A delicious and simple pastry treat, these Cheese & Pesto Twists make the perfect snack.

Versions of this recipe appear everywhere on the internet so I cannot claim this to be an original or even know who came up with it first.

I wanted to share it as I have been seeing and trying so many store bought cheese and pastry treats recently (which are delicious) I wanted to share a homemade version too.

These are incredibly easy to make and so versatile. The filling really can be suited to any tastes, from pesto and parmesan as I have done, to sweet chilli, cranberry, Hawaiian flavours, tomato paste, marmite and more!

You can add various textures such as nuts or dried fruits, and any cheese will do, including cream cheese and mozzarella!

Really anything goes, I just wanted to share the basic technique so you can play around with the fillings of your choice, you can let me know in the comments below which filling you will choose to try first.

The ingredients are simple

Puff Pastry
Basil Pesto
Parmesan or your favourite hard cheese
Egg

I have jazzed mine up with poppy seeds and sesame seeds, but they are not required if you do not have them on hand, they simply provide an added flavour and look nice.

The method is so simple. I use ready rolled squares of puff pastry, the key is to ensure these have thawed completely to make the rest of the process easier.

Have the oven trays prepared before you begin and a hot oven preheating.

Spread the pesto generously over the pastry and sprinkle with the cheese of your choice. Place a second sheet of pastry over the top then using a really sharp knife slice into thin slices, ideally no more than 1 cm.

Once these are sliced you take each end of one narrow strip and holding each end firmly twist in opposite directions to form a twist. It may seem as though the pieces will separate but once you being the twist these hold together. Twist a good few times to create a lovely shape.

Once twisted pinch together the ends or fold them over slightly to seal and place on the prepared baking tray and repeat with the remaining strips of pastry. Some can start to loosen so simple re-twist them into tighter spirals.

Then brush over an egg wash, and I have used both sesame seeds and poppy seeds and an extra sprinkle of parmesan on these to finish them before baking in the oven until crisp and golden brown.

These can be served warmed or cold. They store well in an airtight container. I have used both store bought puff pastry and store bought pesto, you are welcome to make your own from scratch of course!

If you are a fan of pastry treats check out these lovely Savoury Palmiers, simple and delicious.

Here is the easy recipe for Cheese & Pesto Pastry Twists

Cheese and Pesto Twists

Name: Cheese and Pesto Twists
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 12
Cuisine: New Zealand
Ingredients: Sesame Seeds; Poppy Seeds; Cracked Pepper; Extra Parmesan; 2 Sheets Puff Pastry, Ready Rolled, thawed; 1/3 Cup Pesto, 75 grams; 1/3 Cup Parmesan, or hard cheese of your choice, 30 grams; 1 Egg, whisked

Yield: 12

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Easy Cheese & Pesto Twists, a pastry treat. This recipe is for one batch of twists.

Ingredients

2 Sheets Puff Pastry, Ready Rolled, thawed
1/3 Cup Pesto, 75 grams
1/3 Cup Parmesan, or hard cheese of your choice, 30 grams
1 Egg, whisked

Optional Toppings

Sesame Seeds
Poppy Seeds
Cracked Pepper
Extra Parmesan

Instructions

Preheat oven to 190C Bake
Prepare an oven tray with baking paper, I like to use a little cooking spray to help paper stick
Thaw the pastry sheets completely
Spread one sheet with the pesto to the edges and sprinkle over the grated parmesan
Place the second pastry sheet over the top
Using a sharp knife cut into strips, no more than 1 cm in width
Take one strip of the pastry and pinching each end together firmly begin to twist each hand in the opposite direction until the pastry twists several times,
Place on the prepared tray, pressing each end into the tray to hold the twist in place (some twists may need re-twisting if they begin to unwind.
Repeat with the remaining strips, allowing a gap between each twist to allow for the pastry to puff up.
Brush with a whisked egg and if using sprinkle with either poppy seeds, sesame seeds or cracked pepper.
Lightly sprinkle with more parmesan
Bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, until golden brown and crisp.
Remove from the oven and serve warm or cool completely before storing in an airtight container.
Enjoy!

Notes

Can I freeze the Pesto Pastry Twists?

Yes, it is best to freeze these before baking. Simply prepare up to the step where you egg wash them, freeze them on the baking tray then once completely frozen pop them in a freezer bag or container. When you are ready to bake them, thaw them, then proceed with egg wash and the baking instructions.

Can I use other fillings for the Pastry Twists?

Absolutely, you can use any filling you think will work well.

Can I use homemade pesto?

Yes, today I have used store bought pesto but homemade basil pesto would be lovely.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 12 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 105Total Fat: 9gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 22mgSodium: 125mgCarbohydrates: 4gFiber: 1gSugar: 0gProtein: 4g

These are estimates only calculated by an online tool. If required calculate with a method you trust.

I cannot wait to hear what you think of these, I look forward to hearing if you try them.

Thank you so much for stopping by to check out my latest recipes on my blog. If you are not already, be sure to follow me on Facebook or Instagram for more deliciousness, and you can register your email in the subscription box below to receive all my recipes as I publish them.

Happy Baking!

Anna