21 Recipes To Make With A Box Of Puff Pastry

Puff pastry is the classic dough used to make flaky, ethereal desserts like croissants and Danish. Making puff pastry from scratch requires meticulous technique, temperature control, folding to create flaky layers, and lots of time. Fortunately for those of us who don't have the time or the skill, you don't have to make puff pastry from scratch because pre-made frozen versions exist. And there's no need to feel guilty about taking this shortcut: Even high-end eateries save time with frozen puff pastry. Find it in grocery store freezers or see if your local bakery sells its own puff pastry. The frozen dough thaws fast, is easy to use, and bakes up flaky and light.

You may want to keep a box or two of frozen puff pastry in your freezer at all times as this shortcut ingredient makes it easy to create desserts, dinners, and appetizers in a flash. We've gathered up our best Puff Pastry Recipes, so many tasty possibilities for you to try. The dishes range from simple, 3-ingredient apple pastries for snack or breakfast to Gordon Ramsay's elegant, pastry-covered beef Wellington. Make puffy tacos or sausage rolls for game day grazing or pastry-topped pot pies for family dinner. 

Once you start playing with puff pastry, you won't want to stop — and with over 20 Mashed Puff Pastry Recipes, you won't have to. 

This appetizer is a perfect reason to keep a box of puff pastry in the freezer, and throw a package of mild sausage in there, too. That way, whether for a party, unexpected guests, or to give your family a fun snack, you can easily put together these savory sausage rolls. They bake up in 20 minutes, and the recipe makes 36 little rolls. Serve them warm with ketchup, spicy mustard, chutney, or hot sauce. 

Recipe: 3-Ingredient Sausage Rolls

A favorite British dish made by one of our favorite British chefs! Gordon Ramsay's Beef Wellington consists of filet mignon, prosciutto, and mushroom duxelles wrapped in puff pastry and baked to perfection. It's a succulent and gorgeous entrée to make for special occasions or just to show off your culinary skills to your family. Our twist on Ramsay's recipe turns the large roast into individual portions, each wrapped in pastry. 

Recipe: Gordon Ramsay's Beef Wellington

For anyone who loves a savory start to the day, they'll love these puff pastry breakfast treats. The pastry squares are topped with scrambled eggs, breakfast sausage, bacon, and shredded cheese, then baked until golden brown and melted. Add other toppings too, like diced onions, diced peppers, and salsa. You can also swap out the meats for plant-based bacon or sausage. They're easy enough to bake on the morning you want them, and you can also make them in advance to reheat. 

Recipe: Breakfast Hand Pies

Tarte Tatin is an upside-down fruit dessert, made by baking apples and sugar under a pastry crust, then flipping it over to reveal the caramelized fruit. Try this iconic French dish in miniature-form, with our individual tarte Tatins. Use frozen puff pastry as a shortcut crust to top the apples in a small, silicone tart mold. Serve the tarts with whipped cream, ice cream, or a drizzle of salted caramel. 

Recipe: Mini Apple Tarte Tatins

Think of these pastries as a major upgrade from Pop-Tarts. They're topped with fresh apples and spices and are flaky and light after baking. You only need three ingredients to make them, including a box of frozen puff pastry. Whether you make the pastries to bring to a friend's house or with your kids' help as an after-school snack, it's a versatile recipe to keep on hand. 

Recipe: 3-Ingredient Apple Cinnamon Pastries

A galette is a type of simple pie made on a flat pan. The filling is arranged in the center of rolled-out dough, then the dough edges are folded up around it. This recipe makes a galette-type dessert using frozen puff pastry instead of pie dough, and canned or fresh plums with a hint of cinnamon are nestled in the center. You can't find an easier pie to make from scratch than this one.

Recipe: Rustic Plum Pie

Capture the indulgent flavor of a favorite dip in these little pastry bites. To make them grab a cupcake pan and a box of frozen puff pastry. Squares of dough hold a blend of spinach, artichokes, cream cheese, and Parmesan cheese. You can have a whole pan of them ready for your guests in only 35 minutes. Make them as an appetizer or snack to share at work, at brunch, or for game nights. 

Recipe: Spinach Artichoke Bites

Dehydrating tomatoes makes them sweeter with an intensified flavor. Jars of sundried tomatoes in oil are easy to find at the store, in the same aisle as Italian ingredients like pasta and tomato sauce. Pick some up along with a box to puff pastry to make this easy and flavorful tart. It takes just 20 minutes to bake, and slices are delicious with soups, alongside salads, and even as an appetizer.  

Recipe: 3-Ingredient Tomato Tart

Egg in a hole or gashouse eggs is a classic breakfast treat where eggs are baked or fried in a hole cut into a slice of bread. This puff pastry recipe is a fun and really delicious twist on that dish. Instead of making a hole in bread, cut out holes in the middle of baked puff pastry squares. Crack in your egg, add cheese, and bake until done. 

Recipe: 3-Ingredient Savory Breakfast Puffs

We've seen that puff pastry is great for making shortcut chicken pot pies. However, you can also use it to top an old-fashioned chicken pot pie with a filling you won't mind spending a little more time creating from scratch. This recipe includes sliced mushrooms, onions, celery, and carrots in the filling. Use chicken stock to make the seasoned gravy, which comes together in about 10 minutes. An egg wash brushed over the puff pastry gives the crust a gorgeous, deep brown color after baking. 

Recipe: Chicken Pot Pie