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PUFF PASTRY COOKIES RECIPE

How to Make Light, Crispy, and Sweet Puff Pastry Cookies

RECIPE DETAILS

Prep Time: ~30 minutes (including freezing)
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: ~45 minutes
Servings: Depends on number/size of cookies

Difficulty: ⭐☆☆ (Easy)
Diet type: Mediterranean
The quantities can be easily doubled or halved

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Ingredients and suggested fillings for this Recipe

INGREDIENTS PUFF PASTRY COOKIES

1 Puff pastry roll
Apricot jelly or your favorite flavor
Walnuts

THE PUFF PASTRY COOKIES RECIPE IDEA

Do friends or relatives come and visit with little notice? No panic! With three simple ingredients, you can prepare these puff pastry cookies, with walnuts and the jam of your choice or what you have available at home, in half an hour you will have a tasty snack to offer to your guests!

Quick & clever – minimal prep time, so you can surprise guests even when you’re short on time
Simple & genuine – made with just puff pastry, jam, and walnuts—no fuss, no additives
Textural delight – crisp, flaky layers envelop a soft, jammy center for a perfect contrast
Flavor chameleon – use apricot, raspberry, or try fig, orange marmalade, or cherry jam; mix nuts or seeds
Shareable joy – fun to bake with family or friends, and charming to serve as a snack or dessert

HOW TO MAKE IT STEP BY STEP

1 - Preheat & prep

Preheat the oven to 180°C (static)
Line a baking tray with parchment paper

2 - Roll out and divide

Unroll the puff pastry and roll lightly to even the thickness if needed
Divide the sheet into three long strips along the long side

3 - Cut into pieces

Cut each long strip into smaller pieces of about 2 cm in length
Keep the pieces together on your work surface so they’re ready to shape

4 - Roll like a candy

Take each 2 cm piece and roll it up lengthwise “like a candy” (tight spiral)
Place each rolled piece on the prepared baking paper with the seam/bottom down
Leave space between cookies so they can expand while baking (about 2–3 cm)

5 - Top and decorate

On top of each rolled cookie place 1 teaspoon of apricot jelly (or your favorite jam)
Press half a walnut into the jam on each cookie

Optional: brush the tops very lightly with beaten egg for a shinier finish before baking.

6 – Bake

Bake in the preheated oven at 180°C (static) for about 20 minutes, or until the cookies are lightly golden
Use the middle rack for an even bake

7 - Cool & finish

Remove from oven and transfer to a cooling rack
Once completely cooled, sprinkle with powdered sugar

8 - Serve & store

Serve at room temperature as a snack or dessert
Store in an airtight container for 1–2 days (they’ll stay crisp)
To refresh, warm briefly in a hot oven for a minute or two

Don't miss here below, the video for the puff pastry recipe, it will guide you step by step for the best results.

TIPS FOR PERFECT RESULTS

To get puff pastry cookies that are evenly golden and perfectly crisp, make sure the puff pastry is very cold before working with it. Handling it when it’s too soft can compromise the layers during baking. If it starts to warm up while cutting, place it back in the refrigerator for a few minutes.

Choose a jam that isn’t too runny, so it stays in the center of the cookie without leaking during baking. Apricot, fig, or red berry jams work especially well. Gently press the walnuts onto the surface to prevent them from falling off in the oven and to create an even decoration.

Bake the cookies in a well-preheated oven and space them out on the baking tray: puff pastry expands as it bakes and needs room to become light and flaky. Once baked, let the cookies cool on a wire rack—this helps keep the base dry and crisp. For extra freshness, you can warm them in a hot oven for 1–2 minutes just before serving.

RECIPE VARIATIONS

These puff pastry cookies lend themselves to endless customizations, perfect for changing the flavor every time. You can replace the apricot jam with fig jam, mixed berry preserves, orange marmalade, or sour cherry jam for a more intense or aromatic result. Instead of walnuts, try almonds, hazelnuts, pistachios, or pecans—whole or lightly chopped—to vary both crunch and flavor.

For an even more indulgent version, add dark chocolate chips on top of the jam or dust the warm cookies with cinnamon or finely grated orange zest. If you love sweet-and-salty contrasts, finish with a pinch of flaky sea salt before baking: it enhances both the puff pastry and the jam, making the cookies even more irresistible.

FAQs ABOUT PUFF PASTRY COOKIES

Can I use different nuts for puff pastry cookies?

Yes! While walnuts add a rich flavor, you can easily swap them with almonds, hazelnuts, pecans, or even pistachios. Just chop them finely so they bake evenly.

Which jam works best for puff pastry cookies?

Any jam you love will work. Classic choices include apricot, raspberry, or strawberry. For a gourmet twist, try fig, orange marmalade, or cherry jam.

Can I make puff pastry cookies ahead of time?

Absolutely! You can prepare and bake them a day in advance. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for 1–2 days.