Easy Parmesan Cheese Twists With Puff Pastry are a super simple party snack that everyone always loves.
I often refer to these as my cacio e pepe puff pastry twists as they have the same ingredients as that famous dish - cheese and pepper! The strong and nutty parmesan cheese works perfectly with a kick of pepper against the flaky and buttery pastry and makes an ideal snack to serve with drinks at a party.
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Why you'll love this easy recipe
- It's a great recipe for parties - I leave glasses of these parmesan cheese straws out on tables for guests to pick up and nibble on. It's another cheesy appetizer recipe that works especially well with champagne, like my spicy parmesan cookies, but it's even easier to make!
- It's super simple - With just a handful of simple ingredients, this recipe only takes a few minutes to put together. You can enjoy these puff pastry twists in less than 20 minutes after you get a craving!
- It's easy to adapt - You can play with adding other cheeses or ingredients like mustard and cayenne pepper; it's very versatile.
Ingredients
This is what you will need to make these puff pastry parmesan twists.
- Puff pastry - This French pastry is made from butter laminated into a lean dough, and it forms a deliciously light and flaky pastry that rises up as it bakes. It takes some time and skill to make, so I normally recommend using store-bought puff pastry dough. Either buy the sheets or a block that you can roll out with a rolling pin on a lightly floured surface. Alternatively, you can try making a rough puff pastry from scratch.
- Parmesan cheese - A good quality Parmigiano Reggiano has the best flavor. A Pecorino or Gran Padano can also work well.
- Cracked black pepper - You can adjust the levels to suit you, but trust me, a strong kick of freshly ground pepper works enormously well in this recipe.
- Beaten egg - We use the egg wash to help seal the puff pastry cheese twists and give a rich, glossy, and crunchy finish.
See the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post for full quantities and step-by-step directions on how to make parmesan cheese twists with puff pastry
How to make puff pastry cheese twists
Remember that puff pastry needs a hot oven, so always preheat and use an oven thermometer to ensure you are baking at the right temperature. We need the oven at 200C/400F for this parmesan cheese puff pastry twists recipe, so turn it on before you start.
Cut the puff pastry sheet in half and follow these steps for both pieces. Brush an egg wash over the whole surface of the puff pastry rectangle. Then, grate parmesan cheese and cracked black pepper over half of it.
Fold the puff pastry pieces closed like a book so that the grated parmesan cheese and black pepper are on the inside.
Use a sharp knife or pizza cutter to slice the folded puff pastry into strips 1 to 2 inches wide. I get 7 from each piece.
Twist strips from the ends in opposite directions to create your parmesan puff pastry twists. Place them onto a lined baking tray.
Brush an egg wash over the unbaked twists, then sprinkle over more grated parmesan and cracked black pepper.
Bake parmesan cheese twists in a preheated oven at 200C/400F for 10-15 minutes until golden brown and crispy. Cool on a wire rack or enjoy warm.
Top tips
Don't skip the inside layer of egg wash before you add the cheese and pepper, it helps the parmesan cheese twists to stay together and not puff apart as they bake.
Don't make the twists too wide, any more than 2 inches, and you'll struggle to twist them. But very thin strips will stretch, and the easy puff pastry cheese twists will not keep their shape as you twist.
Wine pairing for cheese twists
An aged Champagne is the perfect pairing for parmesan and black pepper.
Serving suggestions
There are so many ways you can adapt this easy recipe to suit you. Add some garlic powder, dried herbs like Italian seasoning, or spices like cayenne pepper. If Marmite is your thing, try spreading some over the puff pastry before adding the cheese. A single layer of Dijon mustard is also delicious!
Sometimes, I'll serve these parmesan cheese twists as part of a cheese board with chutney or a dip made by mixing a tablespoon of Dijon mustard with 3 tablespoons of mayonnaise.
If you have a spare sheet of puff pastry, try serving these alongside other puff pastry recipes like gourmet sausage rolls, truffle porcini mushroom pinwheels, and caviar vol au vents.
Equipment
You will need a couple of lined baking trays to bake cheese twists with puff pastry and a fine cheese grater to prepare the parmesan cheese. Make sure the tray is big enough to leave a gap in between each cheese twist, as they do expand as they bake!
Storage
Store leftover parmesan cheese twists in an airtight container in a cool place (but not the fridge) and use within 2-3 days.
To freeze cheese twists, layer them with parchment paper in an airtight container, wrap them individually in plastic wrap, or place them all into a resealable plastic bag or freezer bag. Defrost the frozen pastries before reheating them in the oven for 10 minutes to crisp them up.
FAQ
Yes, wrap in plastic food wrap or layer in Tupperware separated by parchment paper. Defrost thoroughly before consuming, and reheat for best results.
Cheese straws are made of twisted puff pastry and grated cheese, brushed with an egg wash, and baked. You can also add other fillings like mustard, herbs, and spices.
Yes, but the result will be much less flaky and light than puff pastry cheese straws.
📖 Recipe
Easy Parmesan Cheese Twists With Puff Pastry
Equipment
- 2 lined baking trays
- 1 Cheese grater
Ingredients
- 1 (17 oz) puff pastry sheet (approx 400g/17oz)
- 85 g (1 cup) grated parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon black pepper
- 1 egg
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 200C/400F
- Cut the puff pastry sheet in half to get two rectangles. Brush an egg wash over the whole surface of both sheets.
- Grate parmesan cheese and sprinkle cracked black pepper over half of each puff pastry rectangle. Reserve 2 tablespoon of the grated cheese.
- Fold the puff pastry sheets over the parmesan cheese filling like a book.
- Cut the folded puff pastry sheets into strips 1-2 inches wide. You should get 7 or 8 from each piece.
- Hold each strip in your fingers and twist the ends in opposite directions. Try and get them as tightly twisted as you can, then place them on lined baking trays or cookie sheets, with a small gap in between each twist.
- Brush the unbaked twists gently with an egg wash and sprinkle over the remaining grated parmesan and more cracked black pepper.
- Bake the parmesan cheese twists for 10-15 minutes until they are golden brown.
Notes
Nutrition
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