Try out these mini ham and cheese crescents with puff pastry: it is a great Christmas bite or New Year’s Eve appetizer! And it is so very easy to make… Literally ready in about 30 minutes, no kidding!
You probably know that feeling.
The year slowly draws to a close.
The days are much shorter, temperatures drop, store fronts and streets are beginning to look like a Disney World. Colorful lights and decorations everywhere.
Yes, it is almost Christmas time again!
Christmas Appetizers
Love it or hate it, you can’t hide from the Christmas craze.
And that means that we have to start thinking about some new bites and appetizers because Christmas dinner and New Year’s Eve celebrations are just around the corner!
Here is an easy one this time. You just can’t go wrong with puff pastry, ham and cheese.
How about some mini ham and cheese crescents this time?
Best Ham and Cheese Crescents Appetizers
Puff pastry, ham and cheese: these ingredients are absolute people pleasers!
Here is also a fun thing you can do: get your kids or nephews and nieces involved and let them assemble these ham and cheese crescents bites!
Letting kids cook and prep food: I am a huge supporter of that.
Because I am convinced that there would be way less picky eaters.
Let kids see how interesting it is to prep and cook food. And getting them involved in the kitchen is also good for their self esteem and their feeling of responsibility.
Kid Proof Recipe
Plus it is a nice way to interact and bond with your kids.
There is another one of my appetizer bite that reminds me of these ham and cheese crescents: my easy pigs in a blanket!
Or cocktail sausages wrapped in puff pastry.
No need to serve these ham and cheese crescents bites with a fancy dipping sauce because all you need here is just a simple dollop of tomato ketchup!
Well I hope you will enjoy this treat!
Enjoy!
Best Ham and Cheese Crescents Appetizers Recipe
Mini ham and cheese crescents: a great Christmas bite or New Year’s Eve appetizer! Very easy to make and ready in 30 minutes!
- ½ sheet puff pastry with butter 4" by 10" (10 cm x 25 cm)
- 2 slices cooked ham or smoked ham
- 2 slices Swiss cheese or cheddar
- 1 egg yolk beaten
- ½ tbsp poppy seeds
- pepper
- Place the puff pastry sheet on a clean chopping board and slice it in half to make two squares. Then slice each of the squares in half as well. Then slice the pastry rectangles in half making triangles. You should end up with 8 pastry triangles.
Slice the cooked ham slice into smaller bits that will fit on top of the puff pastry triangles. Place a piece of ham on the wide side of the puff pastry triangle. Slice the cheese slice into smaller bits as well, about the side of the ham. Then place a piece of cheese on the cooked ham. Season with a pinch of pepper.
Roll the crescents up carefully and place then on baking tray lined with parchment paper. Brush with the beaten egg yolk and then sprinkle with some poppy seeds.
- Bake them in a preheated oven at 375°F (190°C) for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown on top. Then remove crescents from the hot oven and let them cool down a little. Serve with ketchup.
What ham is best for baking with cheese?
The best ham to use when baking with cheese is a smoked ham.
The smokiness of the ham helps to enhance the flavor of the cheese, while the saltiness of the ham helps to balance out the richness of the cheese.
Smoked ham also has a firmer texture which holds up well during baking.
What sliced cheese is best for baking?
I used sliced Swiss cheese for these ham and cheese crescents.
But you can also use other types of cheese that melt well in the oven like cheddar, Monterey Jack and mozzarella. Those are all great choices for baking with cheese.
Swiss and cheddar are both flavorful and provide a nice creamy texture. Monterey Jack and mozzarella both melt easily, which helps to create a creamy, cheesy sauce.
Why do ham and cheese go so well together?
Ham and cheese are such a classic combination because they both have strong and distinct flavors that work well together.
The saltiness of the ham complements the creamy, buttery texture of the cheese, while the cheese also helps to cut through the richness of the ham.
The combination of the two also creates a delicious, savory flavor.
Plain puff pastry or puff pastry with butter?
The puff pastry you use best depends on the recipe and your personal preference.
Plain puff pastry has a very light, flaky texture and is excellent for lighter recipes that don‘t require a lot of buttery flavor.
Puff pastry with butter will be richer and more flavorful, making it better suited for richer dishes or recipes that require a more robust flavor.
That is why I prefer to use puff pastry with butter: it is also less flaky which is better if you make finger food.
These look fantastic! Bakery quality crescents dear June! What type of cheese do you suggest for them? Do you think semi-hard one like graviera or a softer pecorino would work?
Lots of hugs from both of us!xoxoxo