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    Home » Appetisers » Ham and Cheese Puff Pastry Hearts

    Ham and Cheese Puff Pastry Hearts

    Published: Jan 22, 2021 by Alexandra Cook

    For the full recipe including quantities and method, click the "jump to recipe" button, or scroll through and read our helpful tips along the way.

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    pinterest image with photos of recipes top and bottom and text overlay in centre.
    heart pastries and smaller heart pastries on a white baking sheet.

    For an appetiser that says “I love you”, you really can’t go past my Ham and Cheese Puff Pastry Hearts. They are the perfect way to begin your Valentine’s Day celebrations. These little savoury pastries are great appetisers. They are an ideal accompaniment to a glass of celebratory Champagne and they’re not too heavy, so they won’t spoil the meal that follows. 

    Jump to:
    • Why we love this recipe:
    • Ingredients in this recipe:
    • Step by step instructions:
    • Tips for success and FAQs:
    • More delicious recipes for you to try:
    • Ham and Cheese Puff Pastry Hearts

    Why we love this recipe:

    Whilst the heart shape makes them ideal for Valentine’s Day, there are many other occasions throughout the year when they would also be perfect, such as Mother’s Day or a loved one’s birthday. Or, just enjoy them all year round – for no particular reason.

    My Puff Pastry Hearts are made from ingredients that you may already have on hand. Regular readers will know how much I love ready-made puff pastry and always have some in the freezer. 

    Just 5 ingredients make these delicious savoury pastries. Light, crispy puff pastry holds a filling of savoury, smoky ham and melted cheese; Dijon mustard adds further flavour. A brush of beaten egg glazes the pastries, giving them a golden, burnished appearance when cooked.

    For relaxed entertaining, you can make the Ham and Cheese Puff Pastry Hearts in advance and warm them just before serving.

    Ingredients in this recipe:

    ingredients in this recipe on a white background.

    Please see the recipe card further along in the post for exact quantities of ingredients and the full method.

    Puff Pastry – an ingredient that I always have on hand as there are so many ways to use it.

    Dijon Mustard – a French mustard which adds a gentle spiciness. 

    Ham – has a savoury, slightly smoky flavour.

    Cheese – use a full flavoured cheese; I have used a cheddar.

    Egg – a beaten egg helps the pastry edges adhere. As well, it is brushed on the top of the pastries to add colour and shine.

    eight pastry hearts, having been baked, sitting on a piece of baking parchment.

    Step by step instructions:

    The first four steps to make this recipe - a sheet of pastry with a love heart cutter, cut heats on a baking tray, spreading the mustard on the love hearts, and then adding the ham and cheese.

    To begin, remove the puff pastry from the freezer to defrost. 
    Preheat your oven to 200 degrees C (400 F).

    1. Cut out 16 puff pastry hearts.
    2. Line a baking tray with non-stick baking paper and place 8 hearts on the baking paper.
    3. Spread a thin layer of Dijon mustard over each of the 8 hearts, leaving a ½ cm / .2 inch gap around the edges.
    4. Sprinkle the grated cheese evenly over the mustard, followed by the finely chopped ham. 
    5. Brush the edges of the hearts with the beaten egg. Lay a puff pastry heart on top of one of the hearts and press around the edges to seal. Use a fork to push the edges together. Repeat for the rest of the hearts.
    6. Prick the top of each heart with a fork to let the steam out whilst cooking.
    7. Brush the top of each pastry with beaten egg.
    8. Place into the oven and cook for 13-15 minutes, or until golden.

    Remove from the oven and allow the pastries to cool a few minutes before serving.

    The final four steps to make this recipe - adding the other heart to close the pastry, the eight pastries sealed, pastries brushed with egg wash and then the baked pastries.

    Tips for success and FAQs:

    Start with good quality puff pastry. I like all butter puff pastry for its flavour. Some others have a lot of additives.

    As there are so few ingredients for the filling, it is important that they are good quality. Choose a ham with good flavour, such as a Black Forest ham or another smoked ham. I like to use a full-bodied cheddar cheese. The Dijon mustard adds a gentle spiciness to the filling.  

    Puff pastry needs to be kept cool. If it defrosts before you are ready to use it just cover it and return it to the fridge. It will be too difficult to work with if it does not remain chilled. On the other hand, if it is not sufficiently defrosted, it will crack as you to attempt to use it.

    How do I store the Ham and Cheese Puff Pastries?

    You can store the pastries in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Before serving, re-heat in your oven for about 5 minutes until they are warm. 

    Can I freeze them?

    When the Ham and Cheese Puff Pastry Hearts have cooled, store them in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months. Re-heat them from frozen in a pre-heated oven until they are warm.

    up close shot of three pastry hearts that have been cooked.

