I been living under the biggest rock of all time?!
Puff pastry totally rocks my socks. I'm finding myself day dreaming about what else I can stuff inbetween those dreamy layers of buttery flaky goodness.
It's no fuss.
It's amazingly easy.
And it tastes. so. good.
The periods inbetween each word was supposed to create drama and suspense. Did it work?
And let's talk about the filling, shall we? Castello Aged Havarti. Delicious... buttery with a slight crunch. The pear chutney is out of this world good... like serve-it-straight-up-with-some-crackers-and-call-it-a-day kind of good. And then some thyme, toasted walnuts, and honey? That's a huge flavor party right there.
And guys, best part? These Havarti, Pear, and Walnut Puff Pastry Bites can be assembled ahead of time and frozen! I know. #easyentertaininghack
Just whip up a batch (or two) when you have a bit of time free, pop them in the freezer, and BOOM. Instant appetizer at your next party.
Havarti, Pear, and Walnut Puffed Pastry Bites
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 18 Bites 1x
Ingredients
- 2 sheets ready-to-bake puff pastry sheets
- Pear Chutney (recipe below)
- 1 (7-ounce) package Castello Aged Havarti Cheese, sliced into bite-sized pieces*
- ½ cup walnuts, toasted and chopped**
- 2 tablespoons fresh thyme, chopped
- Honey
- 1 egg
- 1 tablespoon water
for the Pear Chutney
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 1 shallot, finely chopped
- 2 pears, ripe but still firm, ¼" dice
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme, finely chopped
- 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- Kosher salt
Instructions
- Defrost puff pastry according to package directions. Preheat oven to 425°F.
- Roll out puff pastry sheets and cut each sheet into 9 squares (18 squares total between the two sheets). Place squares on a piece of wax paper or parchement paper (this will prevent sticking).
- Place a piece of havarti cheese, a spoonful of pear chutney, a few chopped walnuts, a very light sprinkle of fresh thyme, and a drizzle of honey in the center of each puff pastry square. Although it's tempting, don't overfill or else it will be very difficult to seal edges.
- In a small bowl, whisk together egg and water to create an egg wash. Brush egg wash around the perimeter of each pastry square and carefully fold dough over filling to create triangles, pinching edges closed to create a good seal.***
- Generously brush the top of each puff pastry bite with egg wash and sprinkle with Kosher salt and chopped fresh thyme. Place on a parchment paper lined baking sheet.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes, until the puff pastry is golden brown. Devour immediately.
for the Pear Chutney
- Heat olive oil in a small skillet over medium heat. Add shallot, season with Kosher salt, and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 2-3 minutes. Stir in pear, thyme, apple cider vinegar, and brown sugar. Season with Kosher salt and cook until pears are tender, stirring occasionally, about 5-10 minutes. If pears are not tender and mixture is too dry (starting to stick to pan), add a little water and continue to cook until pears are tender.
Notes
*You most likely won't need the entire package.
**To toast whole walnuts, place in a single layer on a baking sheet and cook in a 375°F oven until fragrant and lightly browned, about 7-9 minutes. Keep a constant eye on them as they can burn easily.
***You can freeze the assembled uncooked pastry bites in a single layer on a baking sheet at this point. Once frozen, place in a ziploc bag and they will keep for a couple of months. When ready to bake, apply egg wash and season with Kosher salt and fresh thyme. Puff pastry bites may be baked frozen or you can thaw first in refrigerator. If baking from frozen, it will just require a little longer in oven. .
- Prep Time: 20 mins
- Cook Time: 20 mins
Jocelyn (Grandbaby cakes)
Well these look delicious and the photos are perfect but what else is new? Pinned. Love!
Kristine
Puff pastry is the best. I love the combination of ingredients you used in these little bites, and that they can be made ahead and frozen! It's only 8:00 in the morning, but I'm totally craving these! Pinned!
Matt Robinson
These look absolutely awesome, Chris. LOVE the photos! #wolfpackeats
Christine
is it sick that I would have just stopped at the assembly pics and eaten that? looks like a perfectly prepared cheese board, gorgeous shot!! I absolutely love this combo inside flaky puff pastry, definitely a recipe to impress!! (kind of like your wooden beauty, ehh?)
Nicole ~ Cooking for Keeps
Whaaaaaaaaa???? I LIVE for puff pastry! Seriously, it's always in my freezer! I'd say your inaugural attempt shot it right out of the park because I NEED these in my life NOW!
Medha
I love the creative fillings wrapped in flaky puff pastry! Such a classy holiday party app 🙂
Beth
Haha, ::smooth segue into recipe:: I totally get the DIY thing. I just moved and I was going to buy all old furniture at the thrift store and paint it, but I got tired of painting REAL fast. It does feel good when you finish something though. 🙂 And these puff pastry bites. I would eat anything if it was wrapped in puff pastry! Sounds like the perfect appetizer for diy heroes!
Sarah
I am SUPER impressed by your DIY project. When we moved in, we taped off the bathroom with plans to paint it before moving in, but that didn't happen. And then the bathroom sat with blue tape all over the walls for another year until I accepted that we'd never actually paint it and removed all the tape. #DIYFAIL. I think you can stop figuring out what else to stuff "between those dreamy layers of buttery flaky goodness" because this looks like THE MOST AMAZING FLAVOR COMBO EVER (also, the suspense totally worked). Pinned!
Mike
Round of applause for my friend Chris and his lovely wife Asheley for completing their very first DIY project together in their new home ::clap clap clap::
About those puff pastry bites, I love me some aged Havarti cheese, I've never try it with pears tho. I'm intrigued...
#WolfpackEats
GlutenFreeHappyTummy
this looks absolutely amazing
Allie | Baking a Moment
Wow, I am loving the sweet savory thing happening here. These are perfection for the holiday season 😉
Lyuba
Oh-my-yum!! These pastries sound SO good, Chris!
Alice // Hip Foodie Mom
yo, these are gorgeous!!
Lisa
You had me at puff pastry.
Shashi
I so understand the procrastination dilemma towards all things DIY - just this past weekend my daughter's bathroom started "running" and I went to Home depot and got what I needed but managed to make excuses ALL week - then, last night - the noise got to me and I ended up fixing it in 10 minutes! (Now I gotta figure out why am not getting your posts ...)
Btw - these are genius - i would not have thought these were your first foray in puff pastry experimentation! Gorgeous and delicious!
Geraldine | Green Valley Kitchen
These look so good - love that you can freeze them and then just pop them in the oven before company comes. I just love havarti cheese too - can't wait to try these.
Chris
Totally a great way to have some easy entertaining success 🙂 Thanks!
Janey
These look gorgeous and delicious! Any recommendations as to which type of pear works best, or would you recommend any pear variety?
Chris
I personally use Bosc pears, but I think any pear you enjoy would work. Thanks for reaching out!