These puff pastry cheese twists are a quick sweet pastry: crisp, flaky strips with a creamy farmer’s cheese filling, ready in about 10 minutes of prep.
The secret is a spoonful of dry pudding powder. It absorbs the moisture in the filling, so the pastry stays crisp and the filling does not leak out while baking. In Slovakia and Czechia, December 6 is St. Nicholas Day, when sweets like these are shared.
How to Make Puff Pastry Cheese Twists
Stir the pudding powder, egg and sugar into the farmer’s cheese. Spread it over one sheet of puff pastry, cover with a second sheet, cut into strips, twist them into spirals and bake at 400°F (200°C) until golden.
At a Glance
- Prep time: 10 min
- Baking time: 20 min
- Servings: 20 twists
- Difficulty: Easy
- Calories: about 140 kcal per twist
- Trend: Holiday baking / Quick dessert
Ingredients
- 2 sheets (about 9.7 oz / 275 g each) refrigerated puff pastry
- 1 cup (250 g) smooth farmer’s cheese (semi-fat, from a tub), or well-drained ricotta
- 3 tablespoons (20 g) dry cook-and-serve vanilla pudding powder, about half a package (or cornstarch plus 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract)
- 1 1/2 tablespoons (20 g) granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (or 1 package, 8 g, vanilla sugar)
- 1 large egg, whole, for the filling
- 1 egg yolk, for brushing
- 1 tablespoon milk, for brushing
- powdered sugar, for dusting
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C) (conventional, top and bottom heat). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a bowl, mix the farmer’s cheese with the granulated sugar and vanilla.
- Add the whole egg and half a package of dry pudding powder. This is the key trick.
- The pudding powder absorbs the extra moisture from the cheese and the egg.
- Beat with a mixer or whisk until you have a smooth cream.
- Unroll the first sheet of puff pastry. Spread the cheese cream evenly over it, leaving the edges free.
- Cover with the second sheet of puff pastry and press down gently.
- With a pizza cutter or knife, cut the rectangle in half lengthwise first.
- Then cut crosswise strips about 1 inch (2 to 3 cm) wide. You get about 20 sticks.
- Pick up each strip carefully at both ends and twist it into a spiral.
- Place the twists on the lined baking sheet.
- In a small bowl, whisk the egg yolk with the tablespoon of milk and brush all the twists.
- Bake at 400°F (200°C) for about 20 minutes, until golden and crisp.
- Let cool. Before serving, dust with powdered sugar.
Video Recipe
Tips for Perfect Puff Pastry Cheese Twists
- Do not skip the pudding powder: In the hot oven the filling firms up and sets, so it does not run out and the puff pastry stays crisp.
- Work fast: Puff pastry must stay cold. If it gets soft and sticky while you work, put it in the freezer for 5 minutes.
Easy Variations
- Cinnamon twists: Add 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon to the cheese filling for an extra holiday aroma.
- Raisin twists: Scatter a handful of raisins soaked in rum over the pastry before spreading the cream.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Why bake at 400°F (200°C)? Puff pastry needs that initial blast of heat to puff up into flaky layers and stay crisp.
What can I use instead of farmer’s cheese? Well-drained ricotta or dry curd cottage cheese both work. If the cheese is lumpy, blend it (an immersion blender is ideal) until the filling is smooth and creamy.
Can I use cornstarch instead of pudding powder? Yes. About 2 tablespoons of cornstarch with 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract plays the same role of absorbing moisture. Use cook-and-serve pudding mix, not instant.
How do I store them? They are best fresh on the day you bake them. In an airtight container in a cool place they keep until the next day, but the puff pastry softens a little because of the cheese filling.
Can I make them ahead for St. Nicholas Day? You can mix the filling a day ahead and keep it chilled. Shape and bake the twists shortly before serving so they stay crisp.
These twists are best slightly warm. Serve them on St. Nicholas Day or on an Advent Sunday.
The recipe is based on a version by ReniasBackwelt, adapted by the We Cook With Love team.
Enjoy! Try more recipes from our kitchen.
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