Description
Pepper Jelly & Cream Cheese Bites feature crispy, buttery puff pastry filled with creamy cream cheese and topped with sweet and spicy pepper jelly. These warm, savory appetizers are quick and easy to make, perfect for parties and gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Bites
- Cooking spray, for greasing
- 1 (14-oz.) package puff pastry, thawed
- 1 (8-oz.) block cold cream cheese
- 1/2 cup pepper jelly
- Fresh thyme leaves (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Muffin Pans: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease two 24-cup mini muffin pans thoroughly with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Prepare Puff Pastry: Unroll the thawed puff pastry on a clean surface. Cut it into 24 equal squares. Gently press each square into the wells of the prepared mini muffin pans, shaping the pastry to fit.
- Bake the Pastry: Place the muffin pans in the oven and bake the puff pastry for 12 minutes until they puff up and turn lightly golden. Remove from oven and allow to cool slightly.
- Assemble the Bites: Cut the cold cream cheese into 24 small pieces. Gently press one piece into the center of each baked puff pastry cup. If needed, carefully separate the pastry edges to make space. Then, spoon about one heaping teaspoon of pepper jelly on top of the cream cheese in each cup.
- Finish Baking: Return the assembled bites to the oven and bake for an additional 8–10 minutes, until the puff pastry is a rich golden brown and the cream cheese is warmed through.
- Garnish and Serve: Optionally, sprinkle fresh thyme leaves on top for added flavor and visual appeal. Let the bites cool for around 10 minutes before serving to ensure they hold their shape and are safe to eat.
Notes
- Make sure the puff pastry is fully thawed before cutting to avoid cracking.
- Use cold cream cheese for easier handling and better texture.
- You can substitute pepper jelly with any fruit jelly that has a bit of spice for a different flavor profile.
- Fresh thyme garnish is optional but adds a nice herbal note and color contrast.
- Serve these bites warm for the best taste and texture experience.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 22 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: pepper jelly bites, puff pastry appetizers, cream cheese appetizers, party appetizers, easy baked bites
