Last weekend, my girlfriends and I gathered for our Annual Girls’ Christmas Beauty Bash. In what has become one of my favorite holiday traditions, we each bring a wrapped beauty or cosmetic item of a set value, food, and a bottle of bubbly, then gather to sip, eat, giggle, and play what has become an increasingly heated gift exchange game. I baked these Spinach Puffs and wrapped up this pretty set of lipsticks, which I fully admit I was tempted to steal for myself during the game.
I resisted snagging the lipsticks, opting for a mini set of these amazing, fancy lip balms instead…which was eventually stolen from me.
Fortunately for each of our appetites, this recipe for Spinach Pastry Puffs yields a large batch, so we could all happily gobble as many as we pleased.
Why I Love These Easy Spinach Puffs
Whenever I need an appetizer for a party that I know will be easy, impressive, and a total crowd-pleaser, I turn to puff pastry (if I’m not already making Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms). These sheets of buttery, flaky dough are endlessly versatile, bake up beautifully golden every time, and can be found in the freezer section of any grocery store.
In past years, I’ve made Brie Bites, Cranberry Brie Bites, Ham and Cheese Pinwheels, and Mushroom Puff Pastry Bites, and while those all have been hits, today’s Spinach Puffs might be the greatest of them all.
{A side note for fellow fans of The Emperor’s New Groove, a seriously adorable and (in my opinion) underrated Disney movie: You know the tasty Spinach Puffs Kronk makes in the film? I like to think that Kronk would approve of this Spinach Puff recipe too!}
To make these spinach puff pastry cups, being by cutting squares of puff pastry. I kept it easy by dividing my puff pastry into nine squares (three rows of three), which fit perfectly inside the wells of a regular muffin pan like these.
The puffs’ filling is inspired by one of the most revered appetizers of our time: spinach dip. It’s a quick, ever-delicious combo of cream cheese, spinach (I use thawed frozen spinach for maximum speed), feta cheese, and BACON.
The Spinach Puffs are creamy on the inside, buttery and flaky on the outside, and the touch of feta, bacon, and garlic in the filling makes them unquestionably addictive.
Despite the semi-fancy vibe puff pastry provides, this recipe is ultra simple. You don’t even need to wait for the cream cheese to soften before you start making the filling. THAT is how no-fuss this spinach cream cheese puff pastry creation truly is.
Can You Make These Puffs in a Mini Muffin Pan?
- I was happy with the size of the Spinach Puffs baked in the regular muffin pan. They were sturdy enough to easily pick up with our fingers, and every bite of filling contained bits of both bacon and feta.
- However, if you wanted to make mini spinach puffs instead, I think you could cut the puff pastry into smaller squares, then bake the puffs in a mini muffin pan instead.
In addition their all-around YUM factor, these spinach puff pastry cups are a party planner’s dream appetizer. They can be fully baked and frozen weeks in advance.
Spinach Puffs also taste great both warm and at room temperature, so you don’t need to stress about timing the exact moment you pull them from the oven. Heat them up a little before your guests arrive, place them on the table, then enjoy the moment when they disappear.
More Crowd-Pleasing Puff Pastry Recipes:
- Pesto Pinwheels
- Puff Pastry Cinnamon Rolls
- Cranberry Brie Bites
- Ham and Cheese Pinwheels
- Mushroom Puff Pastry Bites
- Asparagus Tart
Spinach Puffs
Ingredients
- 4 strips thick-cut bacon
- 8 ounces reduced-fat cream cheese Neufchâtel, cut into large pieces
- 2 large eggs divided
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
- 10 ounces frozen spinach (1 package) thawed and thoroughly pressed dry
- 1/2 cup crumbled feta about 2 ounces
- 1/4 cup finely grated Parmesan about 1 ounce
- 2 sheets frozen puff pastry (9- or 10-inch) thawed overnight in the refrigerator (I like Pepperidge Farm)
Instructions
- Place racks in the upper and lower thirds of your oven and preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Bake bacon according to these directions for Baked Bacon. Let cool, then chop or crumble into bits. Spray 18 total cups in two standard muffin tins with nonstick spray.
- Meanwhile, place the cream cheese pieces in a wide microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 10 second bursts until the cream cheese is very soft and melty but not so hot that it is steaming. Stir in 1 egg, garlic powder, black pepper, and oregano until well combined.
- In a separate large mixing bowl, combine the spinach, feta, Parmesan, and chopped bacon with a fork, breaking apart the spinach. Scrape the cream cheese mixture on top of the spinach mixture, then stir the ingredients until well combined. Taste and adjust seasoning as desired.
- Unfold the first sheet of pastry on a lightly floured surface and gently roll to remove any creases (it will be a 10- or 11-inch square). Cut the pastry sheet into 9 even squares (three squares across and three down—they will be a little more than 3 inches on each side). Line the wells of the muffin pan with the pastry squares so that the center is pressed on the bottom of the muffin cups and the corners over hang the sides (see photo in blog post above). If needed, stretch the squares to be a bit larger so that they extend all the way up the sides. With a spoon or small scoop like this one, portion the spinach filling by heaping tablespoons and place it in the center of each muffin cup, dividing it evenly among the 18 cups.
