Leftover puff pastry scraps? No worries. Here are some ideas on what you can do with them. From turning them into a fun appetizer to using them as the crust for a dessert, there’s no shortage of possibilities. So get creative and have fun with your leftovers.
1. Make a puff pastry tart
Making this is a fun project that you can do with leftover scraps of puff pastry.
What’s really great about this is that, aside from the time needed to make the dough itself, it doesn’t take long at all.
Assemble your tart by cutting out squares of puff pastry, placing them in the muffin pan, and spraying them with an egg wash for nice extra crispiness.
Fill each tart with whatever filling you desire and bake until the pastry is golden brown and flaky.
2. Fill the dough with fruit preserves and top it off with whipped cream
This is a great way to make a quick, yet elegant dessert.
Preheat your oven to 350 F and cut out circles of the dough using a glass or a cookie cutter.
Place the disks on a baking sheet then top each one off with fruit preserves and whipped cream.
Bake them for about 15 minutes or until they’re golden brown.
3. Make a mini raspberry pie
To do this, you’ll need a muffin pan and leftover dough.
Cut out around 20 circles using a cookie cutter or the top of an empty can then place each disk into a cup in the muffin pan.
Using a fork, pierce a bunch of holes in each round then brush them with an egg wash.
Top them off with raspberry preserves and bake for about 25 minutes or until they’re golden.
4. Use them as a crust for apple pie
If you have excess dough, form it into a ball and place it in the fridge to chill.
When you’re ready to use it, roll out the dough then line it with aluminum foil.
Fill up each section with peeled and sliced apples, sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
Fold up the aluminum foil then bake for about 30 minutes or until the crust is golden brown.
5. Make pigs in a blanket
These are great to make if you’re hosting a party where there will be kids.
All you need is some leftover dough and hot dogs.
Cut out squares of dough then wrap up each hot dog with it.
With a little bit of water or egg wash, seal the edges together.
Bake until the pigs in a blanket are golden brown and serve them up immediately.
6. Add some cheese to puff pastry dough
This is an excellent way to incorporate cheeses into your diet in an easy, yet tasty way.
All you have to do is take your leftover dough, cut it into squares with a cookie cutter, and place some shredded cheese in the middle of each one.
Fold up the edges then bake for about 20 minutes or until they’re golden brown.
7. Make puff pastry cups
Using either a muffin pan or a cupcake pan, cut out circles from the dough and press it down into each cup.
To keep from leaving a hole at the top of each muffin or cupcake wrapper, you can place a small amount of shredded cheddar cheese in the middle of each one.
Fill up your puff pastry cups with something yummy like cream cheese and fruit.
8. Make puff pastry wreath appetizers
Cut out a circle from the dough with a cookie cutter or a cup and place it on a baking sheet.
Top the dough off with some cream cheese, chopped pepperoni, and shredded mozzarella cheese then bake for about 10 minutes or until warm and bubbly.
Serve these up to your guests in place of traditional appetizers.
9. Create a mini-pizza
With a little bit of creativity, you can turn the dough into a mini-pizza.
Just top it off with some tomato sauce and shredded cheese then bake until the crust is golden brown.
10. Make cream puffs
Take a large spoonful of leftover cream from a pie or fruit cobbler, add in your favorite spices, and pipe it into your puff pastry cups.
Bake until the cream puffs are golden brown then serve them to your guests with some ice cream or whipped cream on top.
FAQ
Can I reuse puff pastry scraps?
Yes, you can reuse the dough scraps.
But be careful not to damage the dough’s folds.
Pile the scraps on top of each other and then roll them out again.
Don’t roll them into a ball, or they’ll lose their folds.
Can you reroll scraps of puff pastry?
It can be rerolled once you have cut something out from the main piece.
To do this, layer the scraps together, fold them to achieve an even stack, and press them lightly together with your fingers.
Then roll them out as before.
What can be made from puff pastry?
It can be used to make crisps, pies, croutons, and tarts.
Can I refreeze puff pastry?
Yes, but it may not taste as good.
You can refreeze both cooked and uncooked ones, but you can only do it once.
If you freeze it raw, it might not rise as much or be as crispy or colorful.
How do you store leftover puff pastry?
You can store the leftover in the refrigerator for 1-2 days.
Make sure to wrap them securely in plastic wrap so they don’t dry out.
How do you store puff pastry after baking?
If you’re not going to eat it right away, you can store it in the fridge.
Put it in a container and cover it with plastic wrap.
Can you roll puff pastry thinner?
No, don’t roll it out too thinly though, or else it might not be strong enough to support toppings and will become soggy.
Can you combine sheets of puff pastry?
Yes, you can combine sheets of puff pastry, but it is better to use water or egg wash to make sure the two layers stick together.
Some recipes call for exactly that.
Do you need to roll out puff pastry?
To make it, you first need to roll it out to make sure it is even in thickness.
You can use store-bought or homemade dough. Make sure the surface you are working on is floured, and then roll the dough out with a rolling pin.
How do you use just rolled puff pastry?
Take the pastry out of the fridge and take it out of the carton.
Let it sit for about 10 minutes before use.
Take off the plastic wrap and unroll the pastry sheet.
Bake in a preheated oven at 220°C (200°C for fan-assisted ovens) /Gas Mark 7, or at the temperature required in your recipe.
Why is my puff pastry hard?
Sometimes when you make the pastry, it can be tough.
This happens when you add too much water to the mixture, or if you work the dough too much.
How do you defrost puff pastry?
There are two ways to defrost puff pastry: at room temperature or in the fridge.
If you’re going to defrost it in the fridge, make sure to separate each sheet and place them on different plates.
Then, cover them with a wrap (plastic one) and let them sit for ~4 hours.
If you’re going to let it defrost at room temperature, make sure it’s in a cool place and keep an eye on it so it doesn’t start to melt.
Once thawed, start your work quickly.
Conclusion
There are many ways to use leftover puff pastry dough, and I’ve shared just a few of my favorites.
Whether you want to make pigs in a blanket, apple pies, or cream puffs, there’s something for everyone.
Be sure to get creative and experiment with different combinations of ingredients to see what works best for you.
With such a versatile ingredient at your disposal, the possibilities are endless.
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For transparency, this content was partly developed with AI assistance and carefully curated by an experienced editor to be informative and ensure accuracy.