Puff pastry cheese twists are a quick and easy recipe! Using 4 ingredients we transform store bought puff pastry into cheesy flaky pastry straws. These simple cheese twists with can be dunked into soup, dips, spreads or added to a Baked Camembert Platter or Grazing Platter!
Recipes like the Caramelised Onion Sausage Rolls, Puff Pastry Bites, Peanut Butter Pinwheels and the Cheese and Bacon Pinwheels are all about sweet or savory puff pastry recipes.
The Baked Feta With Honey, Baked Brie With Red Pepper Jelly, Caramelized Onion Brie and the Microwave Brie are all about cheese based party starters.
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🤍 Recipe Highlights
I have summarised everything that you will come to know and love (LOVE ❤) about the easy puff pastry cheese twists recipe in the points below:
- Simple ingredients: we need only 4 ingredients to make these cheese straws. They are all basic ingredients that are available year round and will be easy to get your hands on.
- Quick and easy: if you need to whip something up and you don't have a lot of time to do so these puff pastry cheese twists are a great choice. They take less than 10 minutes to make with a further 10 to 12 minutes to cook.
- Versatile: you are practically unlimited in the way you can use these cheese twists. That makes them an excellent choice as they can be paired with or alongside a wide variety of recipes that need a complementary pastry side.
- Vegetarian: if you are feeding a crowd and want to have something that works for all of your guests you need to have some vegetarian options up your sleeve. These puff pastry cheese twists are perfect for your vegetarian friends and suit a wider range of guests than that of a heavy meat based recipe.
- Taste and texture: from the crispy flaky pastry to the salty strong seasoning these cheese twists have a lot going for them! Notably the audible sound they make when twisted and torn apart to the wide variety of textures that dance on your tounge from the seasoning mix.
🥗 Ingredients
The photo below is to show you everything you need to make the puff pastry twists recipe. Please refer to the printable recipe card for specific ingredient measurements as well as detailed instructions.
As you can see the recipe calls for:
- Eggs: we use the egg (whisked) to ensure that the cheese and seasoning sticks to the pastry as well as giving a golden hue to our pastry. You can use 2 small (free range) eggs or 1 large one.
- Everything bagel seasoning: there is a reason why this seasoning is so popular!! It is versatile, packed with flavor, texture and does justice to a wide variety of recipes that would be a little boring looking without it 😂😂.
- Cheese: along the way of testing this recipe I had the best results with freshly grated parmesan cheese or pecorino romano. As such I recommend using one of these for your 'cheese' ingredient.
- Puff pastry: versatile and lending itself to a wide variety of both sweet and savory recipes this is a handy ingredient to always have up your sleeve. We use 2 sheets for the recipe which gives us 20 cheese sticks. Of course, if you want to double the recipe, be my guest 😉👌.
🍳 Instructions
Here are the step by step instructions to make the recipe. I lined 2 x baking trays with greaseproof paper and turn the oven on to start with as well so that there is no stopping for these 2 steps along the way. Then we start by whisking the egg.
- Whisk the egg (Photo 1)
- Cut the pastry into long thin strips (Photo 2)
- Twist the pastry (Photo 3)
- Brush with the whisked egg (Photo 4)
👩🍳 How to Make Puff Pastry Cheese Twists
To make the puff pastry cheese twists we start by thawing the pastry and whisking the egg.
Once done working one sheet at a time place the thawed pastry onto a cutting board. Then use a pizza wheel to cut it into 10 long strips like you see in the photo above.
Next use 2 hands to twist each strip of pastry to form curls along the length then place onto the baking paper lined trays. When doing so, fold the end at the top and bottom of each length over.
When ready use a basting brush to coat the full length (tip to toe) of each twisted pastry strip with the whisked egg.
- Sprinkle with cheese (Photo 5)
Next sprinkle the everything bagel seasoning over the top all the pastry twists or only 1 sheet of them if you want some plain cheese twists.
- Sprinkle with seasoning (Photo 6)
Then pop the 2 trays into the preheated oven and let the cheese twists cook. They will need 10 to 12 minutes to bake and you can rotate the position of each tray with the other one around the halfway mark to ensure that each tray of pastry straws cooks consistently.
