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Best. Appetizer. Ever.
I know, bold statement, but seriously these cute little turnovers are to die for. Sweet, cheesy, savory, buttery… just all kinds of deliciousness. I think the combo of caramelized pineapple, swiss cheese and puff pastry is just maybe the best thing ever.
SO GOOD.
Everyone, and I really mean EVERYONE, was into these. Someone even said they’d be really nice just to have around to snack on. I agree, they’re perfect for snacking, or to eat as a lite meal. I like them best as an appetizer, but all three will work.
For someone who never used to be a ham person, I’ve really gotten into it in the last year. I know that a lot of people really love ham, but growing up it was rarely ever presented to me so I just assumed I didn’t like it. That all changed last year though when I finally made my first ham (please excuse the ugly photos, ham is not a very pretty subject). I mean, whoa! So much yummy flavor. I loved it, the family loved it… we are slowly but surely becoming ham people.
Anyway, I baked a ham the other week and had so many leftovers (possibly the best part about baking a ham is the leftovers) that I decided I needed to make a fun appetizer out of them. Clearly pineapple and cheese needed to be involved, and since I’m on a puff pastry kick, well I couldn’t think of a better way to hold this all together. And that is how these cute little turnovers were made.
Honestly, these triangles are heaven. Simple, delicious heaven. I know that’s pretty dramatic, but it’s true.
Speaking of heaven, I have some extremely sad news regarding the family chickens. Sadly nine of our eleven chickens were attacked by two foxes last night and they did not make it. I never thought I could be so sad about chickens, but you guys, it’s REALLY sad. Not only that their lives are gone just like that, but dad finally had them laying eggs and doing all the right things (he was having some issues with the chickens eating the eggs and brooding). As much as the chickens grossed me out, they had become a part of the family and now they are just gone. It’s just so sad.
The two chickens left are from our original light-colored Buff Orpington chicks. They are so traumatized they will not leave their house. We are not 100% sure as to how the foxes got into the coop, but we have decided we are getting a full on house with a roof and a door that locks for them to go into at night. Then there will be no way for any predators to get them.
It’s Colorado, in the mountains, so we knew this was a possibility, BUT my dad had them in a pretty safe coop. Unfortunately it was just a super snowy night and the foxes must have climbed in and broken into the one house housing nine of the chickens. I woke up and saw them out there eating the chickens. That was not fun.
UGH. It’s still a bad picture painted in my head. Those poor little chickens. 🙁
R.I.P.
Okay, sorry for all the sadness. Let’s try to put our focus back on these Caramelized Pineapple, Ham and Cheese Turnovers.
Honestly, you guys HAVE to make these this holiday season, or really any season. Just make them! They are easy, you can even prepare them in advance and bake them just before serving. AND they are hand-held which makes eating them a breeze. Trust me on this, you guys really have to make these.
Plus, they’re cute, and we all know that cute food is always fun and yummy!
Oh and I almost forget to tell you, there are also caramelized onions. YESSS. Life is complete!
Caramelized Pineapple, Ham and Cheese Turnovers.
Servings: 18 TURNOVERS
Calories Per Serving: 286 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 sweet onion sliced thin
- 2 cups fresh pineapple cubed + 1 cup pineapple juice
- pinch of salt + pepper
- 2 sheets frozen puff pastry thawed
- 1/2 cup dijon mustard
- 2 teaspoons worcestershire sauce
- pinch of cayenne to taste
- 12 slices of ham thinly sliced (omit for vegetarian version)
- 12 slices swiss cheese
- 1 egg beaten
- 2 tablespoons poppy seeds
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add the butter. Add the onions and cook about 10 minutes, stirring frequently, until softened. At this point you want to slowly add the pineapple chunks and the pineapple juice, a little at a time, letting everything cook into the onions. Slowly add more until until you've added all the pineapple chunks and juice. Cook until the onions are caramelized to your liking and the pineapple juice has evaporated. Remove from the heat.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Roll out the puff pastry sheets and cut each sheet into 9 squares (18 squares total). Place squares on a piece of wax paper or parchment paper (this will prevent sticking). In a small bowl, whisk together the mustard and worcestershire sauce. Brush the mustard mix lightly on each square of puff pastry.
- Divide the onion/pineapple mixture among the 18 squares, top with ham and swiss cheese. Don't overfill, otherwise it will be very difficult to seal the edges.
- Brush egg wash around the perimeter of each pastry square and carefully fold dough over filling to create triangles. Pinch the edges closed to create a good seal. Generously brush the top of each turnover with egg wash, sprinkle with poppy seeds. Place on a parchment paper lined baking sheet.
- Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until lightly golden. Serve immediately with a sprinkle of chopped fresh thyme and flaky sea salt.
P.S. Christmas Eve is in just ONE week. WHOA. Time to start planning your appetizers.
Oh, Tieghan, I am so sorry to hear about your/your dad’s chickens! My mother has quite a few here on the farm (she sells free-range, organic eggs in a number of local stores), and we have been having a problem recently with some of them being taken too, though we don’t know by what yet (though at this time we are suspecting a large bird of prey). Over the years, my mother has had to implement all sorts of protection plans for them, as if it is not a hawk, it’s coyotes, and if it’s not coyotes, it’s owls, and if it’s not owls, it’s a winter-starved bobcat (!). We have had all sorts of threats. We do not have foxes where we are currently, although I am sure that is something that my mother had to deal with when we lived closer to the coast/US border of BC. I will ask her if she has any tips on the protection front. Poor little biddies.
On the food front, these turnovers look divine. I do so love pineapple. I am with you on the ham, however; I too have only started to come around to it this year. I am still not very partial to it as just a big slab on the plate (I am always disappointed if ham is the main attraction at a holiday dinner — more scalloped potatoes please!), but I have begun to incorporate it into other dishes, and that is where the WIN is for me. Only yesterday, I made a grilled ham, cheddar, and red onion sandwich with top quality local Dijon mustard for lunch, and it was divine.
These are definitely going on the list of holiday dishes to make (dear me, the list is getting incredibly long).
Hey Kate! I hope you can figure out what is taking your chickens, that is horrible! Thanks for the kind words! Happy Holidays! 🙂
Do you have a recipe for making your own puff pastry?
Hey Jennie,
I am sorry, I don’t.
These sound and look amazing I am going to try them out this Sunday and bring to a friends for a holiday get-together!
I am so very sorry for the poor chickens that didn’t make it, very sad news for your family!!!
Whoa. Ham/pineapple scream “Easter” to me but I might just have to try them out for Christmas! (Also maybe with a side of marinara as ‘Hawaiian pizza puffs’ for game day apps?!) What is you preferred brand of puff pastry?
Definitely going to make these with leftover ham from Christmas dinner. Thank you!!
Sorry about your chickens :(.
Thank-you for the recipe though, it looks delicious. I love this combination of flavours. I wonder if this would be too fancy for the superbowl ;). Eh who cares if it is :P.
These look so good!! I am so sorry to hear about your dads chickens, that’s so sad! I always worry about that where I live because I have Yorkies and they are so small and could never defend themselves ☹ We have seen fox running through our yard a few times, they are beautiful but not when they want to eat our pets! The other coop sounds perfect to keep them out, that’s a great idea!
My husband would love these.
Sorry about your chickens. So sad to try and have something then wild animals destroy.
That’s so sad about you sweet chickens and I feel so sorry for the 2 that are traumatized 🙁
On a happy note though, totally making these for a New Years Eve party we’re going to! Thank you for always having such creative new dishes that make me look good to all of my friends, lol!
Aww, I am so sorry to hear about the chickens. That is so so sad. 🙁 🙁 🙁 . What a traumatic experience.
About the turnovers…I am making them !!! No questions asked, it is a done deal 🙂
Yum – thank you and Happy Holidays to you and your family.
Ham, pineapple and cheese are one of the best combinations ever!
Also, I’m sorry to hear about your chickens. My family owns chickens too and five got attacked by foxes a few months ago. It was a sad day 🙁
Oh no! I am so sorry! It is truly the worst!
Ah no, I have to draw the line on savoury with pineapple, sadly it does not work for me… must find another turnover recipe that will do the trick for me… I’m thinking mushrooms!!
http://bloglairdutemps.blogspot.pt/
I don’t really make any of your recipes since our style of cooking is different (though I should try a few). But I must say that you come up with some amazing combinations that put most restaurants to shame.
And your photos are always amazing.
I just get a little frustrated when I think my recipes won’t taste as good as HBH’S. But then I think, no they will taste as good, they just won’t look as good. You have won my heart with those poppy seeds on top. And even I, non food blogger that I am knows the power of pineapple & ham. These are going on my appetizer holiday board that I have right now going as a giveaway, and I am going to impress even my mom!!!!!
LOL! Looks don’t mater, it is all about taste anyway…but I am sure yours will look great too! Thanks Laura!
oooh, caramelized pineapple jam/compote sounds amazing! i bet it’d be great on pizza and grilled cheese and sandwiches and toast and chicken and i could go on for days…. and i’m sorry to hear about your chickens! ): hopefully they’re in chicken heaven roaming and eating to their hearts’ content.