Jalapeño Popper Twists (Printer View)

Golden flaky pastry twists filled with creamy cheese and zesty jalapeños—ready in 30 minutes.

# What you'll 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 tsp garlic powder

→ Pastry

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

# Method:

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

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The filling comes together in under five minutes with ingredients you probably already have in your fridge
  • They reheat beautifully so you can make them a day ahead and bake them fresh when guests arrive
02 -
  • Overfilling the strips causes the cheese to burst out during twisting, creating a mess that still tastes great but looks chaotic
  • Twisting too tightly stretches the pastry thin and causes the filling to squeeze out, so gentle but firm pressure works best
03 -
  • A pizza cutter creates perfectly straight pastry strips faster and more evenly than a knife
  • Room temperature filling spreads easier without tearing the delicate pastry layers
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