Best Easy Pastry Recipes

SUPER EASY PUFF PASTRY APPLE STRUDEL

Steps:

• Set oven to 375 degrees.
• Lightly grease a large baking sheet, or line with parchment paper.
• Thaw the puff pastry sheet for 40 minutes at room temperature.
• In a small bowl, mix the egg and water.
• After 40 minutes, unfold the pastry sheet onto a lightly floured surface, with the short side facing you.
• Spoon the apple mixture on the bottom half of the pastry to within 1-inch of the edges, then sprinkle with raisins (if using).
• Starting at the short side, roll up like a jelly roll.
• Place seam-side down on the baking sheet, then tuck ends under to seal.
• Brush with the egg mixture.
• Cut several 2-inch slits (2-inches apart) on top.
• Repeat with the next puff pastry (if you are making two strudels).
• Bake about 35 minutes or until golden brown.
• Cool on baking sheet on a wire rack for about 30 minutes.
• Slice and serve warm.
• Sprinkle with confectioners sugar if desired.

EASY PUFF PASTRY SAUSAGE ROLLS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Unroll puff pastry on a lightly floured work surface, and cut each sheet into 4 pieces. Place 1 sausage into the center of 4 of the pieces of pastry. Lay the remaining 4 pastry pieces over the sausage and press the edges of the pastry together to seal tightly. Slash the top of each pastry several times with a sharp knife.
• Whisk egg and water together in a small bowl, and brush egg wash over the pastries with a pastry brush. Place on the prepared baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until deeply golden and puffed, about 20 minutes.

EASY NO-ROLL PIE PASTRY

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine the flour, sugar and salt; stir in oil and milk. Set aside 1/3 cup for topping. Press remaining mixture onto the bottom and up the sides of a greased 9-in. pie plate. Add filling. Sprinkle with reserved crumb mixture., Bake at 375° for 60-70 minutes or until crust is golden and filling is bubbly. Cool on a wire rack.

EASY PASTRY DOUGH

Steps:

• Blend first 4 ingredients in processor 10 seconds. Add shortening; process just until very coarse meal forms. Beat egg with 2 tablespoons water; add to processor. Blend until large moist clumps form, adding more water if dry. Gather dough into ball; divide in half. Flatten each piece into disk. Wrap in plastic; chill at least 1 hour. (Can be made 2 days ahead. Keep chilled. Let dough soften slightly before rolling out.)

EASY SHORTCRUST PASTRY

Steps:

• Place the bowl and butter into the fridge to make it cold. This is REALLY important
• Throw flour, butter and salt into the food processor and blitz for 15-20 seconds until it is a soft fine breadcrumb texture. You dont NEED a food processor and can use your fingertips like your gran used to, but make sure you hands are ice cold first.
• Pour mixture into the cold bowl, make a well in the centre and add around 3/4 (75ml) of the water. With fingers like a claw, turn the pastry mix in the bowl. Get in and twist, mopping up all the dry ingredients. Add the rest of the flour and continue twisting together until the mixture is a lump.
• lightly flower the board and place pastry on top. Push it together and gently kneed it. until it has a soft texture when pinched.
• Cover with clingfilm, place back into the bowl you used earlier and place in the fridge. Ready to take and use whenever you need it (preferably for a stake and ale pie that afternoon).

EASY CHOCOLATE PUFF PASTRY CROISSANTS

Steps:

• Set oven to 350°F.
• Grease 2 baking sheets.
• Unfold one sheet of puff pastry onto a lightly floured surface, then roll out to make a 10-inch square.
• Cut into four even squares.
• Place 2-3 tablespoons milk chocolate baking chips in the center of each square.
• Brush the edges lightly with the beaten egg.
• Fold each square into triangles, press the edges to seal.
• Place on the baking sheets 2-inches apart.
• Repeat with remaining puff pastry sheet.
• Bake for about 15-17 minutes or until puffed and golden brown.
• Cool on baking sheets for about 3 minutes, then remove to wire racks to cool completely.
• In a small microwave-safe bowl melt the 2 ounces semisweet chocolate with 2 tablespoons butter on HIGH for about 25-30 seconds, stirring once and until smooth. until smooth.
• Stir/whisk in the confectioners sugar until combined.
• Add in water until the icing is smooth and desired consistency for drizzling.
• Drizzle over the pastries.
• Sift lighty with confectioners sugar if desired.