    More delicious recipes for you to try:

    We love to have puff pastry on hand, and these are some more of our favourite ways to use it:

    • Mini Bacon and Onion Pasties
    • Spinach and Feta Galettes
    • Bacon and Egg Galettes
    • Blue Cheese Tarts
    • Or, check out our complete collection of Savoury Puff Pastry Recipes here.

    If you’re looking for an appetiser that says “I love you”, look no further than my Ham and Cheese Puff Pastry Hearts. The heart is the universal symbol of love, so it is a clear declaration of your affection. And whilst they are ideal for Valentine’s day, you can make them any day of the year to serve to people who are special in your life.

    Enjoy, and let me know in the comments below when you have tried these delicious savoury pastries!

    Alex xx

    Ham and Cheese Puff Pastry Hearts

    These delicious Ham and Cheese Puff Pastry Hearts make the ideal appetiser. They are simple to prepare and so tasty.
    5 from 42 votes
    Print Pin Review
    Course: Appetiser, Snack
    Cuisine: International
    Prep Time: 30 minutes
    Cook Time: 15 minutes
    Total Time: 45 minutes
    Servings: 8 pastries
    Calories: 372kcal
    Author: Alexandra Cook – It’s Not Complicated Recipes

    Ingredients

    • 2 sheets butter puff pastry (22 ½ cm/9” square) See Notes 1 and 2
    • 1 ½ tablespoon Dijon mustard
    • 25 g (.8 oz) ham, finely chopped See Note 3
    • 35 g (⅓ cup) grated cheddar cheese See Note 4
    • 1 egg, beaten

    Recipe Measurements:

    For accuracy, we recommend weighing your ingredients. This will produce the best results.

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    Instructions

    • Preheat your oven to 200 Degrees C (400 F).
    • Line a baking tray with baking paper.
      Cut out your pastry hearts – you should be able to get 8 per puff pastry sheet. See Note 5
      Place 8 hearts on the baking tray.
    • Spread a thin layer of Dijon mustard over each of the 8 hearts, leaving a ½ cm (.2 inch) gap around the edges.
    • Sprinkle the cheese evenly over the mustard, followed by the ham. Press down gently to secure the filling.
    • Brush the heart edges with the beaten egg.
      Lay a puff pastry heart on top of one heart and press around the edges to seal. Use a fork to push the edges together. Repeat for the rest of the hearts.
    • Prick each heart with a fork to let the steam out whilst cooking.
    • Brush the top of each of the hearts with the beaten egg.
    • Place the baking tray in the oven and cook for 13-15 minutes, or until golden.
      Cool on the tray for 5 minutes before serving.

    Notes

    1. I like butter puff pastry but use the pastry of your choice. I have used two sheets, each measuring 22 ½ cm (9 inches) square.
    2. Puff pastry needs to be kept cool. If it defrosts before you are ready to use it just cover it and return it to the fridge. It will be too difficult to work with if it does not remain chilled. On the other hand, if it is not sufficiently defrosted it will crack as you to attempt to use it.
    3. With so few ingredients, use good quality ham with a full flavour such as Black Forest Ham or another variety of smoked ham.
    4. I like to use a full-flavoured cheddar cheese.
    5. This recipe is made using a 7cm (2.75 inch) heart cookie cutter.
    6. Please note, the nutritional information is based on one pastry. The nutritional information is an estimate only.

    Nutrition Estimate:

    Calories: 372kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 27mg | Sodium: 257mg | Potassium: 62mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Calcium: 43mg | Iron: 2mg
    Tried this Recipe? Please rate and leave a comment!
    Nutritional Disclaimer:

    The nutritional information is an estimate only, and is derived from online calculators. For accurate results, we recommend calculating the nutritional information based on the ingredients and brands you use.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Molly Pisula

      January 28, 2021 at 8:41 pm

      Love how perfect these are for Valentine’s Day! Easy but completely delicious!

      Reply
      • Alexandra

        January 29, 2021 at 3:38 pm

        Thank you, Molly!

        Reply
    2. Natalie

      January 25, 2021 at 9:32 pm

      5 stars
      What a great idea for Valentine’s Day. These are so delicious.

      Reply
      • Alexandra

        January 30, 2021 at 2:35 pm

        Thank you, Natalie!

        Reply
    3. Susan

      January 23, 2021 at 5:35 pm

      5 stars
      These are so incredibly cute and delicious!! I made these for my kids as an after school snack and they LOVED them!! I made half with ham and the other half with sliced turkey and it was a huge hit!! I love how versatile these are too. I’m going to make turkey and swiss puff pastry hearts next time. Thank you!!

      Reply
      • Alexandra

        January 30, 2021 at 10:25 am

        Hello Susan, I am delighted that you and your family have been enjoying the Puff Pastry Hearts. I’m so pleased you’ve found several ways to adapt them to your taste. Fantastic! 🙂

        Reply

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    Hello!

    I’m Alex.

    I am a full-time blogger, passionate foodie and writer who loves to travel.

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