Description
These ham and cheese puff pastry bites are golden, cheesy, flaky, and unbelievably easy. Made with store-bought puff pastry, leftover ham (or deli ham), and your favorite cheese, they’re perfect for breakfast, brunch, school lunches, snacks, or hosting. Make them ahead, freeze them, bake them fresh — they always turn out deliciously irresistible.
Ingredients
Base Recipe
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1 sheet puff pastry, thawed but still cold
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1 cup ham, finely diced (leftover or deli)
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¾ cup shredded cheese (cheddar, Swiss, or Gruyère)
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1–2 tablespoons Dijon or honey mustard
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1 egg (for egg wash)
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Pinch of black pepper
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Optional: pinch of thyme, everything bagel seasoning, or hot honey drizzle
Instructions
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Prepare the pastry
Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Lightly flour your surface and unfold the puff pastry. Gently roll to even thickness. -
Cut into pieces
Slice the pastry into squares or rectangles depending on your shape preference (bites, pockets, or medium squares). -
Fill each piece
Add a small amount of mustard to the center of each square. Top with ham and shredded cheese, keeping fillings at least ½-inch away from the edges. -
Seal and finish
Fold (or leave flat), crimp edges with a fork, and cut a small vent. Beat the egg and brush lightly over the tops. -
Bake
Bake 18–22 minutes or until deeply puffed and golden brown. Remove and let cool 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
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Best cheese:
Cheddar = melty and kid-friendly
Gruyère = rich, bistro-style
Swiss = classic, mild -
Too warm dough? Chill for 10 minutes before baking.
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Freezer-friendly: Freeze unbaked pastries on a tray, then bag. Bake from frozen + add 3–5 minutes.
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Serve with: mustard dips, hot honey, aioli, or on a brunch board.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 puff pastry bite
- Calories: 165
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 230 mg
- Fat: 11 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 10 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg