Name: Cheesy Ham & Spinach Puff Bites
Ingredients: Puff Pastry Sheets: (1 box, typically 14-17 ounces) – The foundation of our puff bites, providing a light, flaky, and buttery crust. Look for all-butter puff pastry for the best flavor, if available. Thaw according to package directions before use.; Cooked Ham: (8 ounces, diced) – Adds a savory, slightly salty protein element. Use leftover ham, deli ham, or even diced ham steak. Smoked ham will add an extra layer of flavor.; Fresh Spinach: (5 ounces, roughly chopped) – Provides a healthy dose of greens, along with a mild, earthy flavor that complements the ham and cheese beautifully. Baby spinach is convenient and tender.; Shredded Cheese: (1 ½ cups) – A blend of cheeses works best for a complex flavor and good melt. Consider a mix of cheddar for sharpness, mozzarella for stretch, and Gruyere or Monterey Jack for creaminess. Pre-shredded or freshly grated cheese both work well.; Cream Cheese: (4 ounces, softened) – Adds richness, creaminess, and helps bind the filling together. Full-fat or reduced-fat cream cheese can be used. Ensure it’s softened to room temperature for easy mixing.; Garlic Powder: (1 teaspoon) – Enhances the savory flavors of the filling with a subtle garlic note. Fresh minced garlic can also be used for a stronger garlic flavor.; Onion Powder: (½ teaspoon) – Adds a savory depth and complexity to the filling, complementing the garlic powder.; Dried Oregano: (½ teaspoon) – Provides a hint of Italian herb flavor that pairs well with ham, spinach, and cheese. Dried thyme or Italian seasoning can be substituted.; Salt: (¼ teaspoon, or to taste) – Enhances the flavors of all the ingredients. Adjust to your preference, considering the saltiness of the ham and cheese.; Black Pepper: (¼ teaspoon, freshly ground) – Adds a touch of spice and complexity. Freshly ground black pepper is always recommended for the best flavor.; Egg: (1 large, beaten) – Used as an egg wash to brush over the puff pastry, giving it a golden-brown color and a beautiful sheen during baking.; Optional: Everything Bagel Seasoning or Sesame Seeds: (For topping) – Adds visual appeal and extra flavor to the puff bites.

Ingredients

Puff Pastry Sheets: (1 box, typically 14-17 ounces) – The foundation of our puff bites, providing a light, flaky, and buttery crust. Look for all-butter puff pastry for the best flavor, if available. Thaw according to package directions before use.
Cooked Ham: (8 ounces, diced) – Adds a savory, slightly salty protein element. Use leftover ham, deli ham, or even diced ham steak. Smoked ham will add an extra layer of flavor.
Fresh Spinach: (5 ounces, roughly chopped) – Provides a healthy dose of greens, along with a mild, earthy flavor that complements the ham and cheese beautifully. Baby spinach is convenient and tender.
Shredded Cheese: (1 ½ cups) – A blend of cheeses works best for a complex flavor and good melt. Consider a mix of cheddar for sharpness, mozzarella for stretch, and Gruyere or Monterey Jack for creaminess. Pre-shredded or freshly grated cheese both work well.
Cream Cheese: (4 ounces, softened) – Adds richness, creaminess, and helps bind the filling together. Full-fat or reduced-fat cream cheese can be used. Ensure it’s softened to room temperature for easy mixing.
Garlic Powder: (1 teaspoon) – Enhances the savory flavors of the filling with a subtle garlic note. Fresh minced garlic can also be used for a stronger garlic flavor.
Onion Powder: (½ teaspoon) – Adds a savory depth and complexity to the filling, complementing the garlic powder.
Dried Oregano: (½ teaspoon) – Provides a hint of Italian herb flavor that pairs well with ham, spinach, and cheese. Dried thyme or Italian seasoning can be substituted.
Salt: (¼ teaspoon, or to taste) – Enhances the flavors of all the ingredients. Adjust to your preference, considering the saltiness of the ham and cheese.
Black Pepper: (¼ teaspoon, freshly ground) – Adds a touch of spice and complexity. Freshly ground black pepper is always recommended for the best flavor.
Egg: (1 large, beaten) – Used as an egg wash to brush over the puff pastry, giving it a golden-brown color and a beautiful sheen during baking.
Optional: Everything Bagel Seasoning or Sesame Seeds: (For topping) – Adds visual appeal and extra flavor to the puff bites.

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Instructions

Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheet: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. This prevents sticking and makes cleanup easier.
Prepare the Spinach: If using fresh spinach, wash it thoroughly and remove any large stems. Roughly chop the spinach. You can lightly sauté the spinach in a dry pan over medium heat for a few minutes until it wilts and releases some moisture. This helps prevent the filling from becoming too watery. Squeeze out any excess moisture from the wilted spinach using paper towels or a clean kitchen towel. Alternatively, you can use frozen spinach, thawed and squeezed dry.
Combine Filling Ingredients: In a medium bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, diced ham, chopped spinach, shredded cheese, garlic powder, onion powder, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper. Mix everything together until well combined and the filling is evenly distributed. Ensure the cream cheese is fully incorporated into the mixture to create a smooth and cohesive filling.
Prepare Puff Pastry: Gently unfold the thawed puff pastry sheets on a lightly floured surface. If your puff pastry comes in one large sheet, you may need to cut it in half. Slightly roll out each sheet to even them out and make them slightly larger, but avoid rolling them too thin, as you want them to remain puffy.
Cut Puff Pastry Squares: Using a sharp knife or a pizza cutter, cut each puff pastry sheet into even squares. The size of the squares will determine the size of your puff bites. Aim for approximately 2-inch squares for a good bite-sized appetizer. You should get around 12-16 squares per sheet, depending on the size you cut.
Assemble Puff Bites: Place a spoonful of the ham and spinach filling (about 1-2 teaspoons) in the center of each puff pastry square. Do not overfill, as this can cause the filling to spill out during baking.
Fold and Seal Puff Bites: Bring two opposite corners of each puff pastry square up and pinch them together in the center above the filling to form a triangle shape. Pinch the edges of the puff pastry together to seal the filling inside, ensuring no filling is exposed. You can also create different shapes if desired, like squares or rectangles, simply by folding and sealing the edges to enclose the filling. Make sure the edges are well sealed to prevent filling leakage.
Place on Baking Sheet: Arrange the assembled puff bites on the prepared baking sheet, leaving a little space between each one to allow for even baking and air circulation.
Egg Wash and Topping (Optional): In a small bowl, whisk the egg to create an egg wash. Brush the top of each puff bite with the egg wash. This will give them a beautiful golden-brown color and a glossy finish. If desired, sprinkle the tops of the egg-washed puff bites with everything bagel seasoning or sesame seeds for added flavor and visual appeal.
Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, or until the puff bites are golden brown and puffed up. The baking time may vary slightly depending on your oven and the size of the puff bites. Keep an eye on them to prevent burning.
Cool and Serve: Once baked, remove the puff bites from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a serving platter. This allows them to set slightly and prevents burning your fingers. Serve warm and enjoy!

Nutrition

Serving Size: one normal portion
Calories: 220
Fat: 15g