These crispy puff pastry pizza twists are made with Parmesan and oregano. They taste like pizza and are the perfect appetizer for any kind of gathering.
If you like puff pastry and pizza, you will love these simple puff pastry pizza twists. With just a few ingredients, you can create pretty, great-tasting appetizers for your next party.
These Parmesan puff pastries taste like pizza; they are crunchy, cheesy, buttery, and pretty addictive. They are made with typical pizza ingredients: dough, tomatoes, oregano, and Parmesan.
I use puff pastry to make nibbles or party food quite often; check out puff pastry nibbles or asparagus in puff pastry with mayonnaise. Puff pastry is versatile and perfect for any gathering or even a cozy family dinner, such as a delightful chicken and ham pie.
Check out these Football Party Food Ideas, too.
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Recipe ingredients
Puff pastry: I used ready-rolled refrigerated puff pastry, but you can also use frozen puff pastry. In this case, defrost it and roll it according to the packet's instructions.
If the size or quantity of your puff pastry packet is different than mine, it doesn't matter. Adjust the amounts of the other needed ingredients accordingly. The egg wash will be enough, no matter how many straws you make, so don't increase that.
Parmesan: Use good quality Parmesan or Grana Padano from a wedge; it tastes best.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Variations
Use other dried herbs like Herbes de Provence (French touch), Za'atar (Middle Eastern touch), and different spices or spice mixtures like chili, taco, or Cajun seasoning.
Use other cheeses: Gouda, Cheddar, your favorite sort of cheese, or a mixture of mozzarella and Parmesan.
While we were eating these sticks, my daughter also had a lovely idea. She told me that next time, I should make them with pesto. She loves her pesto dearly. Try the Basil Mint Pesto or Lovage Pesto.
Or make some sweet French Palmiers.
How to make puff pastry pizza twists?
This is the big question when it comes to these cheese straws. How to twist them properly? I did not really get it the first time, but after ruining one stick, I managed.
- Step #1: Unroll the pastry and spread the tomato paste evenly all over it. Sprinkle it with Parmesan and dried herbs.
- Step #2: Using a pizza cutter or a sharp knife, cut the pastry into strips.
- Step #3: Fold one-half of each stripe lengthwise over the other half so that the filling is slightly enclosed (see the picture above).
- Step #4: Start twisting the twists at one end and keep twisting until you have reached the middle of the twist.
- Step #5: Then leave that end alone and start twisting the other end, but in the opposite direction, until you reach the middle of the twist again.
- Step #6: Place the pizza twists on the baking sheet and press both ends well to prevent them from unfolding.
- Step #7: Brush the twists with egg wash.
- Step #8: Bake them for about 12 minutes or until golden and cooked through. Let them cool on wire racks.
Good to know!
You can also make these twists using pizza dough. However, the baking time might change; yeast dough usually needs a bit longer. Make sure to check that the pizza twists are cooked through.
Make the twists ahead: Form all the twists, place them on a baking sheet, and freeze them. Once solid, transfer them to appropriate freezer containers. Bake them straight from the freezer, adding a few minutes to the baking time; they should be golden and cooked through.
How to store them?
The pizza puff pastry twists are best served fresh, on the day you baked them.
However, the leftovers are great for another 1 or 2 days. Keep them in an airtight container at room temperature.
Puff Pastry Pizza Twists
Equipment
- Baking sheet
- Pizza Cutter or sharp knife
- Small brush
Ingredients
- 1 packet ready-rolled puff pastry refrigerated, Notes 1,2
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- ½ cup Parmesan freshly grated, 50 g
- oregano or other dried herbs
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 tablespoon milk
- 1 teaspoon sesame seeds or Nigella seeds
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 360°F/ 180°C. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Fill the puff pastry: Unroll the puff pastry on the working surface. Spread the tomato paste evenly all over the pastry. Sprinkle the pastry with the freshly grated Parmesan and with dried herbs.1 packet ready-rolled puff pastry + 2 tablespoons tomato paste + ½ cup Parmesan/ 50 g + oregano
- Cut pastry: Using a pizza cutter or a sharp knife, cut the pastry into strips that are as long as the short side of the rolled pastry and about 1 inch/ 2½ cm wide.
- Twist the pastry: Fold one-half of each stripe lengthwise over the other half so that the filling is slightly enclosed (see the picture above). Start twisting the twists at one end and keep twisting until you reach the middle of the twist. Then leave that end alone and start twisting the other end, but in the opposite direction, until you reach the middle of the twist again. So, if you started twisting towards your body on the first end, twist away from your body on the second side. This way, you will have a perfectly twisted stick.
- Place the pizza twists on the baking sheet and press both ends well to prevent them from unfolding.
- Brush pizza twists: In a small bowl, mix the egg yolk and the milk. Brush the sticks with this mixture. Sprinkle with Nigella or sesame seeds.1 egg yolk + 1 tablespoon milk + 1 teaspoon sesame seeds or Nigella seeds
- Bake the puff pastry twists for about 12 minutes or until cooked through and golden brown. Regard the packet's instructions concerning the baking times as well. Transfer to wire racks to cool.
Notes
- Puff pastry from the refrigerated section of the grocery store. Approximate size: 16x9 inches/ 40x23 cm, about 10 oz/ 275 g. If the size of your puff pastry packet is different than mine, it doesn't matter. Adjust the amounts of the other needed ingredients accordingly. The egg wash will be enough for several batches, so don't increase that.
- If using frozen puff pastry, defrost, roll, and bake according to the packet's instructions.
mjskitchen says
Crackers made with puff pastry? I have been waiting for this recipe! Thank you! I can't wait to make it. Have everything but the pasty but that can be solved pretty quickly. 🙂
Monica says
What a fun series and I love everything to do with a good breakfast! What a wonderful breakfast arrangement...surely a huge treat for anyone for Valentine's Day (which I adore!). Great idea to get fancy and explore all the ways to use puff pastry. It's so versatile and always amazing. Thanks for the inspiration!
Anca says
They look great. I might bake a batch for Valentine's Day, if I have time to go and buy puff pastry. I'm sure my husband would love them.