QUICHE PASTRY CUPS

Quiche Pastry Cups image

My grandmother used to make egg cup surprises for family brunches on special occasions. The added fillings were always a surprise; she never seemed to use the same combination of ingredients twice. As children, we had a guessing game as to what we'd find in the tender crust, which added an aspect of family fun to our meal. -Denalee Standart, Rancho Mureta, California

Provided by Taste of Home

Time 45m

Yield 1-1/2 dozen.

Number Of Ingredients 11

Ingredients

1 package (17.3 ounces) frozen puff pastry, thawed
4 large eggs, divided use
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons half-and-half cream, divided
1 tablespoon minced fresh thyme
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1-1/2 cups shredded Gruyere cheese
1-1/2 cups chopped fresh spinach
1 medium sweet red pepper, chopped
8 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled

Steps:

Preheat oven to 400°. On a lightly floured surface, unfold puff pastry. Roll each sheet into a 12-in. square; cut each into 9 squares. Place in ungreased muffin cups, pressing gently onto bottoms and up sides, allowing corners to point up., In a small bowl, whisk 3 eggs, 1 cup cream, thyme and seasonings. In another bowl, combine cheese, spinach, red pepper and bacon; divide among pastry cups. Pour egg mixture over cheese mixture., In a small bowl, whisk remaining egg with remaining 2 tablespoons cream; brush over pastry edges. Bake 15-18 minutes or until golden brown. Remove to wire racks. Serve warm. Freeze option: Cover and freeze baked pastries on greased baking sheets until firm. Transfer to resealable freezer containers; return to freezer. To use, reheat frozen pastries on ungreased baking sheets in a preheated 375° oven 17-20 minutes or until heated through.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 229 calories, Fat 14g fat (5g saturated fat), Cholesterol 63mg cholesterol, Sodium 313mg sodium, Carbohydrate 17g carbohydrate (1g sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 8g protein.