Once the cook time is up, use oven mitts to remove the 2 baking trays and place them onto a heatproof surface to allow the twists to cool slightly. Then after a couple of minutes, use a silicon turner to transfer each twist onto a cooling rack.
🍽 Serving Suggestions
When it comes to serving your puff pastry cheese twists you can do so in whichever manner or style suits you!
They are great to dunk in soup, to pop on a Olive Platter, to serve as an appetizer, to serve alongside the Goat Cheese Log or for snacky snacks with a chilled glass of wine! (I am thinking Sunday afternoons 😍).
Some dip pairing ideas are on the side of the Green Olive Dip, Smoked Trout Dip, Chilli Tomato Jam, Tomato Bacon Jam, Black Olive Dip, Kalamata Olive Dip, Roast Capsicum Dip, Chili Cream Cheese Dip or the Ham Dip.
For cheese dip pairings try the Corn Relish Dip, Gherkin Dip or Cream Cheese Bacon Dip. For avocado lovers try the Avocado Sweet Chilli Dip.
Or if you are looking for further inspiration you can check out all of the dips and spreads recipes and find your perfect fit.
👍 How to Guide
How to Store
The puff pastry cheese twists are best cooked and eaten fresh or not long after being removed from the oven. You can however, store them in a sealed, airtight container in a cool space and grab them when ready to serve. (1-2 days tops!).
How to Freeze
Let the cheese straws cool, then place them into a plastic freezer bag, wrap it tightly then seal. The pastry straws can be frozen for up to a month.
How to Reheat
For cooked cheese straws, pop them back into the oven or air fryer for 4-5 minutes until warm.
For frozen cheese twists, place them onto a lined baking tray and reheat from frozen until crisp and warmed through.
😉 Substitutions and Variations
Here are my sub ins and outs that you might be thinking about as you read the post and I will tell you if I think they will work or why they won't:
- You can omit the bagel seasoning and simply use the cheese if you wish to.
- For the cheese you can use pecorino romano or parmesan cheese or a combination of both. Puff pastry parmesan twists sound pretty great to me!
- If you want to try other types of seasoning some options are garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, Italian seasoning or other dried herbs.
💡 Tasty Tips
Here are my top tips and tricks that I want to share with you so that you master the puff pastry cheese straws recipe from the get go:
- We want the pastry to be soft and flexible to work with. So grab it out of the freezer as a starting point so that it will be ready to use when you are.
- Love recipes that use puff pastry? Then you might like to try the Cheese and Tomato Pinwheels, Caramelized Onion and Goat Cheese Bites, Pork and Fennel Sausage Rolls, Chicken Sausage Rolls, Breakfast Sausage Rolls, Chorizo Sausage Rolls or the Mini Sausage Rolls 😄👍.
- Or if shortcrust pastry is your thing then you might like to try the Caramelised Onion Tarts, Brie Cranberry Tarts or the Fruit Mince Tarts.
🤓 Frequently Asked Questions
Puff pastry will break or crack when it is not thawed enough to use. If you notice that is is starting to crack, set it aside for 5 minutes before trying again.
Yes, you can leave puff pastry in the fridge overnight. Doing so is a good way to thaw the pastry before using. Either keep it in its original unopened packaging or if opened, wrap tightly in cling wrap.
Store bought pre shredded cheese won't melt as quickly as easily as freshly grated cheese. Whilst it is a convenient option, it is worth your time to use a micro plane zester to freshly grate your own time if you are able to.
Homemade pastry straws can be kept in a sealed airtight container on a layer of baking paper for 2 days. This is the best way to keep them from going soft. Reheating them when ready to use is the best way to get them ready for serving again.
Straight from the oven the cheese straws will look puffed up, but it is as they cool down that the pastry crisps up. If the cheese twists are not crispy after a day or 2 you can pop them into the oven to warm through for best results.
