Originally published May 29, 2025
Twisted Ham and Cheese Wheel in Puff Pastry
Twisted Ham and Cheese Wheel in Puff Pastry
Savory Puff Pastry for the Win
Story
If you know my mom, you know one thing: she loves puff pastry. I'm talking full-on puff pastry devotion. Her go-to favorite? A classic cherry turnover—puff pastry squares filled with cherry pie filling, folded into triangles, baked until golden, then drizzled with a simple powdered sugar glaze. Easy. Comforting. Delicious. It’s been her dessert love affair for as long as I can remember.
But this time, I wanted to surprise her with something different. Same puff pastry love, but flipped to the savory side.
And let’s be honest—who doesn’t love the iconic combo of ham and cheese?
I saw several versions of ham-and-cheese puff pastry swirls online, and I couldn’t resist trying a version of my own. Enter: Twisted Ham and Cheese Wheel in Puff Pastry. And yes, it’s as fun (and delicious) as it sounds.
Light, flaky pastry. Melty cheese. Hearty ham. A touch of sweet mustard for tang. Twisted into little crispy fingers that pull apart like the best party appetizer you’ve ever had. It’s like if a croissant and a Monte Cristo had a baby.
Perfect for a party tray, game night snack, picnic spread—or, in our case, a Tuesday treat for just me and mom.
Trust me. These twisty, crunchy, golden fingers of puff pastry joy are a total hit.
Bon appétit!
Text-Only Recipe (Fallback)
Twisted Ham and Cheese Wheel in Puff Pastry — Recipe (Text)
Yield: 8 servings
Ingredients
- 2 sheets frozen puff pastry, thawed
- 8 slices deli ham, torn into pieces
- 1 cup freshly grated Swiss or Gruyère cheese
- 3 tbsp honey mustard
- 1 egg + 1 tsp water, lightly beaten (egg wash)
- Sesame seeds, for topping
- Parmesan, for topping
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Place both sheets of pastry on the parchment paper.
- Spread honey mustard over one pastry sheet to the edges. Top with torn ham and grated cheese, leaving a 1/2-inch border. Brush that border with egg wash. Place the second pastry sheet on top, aligning edges; press edges to seal.
- Press a biscuit cutter (or glass rim) gently into the center (don’t cut through). Cut 1-inch slits from center to edge all around. Twist each strip 2–3 times.
- Brush top with egg wash; sprinkle sesame seeds and Parmesan.
- Bake 20–25 minutes on center rack, until puffed and golden. Serve immediately.
This Is Delicious! What Is It?
Twisted Ham and Cheese Wheel in Puff Pastry
Ingredients
- 2 sheets frozen puff pastry, thawed
- 8 slices deli ham, torn into pieces
- 1 cup freshly grated swiss or gruyere cheese
- 3 tablespoons honey mustard
- 1 egg + 1 teaspoon water, lightly beaten, for egg wash
- sesame seeds, for topping
- parmesan, for topping
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Place both sheets of pastry on the parchment paper.
- Spread the honey mustard over one of the puff pastry layers with a pastry brush so it covers the pastry to the edge. Place the torn ham and grated cheese over the pastry and leave a ½ inch border around the edges. On that edge, brush with egg wash. Top the mixture with the other puff pastry circle, so they line up perfectly on top of each other with the filling in the center. Press the edges together.
- Use a biscuit cutter (or the rim of a glass) to press into the center, but don’t cut through. Use a sharp knife to cut slits in the puff pastry circle about 1 inch apart - from the center out to the edge. Take each of those slices and gently twist them from the center. Twist it two or three times. Don’t worry if the filling is falling out and it looks messy - it will still bake up beautifully!
- Brush the top layer with egg wash and sprinkle on the sesame seeds and Parmesan.
- Bake on the center rack for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the puff pastry is golden and shiny. Serve immediately!
Recipe and photograph by Robert Meyers-Lussier