Super easy ham and cheese puff pastry croissants, perfect for a holiday breakfast, brunch, or a party. You can prepare them in about 10 minutes and then bake them.
After the Crispbread and the Best Camembert Obatzda, I have another quick and delicious breakfast recipe for you today: these easy ham and cheese croissants made with puff pastry and sesame seeds. This is the ultimate breakfast sandwich: Crispy, flaky, buttery croissants filled with hot ham and oozy, melty cheese.
For more breakfast ideas, check out Breakfast Crescent Rolls, or learn How to Make a Full English Breakfast with Baked Beans.
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Recipe ingredients
A packet of already rolled puff pastry from the supermarketโs refrigerator section. One sheet of those I use weighs 10 oz/ 275 g and is about 16 in/ 40cm long and 10 in/ 26 cm.
- Frozen pastry is also great.ย If itโs already rolled, thaw it in the refrigerator, unroll, cut, and fill it as instructed. If itโs a block of pastry, thaw and roll it on a lightly floured surface according to the packetโs instructions.
Ham: A few cooked ham slices, depending on their size. You can also fill the croissants with other deli ham; I often use turkey, chicken ham, or Black Forest ham. My kids love a version made with salami.
Cheese: My first choice is always Gouda, but Cheddar cheese is also excellent. You could substitute it with Gruyere, Swiss cheese, Parmesan, etc. Depending on their size, you will only need one or two slices of cheese.
If you are looking for more ham and cheese combinations, you could try the Ham and Cheese Empanadas, the Stuffed Bread Rolls, or the Baked Cordon Bleu Chicken.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
How to make ham and cheese croissants?
Prepare: Unroll the sheet of dough on the work surface and cut it into large triangles. You can use a small, sharp knife or a pizza cutter. Cut the ham and cheese into strips.
Assemble: Place a few pieces of ham and cheese on the wide end of the triangle. Start rolling the triangle starting at the base. Place on the prepared baking tray with the seam facing down. Bend in the edges to create a crescent shape.
Brush with egg wash, sprinkle with seeds, and bake until golden brown and cooked through (about 25 minutes).
Good to know!
The recipe makes 4 large croissants and 2 smaller ones using the ends of the pastry. You can make a double batch and bake two baking sheets full of croissants simultaneously using a convection oven. In this case, preheat the oven to 400ยฐF/200 ยฐC.
How to serve?
The ham and cheese puff pastry croissants are best served immediately. They are still delicious a few hours or one day later, but they will not be crispy anymore.
You can refresh them shortly in the hot oven, but keep an eye on them so they donโt get too brown.
Can I freeze the croissants?
You can freeze them if you make them using refrigerated dough; I donโt recommend freezing anything that has already been frozen and thawed.
Freezing unbaked croissants: Assemble the croissants, but donโt brush them with egg wash. Place them on a baking sheet or a large plate and freeze them. Once they are solid, transfer them to freezer bags or other containers. Brush them with egg wash and bake them from frozen, adding about 6-7 minutes to the baking time.
Freeze the baked ham and cheese puff pastries on a baking sheet or large plate until solid. Transfer them to freezer bags and freeze them for up to one month. Reheat them from frozen in the preheated oven at 300ยฐF/ 150ยฐC until warmed through; it will take 10-15 minutes, but keep an eye on them, so they donโt get too brown.ย
Ham and Cheese Puff Pastry Croissants
Equipment
- Baking sheet
Ingredients
- 1 packet puff pastry refrigerated, Notes 1,2,3
- 1-2 slices ham depending on their size, Note 4
- 1-2 slices cheese depending on their size, Note 5
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 tablespoon milk
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds Note 6
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 430ยฐF/ 230ยฐC. Line a baking tray with parchment paper.
- Unroll the puff pastry on the working surface and cut it into large triangles. Cut the ham and cheese into strips.1 packet puff pastry
- Make the croissants: Place a few pieces of ham and cheese on the lower, wider edge of the triangle. Start rolling the triangle starting at the base. Place them on the prepared baking sheet with the seam facing down. Bend in the edges to create a crescent shape.1-2 slices ham + 1-2 slices cheese
- Brush: Beat the egg yolk and the milk in a small bowl. Brush the croissants with the mixture and sprinkle them with sesame seeds.1 egg yolk + 1 tablespoon milk + 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
- Bake the ham and cheese puff pastry for about 25 minutes until they are puffed and golden brown. Serve immediately.
Notes
- The recipe makes 4 large croissants and 2 smaller ones using the ends of the pastry. You can make a double batch and bake two baking sheets full of croissants simultaneously using a fan oven. In this case, preheat the oven to 400ยฐF/200 ยฐC.
- A packet of already rolled puff pastry from the supermarketโs refrigerator section. One sheet of those I use weighs 10 oz/ 275 g and is about 16 in/ 40cm long and 10 in/ 26 cm.
- You can also use frozen pastry. If itโs already rolled, thaw it in the refrigerator, unroll, cut, and fill it as instructed. If itโs a block of pastry, thaw and roll it on a lightly floured surface according to the packetโs instructions.
- Ham: You can replace the ham with similar deli meats. Salami is an excellent alternative.
- Cheese: Gouda, Cheddar, Swiss, Gruyere, etc. I love using Nigella seeds or black sesame seeds as well.
Angie@Angie's Recipes says
That's a perfect breakfast for V-day!
Adina says
It really is, Angie. ๐