😍 More Easy Appetizer Recipes
If making appetizers or party food is the name of your game (I hear you!) then I have some more recipes that I know you will love. Try these on for size:
- Chicken Ribs
- Bacon And Cheese Cob Loaf
- Mini Meatballs
- Bacon Crackers
- Spinach Cob Loaf Dip
- Mini Croissant Sandwiches
- Wagyu Meatballs
- French Onion Cob Loaf
- Goat Cheese Stuffed Dates
It is time to get our puff pastry cheese twists on my friend! You can also find all of my appetizer recipes, dips and spreads or Christmas recipes in the one spot.
Adrianne
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📖 Recipe
Puff Pastry Cheese Twists
Equipment
- 2 Baking Trays lined with baking paper
Ingredients
- 2 small eggs Note 1
- 2 sheet puff pastry thawed, Note 2
- 1 cup pecorino romano cheese finely grated, Note 3
- 1-2 tablespoons everything bagel seasoning Note 4
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: preheat the oven to 180°C / 350-375°F / Gas Mark 4-5.
- Eggs: crack the eggs into a small bowl and then use a fork to whisk. Once done, set aside.
- Pastry: working one sheet at a time lay a piece of the puff pastry onto a clean dry chopping board and use a pizza wheel to cut it into 10 long thin strips. Repeat for the 2nd sheet of pastry.
- Baking tray: working one strip at a time use 2 hands and twist the pastry so that curves form along the length. Place the twisted pastry onto a baking paper lined chopping board and fold the edges at each end over. Then repeat for the other strips.
- Egg wash: use a basting brush to brush the full length of each twisted pastry strip with the whisked egg.
- Cheese: sprinkle the cheese over the top of the whisked egg and repeat for each twist.
- Everything bagel seasoning: sprinkle the bagel seasoning over the cheese layer for all of half of the cheese twists.
- Oven bake: place the 2 baking trays into the oven and bake the cheese twists for 10 to 12 minutes rotating the position of the trays around the halfway point. Once the cook time is up (cheese straws should be puffed and golden) use oven mitts to remove the baking trays from the oven and place them onto a heatproof surface. Let them cool for a couple of minutes and then use a silicon turner to transfer each to a wire rack.
- To serve: the pastry twists are ready to serve straight from the oven, fresh and hot!
Notes
- Note 1 - Egg: we use either 2 small or 1 large egg. Crack and gently whisk then use as an egg wash before layering the cheese and seasoning onto the twisted pastry.
- Note 2 - Pastry: you might find it easiest to work one pastry sheet at a time and go from start to oven with it before coming back to do the same with the other sheet. Or you can put the twisted pastry from sheet 1 into the fridge (on the baking paper lined baking tray) whilst working on the 2nd sheet. This is helpful in warm climates where the pastry becomes tacky if it has been out of the freezer for a long time.
- Note 3 - Cheese: pecorino romano cheese or parmesan cheese or a combination of both. I use a micro plane zester which gives great fresh soft cheese results.
- Note 4 - Everything Bagel Seasoning: this is definitely more popular in the USA than it is in Australia. (Who knows why as it is amazing!!). But for the Aussies amongst we do sell it here. Look for it in the herbs and spices cooking aisle in the supermarket where the minced garlic and ginger are.
- Note 5 - Technique: some pastry twist recipes call for 2 sheets of pastry being folded together and the cheese pushed into them with a rolling pin. I personally find that method too painstaking. It has got to be easy right! Plus the best thing about this twist one sheet and sprinkle method is that your cheese straws have these delightful bits of melted crispy cheese on them which you will find yourself breaking off and munching soon after they are removed from the oven!
Belinda says
Sounds amazing! I love the look of the spice mix too.
Adrianne says
Thanks Belinda 😄😄.
Shawn T says
I’m looking for the banking and temperature but do not see it. I’m assuming 400° Fahrenheit?
Adrianne says
Hi Shawn T. Thanks or your comment. Apologies, I have updated the recipe card now. It is 180°C / 350-375°F / Gas Mark 4-5. Thank-you for pointing this out so that I could fix it. I hope that this didn't slow you down in the kitchen!