Puff pastry recipes are versatile, ranging from savoury quiches and pies to sweet treats like tarts and custard pies.
If you’re making your own puff pastry, the secret lies in the lamination process, where layers of butter are folded into the dough, creating its signature flaky texture. The key is to keep the dough and butter cold throughout the process to ensure proper layering and rise during baking.
Tips for cooking with puff pastry
While there aren’t strict “rules” for working with puff pastry, there are some best practices to keep in mind:
- Always work with chilled puff pastry dough to prevent the butter from melting.
- Use a sharp knife or pastry cutter to cut the dough to prevent squishing the layers.
- Avoid overhandling the dough, as this can cause the butter layers to melt and the pastry to lose its flakiness.
- Preheat the oven thoroughly and bake the pastry at a high temperature to ensure proper puffing and browning.
Best puff pastry recipes
Roast lamb pie
With vegies inside…
This dish is everything you love about a roast lamb dinner – but in a pie! It’s got melt-in-your mouth lamb, a delicious gravy and the best part? The vegies are inside the pie too!
Tray bake tart
The easy crowd-pleaser
We love a good tray bake at BHG – they’re easy, taste amazing and there’s less washing up. Take your next tray bake to the next level by turning it into a simple tart! Plonk your choice of seasonal vegies on top of a sheet of puff pastry and sprinkle with cheese and you’ll get this delicious meal that’ll disappear before your eyes.
Cheesecake mille-feuille squares
Flaky, creamy, yum.
Give the classic French pastry mille-feuille – it’s called vanilla or custard slice in English – a cheesecake twist for a stack of flaky, creamy yum.
Chicken and vegetable pie
Hearty and satisfying.
Comfort food in a flash. Frozen puff pastry and a leftover barbecue chicken make this pie recipe so easy and simple to make.
Cheese and herb pie
Delicious hot or cold!
With a flaky crust and creamy filling, this vegetarian pie is simple but satisfying.
Mushroom, potato and sausage pie
A fun alternative to bangers and mash.
Turn budget-friendly sausages into a show-stopping meal.
Easy beef and onion sausage rolls
Sausage rolls make any meal feel like a party. This recipe is easy to make and packs a flavour punch!
Beef and fig pies
With pistachios
If you want bite-sized treats that are a level up on a regular sausage roll, this is the recipe you need to try. It’s made using beef sausages (flavour without the effort) and finely chopped dried figs. The end result really hits that savoury meets sweet spot.
Vanilla custard pie
With a delicate puff pastry layer
Vanilla custard pie is one of the most underrated desserts ever. But there’s no need to rush out to the bakery to buy one because this can be mixed up, baked and on the table in less than an hour. Go on, treat yourself!
Apple and walnut tarts
Just like a gourmet pastry – except easier
Fruit tarts in the glass cabinet at the bakery always look delicious and impressive. But what if we told you you could achieve a similar result at home without the fuss? Using ready-made puff pastry and a simple caramel sauce, this dessert is simpler to make than it looks!
Free-form Mediterranean pie
Vegies but make them irresistible
If you’re trying to get in your five serves of vegetables a day, this is the kind of recipe you need to commit to memory. It takes just 10 minutes to prepare, and you can customise the vegetables used to your tastes. We’ve gone with zucchini and cherry tomatoes – delish!
Mini quiches
Small but mighty
A slice of quiche is nice and all, but have you ever tried mini quiches? For some reason, bite-sized quiches taste so good! We love this recipe because it’s easy to make yet is perfect for both entertaining or weekday lunches. Win-win.
Mum’s curry puffs
A recipe close to Clarissa Feildel’s heart
This recipe is special to BHG cook, Clarissa Feildel, as her parents used to sell curry puffs when she was at university. She says the secret to making a delicious curry puff is to invest in good quality curry powder. Her favourite brand is ‘Baba’s’, a Malaysian brand of curry.
Pork sausage scrolls
With the flavours of lemongrass and ginger
Craving something that’s savoury and aromatic? These pork, lemongrass, and ginger sausage scrolls are the ultimate fusion of bold flavours and irresistible textures.