EASY PHYLLO PASTRY TARTS WITH HOT PEPPER JELLY

Steps:

• Take 2 sheets of pastry and cover the rest with a damp cloth to keep from drying out.
• Brush a thin layer of butter on one sheet and stack the other sheet on top.
• Cut the stacked sheet in half.
• (A pizza cutter works great for this) Brush one rectangle with butter and place the other one on top.
• You will then have a 7 x 11 pastry sheet with four layers.
• Cut that into 12 equal squares.
• Press each square into a greased mini muffin tin.
• Bake at 350 degrees until golden brown, about 10-15 minutes.
• Repeat with remaining sheets, remembering to keep unused sheets covered.
• Shells may be frozen at this point or filled and ready to serve.
• To fill: Place 1/2- 1 teaspoon of cream cheese in the center of each tart.
• Top with 1/2 to 1 tsp of jelly.
• May be served as is or baked for 10 minutes and served warm.

VERY EASY DANISH (JAM FILLED PUFF PASTRY)

Steps:

• Grease an oven tray and preheat oven to 200 degrees Celsius (400 Fahrenheit).
• Cut 8 squares of equal size from the puff pastry sheets (or circles if you prefer).
• Place two teaspoons of jam (jelly) on 4 of the pastry squares. On the other 4 pieces, cut criss-crosses for ventilation and for prettiness.
• Press the criss-crossed pastry pieces on top of the jam covered pieces, and press together all around the edge using a little oil.
• Bake in oven for 20 minutes until puffed and golden.
• Allow to cool and enjoy.

EASY CHEDDAR SPINACH AND MUSHROOM PIE WITH PUFF PASTRY CRUST

Steps:

• Set oven to 400 degrees.
• Prepare a 9-inch glass pie plate.
• Roll out the puff pastry sheet to an 11-inch square, then transfer to prepared pie plate; trim edges.
• In a bowl beat the cream cheese until smooth.
• Add in the half and half and eggs; beat until combined.
• Squeeze out any moisture in the thawed spinach well using you hands before adding inches.
• Add in all remaining ingredients; mix with a wooden spoon to combine.
• Pour into puff pastry crust.
• Sprinkle with about 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese (or to taste).
• Bake for about 25 minutes, or until the filling is set.
• Cool for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.

QUICK AND EASY PERFECT PUFF PASTRY SQUARES WITH DULCE DE LECHE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Roll puff pastry over a floured surface; cut into 1.5-inch squares. Place on the prepared baking sheets.
• Bake in the preheated oven until lightly golden and crispy, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Transfer baked squares to a wire rack and let cool completely, about 5 minutes. Slice each square in half.
• Spread 2 tablespoons dulce de leche on half of the puff pastry squares; top with the other half of puff pastry square. Dust with confectioners' sugar.

EASY SWEET PASTRY DOUGH

Steps:

• Sift together the flour, sugar, and salt (if using) into a bowl.
• Toss butter into flour mixture to coat pieces. Using fingertips, rub butter into flour, working it until you have created a coarse meal with a few pea-size pieces.
• In a small bowl, combine egg and vanilla. Whisk together, then add gradually to flour mixture, stirring with a fork. Mix with hands until dough forms a ball.
• Knead the dough to make it smooth. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 10 minutes.
• Roll out dough and shape to pie pan or cut out rounds for tarts.

