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Sweet and Savory Cheesy Bacon Wrapped Puff Pastry Twists…the holiday appetizer that everyone asks for…year after year. They’re quick, easy, and everyone loves these sweet and savory twists. Flaky puff pastry twisted up with cheese, wrapped in salty bacon, then tossed in a rosemary brown sugar. Bake these twists in the oven until the bacon is crisp and “candied”. There never seems to be enough of these…addictive, festive, and perfect for both Thanksgiving and Christmas entertaining.
Tis’ the season for all the appetizers and holiday cheer. We’ve entered Thanksgiving week and as you can guess, I’m ready for it. The holidays feel even more special this year and I’m really making an effort to do everything. Decorating? It’s in the works. Thinking up fun holiday giveaways? Yes, yes, of course (anything on your wish list?). Plotting out the best Christmas gifts for my family? Workin on it.
I’m being overly ambitious for sure, but something inside me wants to make both Thanksgiving and Christmas extra special this year. I blame it all on the year we’ve had. It’s been so crazy and I’m ready for the familiar happiness of the holidays. If you’re a Scrooge, I’m apologizing now for all the holiday talk yet to come.
With Thanksgiving only 3 days away, I’ve started to plan, prep, and roll out all the last-minute recipes that literally anyone can make. When my list of holiday “to-do’s” is a mile long, it’s the easy recipes like these twists that really come in clutch (as my brothers like to say).
The history on these twists.
These twists have been around since 2013. They’ve been so well-loved over the years. They’re a personal favorite of mine. I love them because they’re the easiest to make. And along with their ease, they’re also way too good.
I say way too good because stopping at just one twist is nearly impossible. The sweet and savory flavors make these fun twists addicting. When I originally made these, it was just a few days before Thanksgiving. I was looking for an easy appetizer to serve my family. With five (now six) brothers…all of whom love bacon, I knew these had serious potential to be very well-loved.
When I made them for Thanksgiving that year, it was also the year that I botched the cocktails. If I remember correctly, I believe I tried to make a candy cane martini. Let’s just say it wasn’t for them. Thankfully, I had these twists on hand, and thankfully, they turned out to be the star of Thanksgiving. They’ve now become tradition. Everyone looks forward to them each year…and I usually make them for Christmas too!
Here are the details.
These are pretty simple, and honestly, kind of fun to make.
Start with my go-to holiday ingredient, a little store-bought puff pastry. Roll it out, top it with cheddar, and a pinch of cayenne pepper. Now fold the pastry in half and cut it into strips. I tried to get a few process photos for you guys so you could see more of what I’m talking about.
Now twist the strips up, then wrap each strip in thin cut bacon. Using thin cut bacon is key here. It will cook more evenly and quicker. If you have thicker pieces of bacon, I would cut each in half.
The secret to these festive twists?
The secret to these twists is the sweet and savory mix of brown sugar and fresh rosemary that coats the bacon. Mix the two together, then roll the bacon twists through the sugar mix. Once baked, you’ll have a cheesy pastry, wrapped in sweet candied bacon.
It might seem like a rather odd combination, but trust me, it’s very delicious. And also what makes these twists addictingly good.
You can assemble these mini bites ahead of time, then just bake them up once guests arrive. They can be served warm or at room temperature. Though I think they’re best warm and fresh out of the oven.
So you see? These are pretty close to being the perfect holiday appetizer, and the rosemary keeps them flavorful and festive too.
These are just as great for Thanksgiving as they will be for all upcoming holiday dinners…and nights full of decorating!!!
Looking for other easy last-minute appetizers? Here are my favorites:
Mini Pastry Wrapped Cranberry Baked Brie Bites
Mom’s Secret Christmas Eve Chex Mix
Goat Cheese Stuffed Bacon Wrapped Dates with Rosemary Honey
Lastly, if you make these Sweet and Savory Cheesy Bacon Wrapped Puff Pastry Twist, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Watch The How To Video:
Sweet and Savory Cheesy Bacon Wrapped Puff Pastry Twists
Servings: 26 Twists
Calories Per Serving: 285 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup light or dark brown sugar
- 1-2 tablespoons chopped fresh rosemary, using to your taste
- kosher salt and black pepper.
- 2 sheets (1 box) frozen puff pastry, thawed
- 1 egg, beaten
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese (or a mix of your favorite cheeses)
- 1-2 teaspoons cayenne pepper (optional)
- 24 strips thin cut bacon, or 12 sticks of thicker bacon, halved
Instructions
- 1. Preheat oven to 375° F. Line 2 baking sheets with foil and place a wire rack on top. Lightly rub each rack with olive oil. 2. In a shallow bowl, combine the brown sugar, rosemary, and a pinch each of salt and pepper. 3. Place both sheets of pastry on a lightly floured counter. Brush the surface of each with a beaten egg. Evenly sprinkle about 1/2 cup of cheese over each sheet, then sprinkle with cayenne. Dust a rolling pin lightly with flour and roll the rolling pin over the cheese, gently pressing the cheese into the pastry. Fold the pastry in half, then cut each into 12 (1/2 inch) wide strips. Pinch the ends to seal, then gently twist each strip several times to enclose the cheese. It's ok if some of the cheese falls out. 4. Take a piece of bacon and wrap it around the twisted pastry. Repeat with the remaining twists. Dredge the twist through the brown sugar mix, tossing to coat, placing the twist on the prepared baking sheet as you go. 5. Bake 30 to 50 minutes, rotating the pans halfway through. My bacon took 50 minutes to cook, start checking the twists at around 30 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature...though I love them warm!
