Life

11 Recipes Starring Puff Pastry So You Can Fake Incredible Baking Skills

Are you sitting down? Good. Because I say never mind the farmers' market — you should be shopping the freezer section more often. Sure, it’s the place where you usually find soggy waffles. And OK, it’s mostly reserved for those of us who have given up on life and resigned ourselves to dinner with Netflix. But behind those sliding glass doors is also the best thing that will ever happen to your baking: Puff pastry.

I know, I know. What ever happened to homemade bread and croissants from scratch? The thing is, you don’t always have time to watch your dough rise in the fridge, all while singing it gentle lullabies and folding it every half hour. The good news? You don’t have to sacrifice elegance, too. Instead, on your next trip to the grocery store, pick up a box (or five) of puff pastry, and then go to town all week long. Everything’s better with a little puff, so hold nothing back — turn it into the flakiest breakfast rolls and fall turnovers, into mind-blowing pizza and melt-in-your-mouth cookies. If anyone asks, feel free to tell them you spent hours working on that dough. Your secret’s safe with me.

Image: Have Cake Will Travel

by Lisa Siva

Pumpkin Turnovers

Most of my breakfasts teeter dangerously on the edge of dessert — and this is one of them. Kitchen Confidante shows us how to take our pumpkin spice obsession to a whole new level.

Image: Kitchen Confidante

Speculoos Rolls

You had me at speculoos. Have Cake Will Travel calls for just two ingredients and a muffin tin, which means these flaky rolls couldn’t be any easier to whip up at home.

Image: Have Cake Will travel

Baked Brie

What’s better than melty cheese? Melty cheese inside flaky pastry on a stick, of course. Make these for your next potluck, and you’ll be everyone’s hero. Thanks, Joy the Baker!

Image: Joy the Baker

Buffalo Shrimp Pizzas

Meet your new go-to appetizer. Topped with gorgonzola and buffalo wing sauce, these mini pizzas, courtesy of How Sweet Eats, are perfection in a bite.

Image: How Sweet Eats

Bacon Twists

Bacon and puff pastry are two of my very favorite things — and Half Baked Harvest has turned them into one ingenious appetizer. Make them for a crowd…although you’ll end up sneaking a few yourself.

Image: Half Baked Harvest

Spicy Sausage Rolls

Think of these bad boys as the most epic pigs in a blanket — except with ground pork and a flaky puff pastry layer. I Am a Food Blog kicks things up a notch with spicy Korean seasoning.

Image: I Am a Food Blog

Roasted Beet Tart

No time for pie crust? Puff pastry has your back. How Sweet Eats tops hers with tangy goat cheese and roasted beets, all rounded out with a drizzle of honey.

Image: How Sweet Eats

Crab Chowder

Puff pastry makes an awesome topping for just about everything — and especially for creamy crab chowder. Honestly Yum breaks it down.

Image: Honestly Yum

Lamb Shank Pot Pie

You know where else your puff pastry belongs? On top of creamy, meaty pot pie. Say hello to comfort in a bowl. Thanks, Tucker!

Image: Tucker

Palmiers

Don’t let the shape fool you — these cookies are a cinch to make. All you need is a little puff pastry and some sugar to sprinkle on top. I Am a Food Blog shows us how.

Image: I Am a Food Blog

Caramel Apple Galettes

Got more apples than you can handle? Turn them into adorable galettes à la Butter Baking.

Image: Butter Baking

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