These homemade gruyere cheese twists are savory, peppery, and slightly smoky, and an impressive appetizer that's incredibly quick and easy to make, especially for the holidays.
2sheetsfrozen puff pastry,defrosted in the fridge overnight
8ozshredded gruyere cheese
1egg yolk, beaten
1tspblack pepper
1/2tspsmoked paprika
flour, for dusting
sprinkle of salt
Instructions
Preheat oven to 400 with racks placed in upper and lower thirds of the oven. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.
Dust your work surface with flour. Unroll one sheet of puff pastry. Brush with egg yolk wash and spread with an even layer of half the grated cheese. Sprinkle with salt, half the pepper and smoked paprika.
Carefully unroll the other sheet of puff pastry and place on top, lining up the edges. Brush with egg yolk wash and spread with remaining cheese, pepper and smoked paprika.
Dust a rolling pin with flour. Roll over the top of the pastry, pushing the cheese down into the dough and rolling until the pastry is 1/4 inch thick.
Using a sharp knife, cut your pastry rectangle into 1/2 inch wide strips. Working one at a time, gently transfer each strip to the baking sheet. Twist the two ends in opposite directions to create twists. Repeat with remaining pastry strips.
Bake the cheese twists, rotating the pans halfway through, until browned and crispy, 20-22 minutes. Let cool completely before serving.
Notes
* It's best to let frozen puff pastry defrost in the fridge overnight so it doesn't crack. If your brand of puff pastry comes in one long piece instead of two pieces, simply cut the long piece in half lengthwise.