- Bring the four points of each puff pastry square together towards the center so that they cover the filling, then lightly press them together in the middle (no need for them to totally stick or seal). In a small bowl, beat the remaining egg to make an egg wash and brush it over the tops of the pastry (you will not need the whole egg).
- Bake the puffs, one muffin tin on each rack, for 21 to 24 minutes, until puffy and deeply golden, switching the pans' position on the upper and lower racks halfway through. Allow to cool for 10 minutes, then run a knife carefully around the edges to gently loosen them. Transfer to a wire rack. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Notes
- Puffs may be fully baked and then frozen for up to 1 month. Reheat in a 375 degree F oven directly from frozen, until warmed through.
- Filling can be made up to 1 day in advance and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. In an ideal world, I would recommend filling the cups right before baking, BUT I think you could line the cups with the unbaked puff pastry squares, scoop in the filling, then store the pan in the refrigerator for an hour or two. Apply the egg wash just before baking.
- These are best enjoyed the day they are made but can last in the refrigerator for a day or so. Reheat in the oven prior to serving.
Nutrition
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Delicious and since I doubled the recipe for a part,y I had a few leftover which made a great breakfast.
Hi Priscilla! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
Delicious and always a favorite. I dice up and fry a white onion to add to this and also add mozza cheese.
Hi Jen! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
I made these for Christmas Eve and they are so good. I was hesitant to try as I have never used Puff Pastry before and was pleasantly surprised how easy the dough was to use. The flavor is sooooo delicious!!! I will be making these again!!!
Thank you!!
Hi Carol! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
Made with phyllo dough because puff pastry was sold out. 8 layers was the sweet spot. Perfect recipe! No changes!
Hi Sadie! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review and thanks for the feedback on the phyllo dough!
Very good. Will make them again.
Hi Pchef_T! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
Made these with my grandma today after being inspired by Emperor’s New Groove. They turned out amazing! They’re flakey and crispy on the outside, and warm and delicious on the inside! I will, without a doubt, make these again in the near future. Thank you so much for the opportunity to use your recipe. 😊
Hi Sydney! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
Very tasty! I halved the recipe and did mini’s – cooking took about 12 mins.
Friend has garlic allergy so I used cumin instead and basil and celery salt – it worked.
One sheet of pastry – I got 16 puffs – probably could have extended to 24 with thinner pastry.
Took these to a ladies happy hour – well received!
Hi Barbara! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
These were great! Made them ahead as an appetizer for Thanksgiving, and they were a big hit. They went from the freezer to the oven and reheated beautifully. I used mini muffin tins and made 2 batches, but you’d never know since they disappeared so fast! The only sub I made was mozzarella instead of parmesan when I discovered my parm had gone bad, and next time I make them I’ll add another 2 pieces of bacon!
Hi Kix! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
I made with a gluten-free puff pastry and it turned out great!
Great to hear! Thank you Katie!
Katie,
May I ask where you found your gluten free puff pastry? Did you have to alter the recipe or bake time to accommodate the change? Thank you!
Michelle
I used the Schar brand gluten free puff pastry that my local grocery store carries. It’s good, but it can be hard to work with, so I made fewer spinach bites and used the extra pastry to patch up any holes. Other than that I just followed the recipe; I did put everything on the middle rack because it fit, and I baked at the time the Schar box recommended. It was similar to the recipe time though so I would just check and take them out when they look golden brown and delicious :)
Thanks so much Katie!
Made almost 80 of these over a one-week period. A double batch each on Dec 31 and Jan 1 for parties, and a half batch test made exactly to recipe around Dec 28. I’m thoroughly tired of them at this point, haha, but here are some observations about my experience:
1) I found them to be a bit too rich when I made my test batch, so I cut the cream cheese slightly. 6 oz instead of 8 oz still tasted great. Note that the reduction meant that the batch yield was reduced. My attempts produced a double batch of about 30 puffs instead of 36, although I probably could have stretched the filling further.
Reducing the cream cheese also had the effect of making them more bacon and spinach forward. A positive for me.
2) I bumped up the bacon from 4 to 5 strips per batch. Making the bacon as crispy as possible without burning worked best for me, as it gave a bit more texture to the filling, which is otherwise very smooth.
3) Be aware that these are quite a large hors d’oeuvre, and combined with how rich they are, I wouldn’t plan on guests knocking back many per person unless they have big appetites.
4) They reheat well. All leftovers people took were well received.
5) The recipe suggests tasting for seasoning after a raw egg has been added. I know that’s not unusual, but everyone who does so should be aware of the food safety implications. I did not taste at this stage, but I found the seasoning to be spot on without added salt.
Overall I had a positive experience. I’d give them a 4.5/5 due to the default recipe being too rich for me personally, but if you like them that way, there’s nothing to complain about.
Glad it worked out for you Jordan!
Very good & not difficult to make! One of my guests already asked me asked to forward it.
Hi Jocelyne! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
Can I use fresh spinach??
Hi Judy! I’m sure you could, it would need to be cooked first. Hope you enjoy it!