EASY BAKED CHEESE IN PUFF PASTRY

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400ºF.
• Cut cream cheese horizontally in half. Place one of the cream cheese pieces in center of pastry sheet; cover with pesto. Top with remaining cream cheese piece.
• Gently fold pastry around cheese to completely enclose cheese, trimming excess pastry if necessary. Press edges of pastry to seal. Place, seam-side down, on baking sheet.
• Bake 20 min. or until golden brown. Let stand 5 min.

EASY, NO FAIL PASTRY CRUST

Steps:

• Measure the flour, salt, and sugar into a food processor.
• Add a few 1 Tbsp butter piece at a time, and pulse until coarsely chopped.
• Repeat until all butter has been incorporated. Don't pulse too much in between.
• Add a couple of tablespoons of water and pulse. Repeat until the dough is just forming little balls, and falls from the sides.
• Place half the mixture on a sheet of plastic wrap and squish the particles together until you form nice disc. Wrap the disc in the plastic wrap and refrigerate.
• KEY: Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before rolling out.
• Repeat with remaining dough.
• This recipe freezes well, so if you only need one 9in pie crust, you can save the other for next time. Just allow time for it to defrost naturally. Don't put in microwave.

EASY HAMBURGER PASTRY

Steps:

• 1. Heat oven to 375 degrees F.
• 2. Cook and stir the ground beef and onion in a large skillet until meat is browned. Drain off excess fat.
• 3. Remove from heat and add remaining ingredients except the pie crust. Set aside.
• 4. Prepare the pie crust. Divide into 8 equal parts. Roll each piece on a lightly floured surface into a 7" circle. Spoon about 1/4 cup of the meat mixture onto on half of the round. Making sure it's packed in to within a 1/2" on the edge of the crust round. Moisten the edges with water and gently fold over the unused side of the roll. Press edges together and crimp with a fork. Brush tops lightly with an egg mixture of 1 beaten egg and about 1/8 cup of water. Sprinkle lightly with salt.
• 5. Place on an ungreased baking sheet and prick the tops with a fork. Bake for 30-35 until deep golden brown. Can pour brown gravy or sauce over the finished pies and serve.

EASY PHYLLO PASTRY TARTS WITH HOT PEPPER JELLY

Steps:

• 1. Take 2 sheets of pastry and cover the rest with a damp cloth to keep from drying out.
• 2. Brush a thin layer of butter on one sheet and stack the other sheet on top. Cut the stacked sheet in half length wise. You will now have two long rectangles.
• 3. (A pizza cutter works great for this) Brush one rectangle with butter and place the other one on top. You will then have a 7 x 11 pastry sheet with four layers.
• 4. Cut that into 12 equal squares. Press each square into a greased mini muffin tin.
• 5. Bake at 350 degrees until golden brown, about 10-15 minutes. Repeat with remaining sheets, remembering to keep unused sheets covered. Shells may be frozen at this point or filled and ready to serve.
• 6. To fill: Place 1/2- 1 teaspoon of cream cheese in the center of each tart. Top with 1/2 to 1 tsp of jelly. May be served as is or baked for 10 minutes and served warm.

BUTTERKUCHEN (QUICK AND EASY PASTRY)

Steps:

• In a pyrex mixing bowl, combine milk, 1/2 c sugar, salt and 1/2 c butter. Heat in microwave until butter is melted.
• Meanwhile, in a small bowl, dissolve both packets of yeast into warm water with the pinch of sugar.
• Measure flour into another mixing bowl. Add eggs and stir to just combine. When butter has melted, add the liquid to the flour mixture and stir a little. Then add yeast and stir enough so that all ingredients are combined.
• Grease a 10x13 pan and spread dough in pan. Let rise in a warm place for 45 minutes.
• While dough is rising, preheat oven to 375 degrees. Also, mix together the topping ingredients and sprinkle over the dough.
• Place in oven over a halfsheet to catch any syrup that runs over the top. Bake for 22-27 minutes or until the top is golden and syrupy. Be careful not to overbake.

