Take-out Tuesday, Last Minute Party Braid!
As we count down to Christmas, 3 days away,
this last minute appetizer is perfect for holiday gatherings
It makes a pretty presentation and guess what?
It’s actually very easy to put together
AND!
You can adapt the recipe to use ingredients you already have!
If you have a sheet of puff pastry,
you can work magic!
I try to keep puff pastry in my freezer
and I always have blue cheese and bacon in the fridge
and nuts in the pantry…
I also had a sweet onion and a jar of fig jam
I will give you variation ideas at the end of the post
Unfold 1 sheet of puff pastry on a piece of parchment paper
Roll it out a little to make a thinner dough
and spread a layer of fig jam down the center section
Top the jam with caramelized onions
Sprinkle blue cheese over the onions
Next add walnuts
Bacon
Cut the dough on the sides into 1 inch strips
Fold the dough on the end up over the filling
and bring each cut strip up and over dough at a slight angle,
alternating side to side
Brush with beaten egg for a glossy dough
and bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes until golden
Last Minute Party Braid
Equipment
- parchment paper
Ingredients
- 1 sheet puff pastry, thawed
- 1/2 cup fig jam
- 3/4 cup caramelized onions
- 1/2 cup walnuts I used candied walnuts
- 1/2 cup bleu cheese crumbles
- 3-4 slices bacon, cooked and torn into pieces
- 1 egg beaten with a Tbsp of water
Instructions
- Place pastry dough on a piece of parchment paper and roll out a little to thin dough
- Spread fig jam in an even layer down the center 1/3 of pastry, leaving a 1/2 in border on each end
- Top jam with onions and sprinkle with blue cheese
- Place walnuts on top of cheese and nuts, then top with bacon pieces
- Cut dough from filling to edges in 1 inch intervals
- fold dough over the bottom of filling then begin folding dough strips over filling at a slight angle, alternating side to side to form braid.
- Braid can be wrapped in the parchment paper and refrigerated for up to 24 hours before baking if desired.
- Brush beaten egg over braid
- Bake in a preheated 400 degree oven for 18-20 minutes until dough is golden
- Let sit for 5 minutes before slicing into 1 inch pieces
Notes
Here’s a printable list of braid filling variations
Here is another puff pastry braid recipe, Yummy Mummy
filled with bacon, asparagus, mayonnaise and cheese
It’s made with a crescent roll dough sheet
You can also use pizza dough to make a braid
Enjoy!
I will be joining these fabulous parties and blogs:
Sundays on Silverado Love Your Creativity
What’s for Dinner Between Naps on the Porch
All About Home/ Common Ground Follow the Yellow Brick Home
Tasty Tuesday Oh My Heartsie Girl Turn About Tuesday
Full Plate Thursday Centerpiece Wednesday Creative Crafts
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That filling is bomb, Jenna! i would eat the filling spoonful and before I realized it, it would be all gone!
Thanks Angie, good stuff!
All the fillings sound wonderful and the braid looks awesome. This will steal the show at any party table! Have you ever considered teaching a cooking class? If you ever do, sign me up!
Thank you Emily! I promise the braid is super easy to make, and doesn’t it bake up so pretty! Merry Merry!
This is right up my alley. I make fig jam in early fall and I am always on the lookout for uses. Definitely making this.
Thanks so much Bernadette, wow, you make your own fig jam, that is impressive!
I’ve never used puff pastry, but I can see it’s a really handy item to keep on hand. Your braid looks festive and delicious. Thanks for the recipe. Happy Holidays.
Puff pastry is magical stuff! Thanks Judee!
I love puff pastry and you always have the best recipes using it. This looks delicious, Jenna. Merry Tuesday, enjoy these last few days before Christmas!
Thanks so much Pam!
Gotta have puff pastry in the freezer! This looks great Jenna!
Thank you Dorothy!
Fancy ingredients! To this day I still haven’t tried fig jam, gonna have to correct that! Happy Christmas Week Jenna-enjoy:@)
Fig jam is wonderful stuff, I hope you will try it! Merry Merry Lynn!
That looks yummy, Jenna! We all need easy and delicious right now. Merry Christmas to you and your family. ❤️
Thanks so much Kitty! Merry Merry Christmas!
This is brilliant, and it looks like it’s a difficult recipe. You make it seem simple! I think my family would love it. Merry Christmas, Jenna!
I promise, it’s not hard at all and looks so pretty after it’s baked!
Looks beautiful and so tasty Jenna! I hope you’re wrapping up your Christmas preparations and setting sail for a jolly holiday. ♥
Thank you Mary, I think I’m ready!
I like all of your many variations–fun and delicious!
Thank you Linda, it bakes up so pretty!
Jenna, looks like an easy appetizer to put together. I love using puff pastry. The possibilities are endless. I love how pretty it looks.
Thank you Linda, yes puff pastry is magical stuff!
It was our pleasure to feature your post on Full Plate Thursday, 569! Hope you have the very best in 2022!
Miz Helen