I made these for Christmas Eve as an appetizer and it’s safe to say my family was OBSESSED! So easy, so delicious, such a win! They were gone in minutes… should have doubled or tripled this recipe!
Hey Shannon,
Wonderful!! Thanks so much for giving this recipe a try, I love to hear that it was enjoyed! Thanks for your comment! xx
OK first of all these are addictive! The only thing I would change is laying them on a cookie sheet with parchment paper. I followed the directions and played them on a rack, even though I sprayed the rack they stuck. But believe me they tasted just as good. Just hoping there are still some left to take to the family Christmas tomorrow…lol
Hey Peg,
I appreciate you making this recipe and sharing your review, I am so glad to hear it was enjoyed! Merry Christmas! 🎁🎄
Getting ready to make these for the 3rd Christmas in a row. They have become a family favorite, and I look forward to them every year. This year I’m making my own puff pastry as well!
Hey Claire,
I appreciate you making this recipe and sharing your review, I am so glad to hear it was enjoyed! Merry Christmas! 🎁🎄
How do you store these? In fridge?
Hey Bailey,
Do you mean after they are baked? You can keep them in an airtight container at room temp. I hope you love this recipe! xx
Hi Tieghan,
I practiced making these the other day. Thin bacon but it seemed so much longer than what you used. They turned out good but I have a question. Could you use Pepper bacon or do you think that would be too much?
Thanks,
Aimee
Hey Aimee,
Thanks for giving this recipe a try! Sure, I don’t see why not! Let me know how it goes! Happy Holidays! xT
When I read this recipe yesterday morning I thought – hey I have all these ingredients. Made it and brought it to a xmas party last night – they were a big hit! Mine needed to bake a little more than an hour for the pastry to complete bake – I think that may have been because they were twisted tight. My house smelled great, my friends loved them, and I totally credited you and shared a link. I’ll definitely make these again. Thank you!
Hey Julie,
Happy Sunday! I appreciate you making this recipe and sharing your feedback, so glad to hear it was delish! xx
Can you make these well ahead and freeze them before baking?
Hey Christine,
Sure, that should work well for you! Please let me know if you give this recipe a try, I hope you love it! xx
can I freeze these raw and bake when ready?
Hey Debra,
Sure, that should be fine for you to do! Let me know how this recipe turns out, I hope you love it! xx
Made these last Thanksgiving and they were a hit! They were every bit as delicious as they were rustically beautiful, only problem is my guests scarfed them up so quickly, I don’t think they made the serving tray! And even though they were a bit time intensive, the result was totally worth it! Just watched the video though, and I think I have a better idea of how to streamline the process. Hosting a neighborhood Christmas party this year and they definitely will be on the menu! Thank you Tieghan for sharing!
Hey Joanna,
Happy Friday!!🌟 Love to hear that this recipe was tasty for you, thanks so much for trying it out! xT
These were a bit labor intensive to make, but were certainly worth it! Next time I’ll use even more of the brown sugar + rosemary mixture, as that really made the dish. A wonderful holiday appetizer!
Hey Blayre,
Happy Sunday!!⛄️ I truly appreciate you making this recipe and sharing your feedback, so glad to hear it was enjoyed! xxT
I made these as a Thanksgiving appetizer and WOW 🤯 they were beyond delicious! My family devoured them! I will definitely be making them again for Christmas and probably doubling the recipe 😆. Thanks for this delicious addition to our holiday!
Hey Angela,
Wonderful!! I love to hear that this recipe was a hit, thanks for giving it a try! Have a great weekend:)
OMG. These are delicious, even after I mis-read the directions: added the cayenne (about 1 tsp+) to the brown sugar/rosemary/S&P mix instead of sprinkling on the dough. Next time, I’ll do it the same, but increase the sugar mix by a 1/4 as I just about ran out.
I’m trying HARD not to eat them all before dinner tonight! 😬
Hey there,
Thank you so much for making this recipe, I love to hear that it was a winner! I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving! xx
Our absolute favorite and a new Thanksgiving staple! We have made these the past two years and they are always a hit. We actually get requests for these at any holiday party!
Hey Marissa,
Thank you so much for making this recipe, I love to hear that it was a winner! I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving! xx
These are so delicious. It all works so well together, I love the rosemary and cayenne. Always a fan favorite when we make these!
Hey Julia,
Thank you so much for making this recipe, I love to hear that it was a winner! I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving! xx
Puff pastry must be a hot commodity- I am unable to find any right now. Would pizza dough be an acceptable substitute?
Hey Kristen,
Sure, I don’t see why not! Let me know how the recipe turns out, I hope you love it! xx