EASY BAKED BRIE IN PUFF PASTRY

Steps:

• Place the wheel of Brie in the middle of your defrosted, rolled out puff pastry. Smother with 3 tablespoons of honey. Sprinkle almonds and cranberries onto the honey. Fold up the corners of puff pastry one at a time, brushing all the dough with the butter as you go, using it like glue to hold the pastry together. Bake the brie at 400 degrees for 10 minutes.

EASY FRUIT-FILLED PASTRY HEART COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat an oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Spray baking sheets with cooking spray, or line with parchment paper.
• Place the flour, butter, cream cheese, and salt in a bowl. Cut it together with 2 knives or a pastry cutter until the butter and cream cheese is the size of small peas. Shape the dough into a ball, wrap with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
• Cut the dough in half and place half in the refrigerator to stay cold. Roll the other half between 2 pieces of wax paper or parchment into a sheet about 1/8 inch thick. Lift off the top sheet, and use a heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut 18 cookies. Before lifting the cutouts from the wax paper, put the dough onto a flat baking sheet and into the freezer for a few minutes to firm up the cookies. Set the 18 cookies aside. Repeat with the other half of the dough, also making 18 heart-shaped cookies.
• Place 18 cookies onto the prepared baking sheets so they don't touch. Carefully brush a little beaten egg around the top of each cookie, and spoon about 1 teaspoon of preserves into the center of the cookie. Top each with another unfilled cookie, press together around the edges, and crimp the edges with a fork to seal in the filling and make a pretty edge. Brush the tops of the filled cookies with beaten egg, and sprinkle with sugar.
• Bake in the preheated oven until the cookies are a light golden brown, 10 to 12 minutes. Cool completely before placing in containers.

AUNTIE BARBARA'S YUMMY & EASY DANISH PASTRY.

Steps:

• Take the first 3 ingredients only: 4 ounces butter, 1 cup flour, and 2 tablespoons water; rub the butter into the flour; add the water. You will have a soft and slightly sticky ball.
• Spread this mixture out onto an unbuttered baking tray (cookie sheet) to an approximate 5 to 7 mm thickness.
• This recipe makes one tray size pastry that you cut into slices afterwards, rather than individual pastries that I now understand Americans might be used to.
• Take the second quantity of butter and water: 4 ounces butter, 1 cup water; put into a saucepan and bring to a rolling boil.
• Take off the heat, mix in all the second quantity of flour (1 cup) all at once.
• Stir until you have a smooth ball. I use a whisk for this and the following step as it goes much faster than with a wooden spoon.
• Add the almond essence and all the eggs at once and stir until your mixture is a smooth glossy paste.
• Spread the second mixture evenly over the first mixture.
• Bake at 180 degrees Celsius (350 degrees Fahrenheit) for approximately 45 minutes or until light golden brown and topping is a little bit crisp.
• Cool.
• Glaze with icing. Spread icing over Danish and sprinkle with nuts or other decoration etc. as preferred.

EASY CHICKEN-N-PASTRY

Steps:

• Rinse chicken and discard giblets.
• In a large pot boil the chicken with bay leaves, salt and pepper.
• Remove the chicken to a platter to cool; once cool enough to handle, remove meat from the bones.
• Skim the fat from the broth and add enough water to get 4 or 5 qts (I use a skimmer cup).
• Bring broth to a rolling boil and drop the frozen pastry strips in a few at a time, stirring to separate and return to a boil before dropping in more.
• When all the strips are in the pot, reduce heat to medium-low and let boil a few minutes.
• Reduce heat to low and stir in chicken meat and cream of chicken soup, stirring until chicken soup is incorporated.
• Season to taste with black pepper- should already be salty enough from the cream of chicken soup, but taste and add salt if necessary.
• Remove from heat, cover and let stand 15 minutes before serving.
• I serve this with cornbread; green peas are a good side dish.