Jalapeño Popper Twists (Printable)

Flaky pastry twists stuffed with cream cheese, sharp cheddar, and zesty jalapeños, baked to golden perfection.

# What You Need:

→ Filling

01 - 8 oz cream cheese, softened
02 - 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
03 - 1/2 cup sliced jalapeños, fresh or pickled
04 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder

→ Pastry

05 - 1 sheet puff pastry, thawed
06 - 1 large egg, for egg wash

# Steps:

01 - Preheat your oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - In a mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, shredded cheddar, sliced jalapeños, and garlic powder. Mix until smooth and well blended.
03 - On a lightly floured surface, roll out the puff pastry to about 1/4 inch thick. Cut into 8 strips, each about 2 inches wide.
04 - Spoon a line of filling onto one half of each pastry strip. Fold each strip over the filling lengthwise, pressing gently to seal the edges.
05 - Carefully twist each filled strip several times to create a spiral, then place on the prepared baking sheet.
06 - Beat the egg and brush the tops of the twists with the egg wash for a glossy finish.
07 - Bake in the preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes or until the pastry is golden brown and crisp.
08 - Let cool slightly. Serve warm for best flavor.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • They disappear faster than you can say 'game day' and people will ask for the recipe before they've even finished chewing
  • The puff pastry creates these impossibly flaky layers that contrast perfectly with the creamy, spicy filling inside
  • You can prep everything ahead and just bake when guests arrive, which is honestly my favorite kind of hosting
02 -
  • Overfilling the pastry seems like a great idea until cheese bursts out during baking and burns on your baking sheet
  • The twists will look completely raw at 15 minutes but need those extra few minutes to get properly crispy inside
03 -
  • Work quickly once the puff pastry is out of the fridge, warm pastry gets difficult to handle
  • A pizza cutter makes the cleanest, fastest strips if you have one handy
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