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Ham and Cheese Sticks

Ham and Cheese Sticks

These ham and cheese sticks made with store-bought puff pastry are surprisingly easy to make, taste and look amazing and can be made ahead.

These ham and cheese pastry sticks are a family favorite! They’re delicious, unbelievably easy and quick to make.

Made with just 5 ingredients: cream cheese, Italian herb seasoning, ham, grated cheese and store bought puff pastry in less than 30 minutes from start to finish. Make a perfect anytime treat just like that or with any dip of your choice.

Feel free to make these ham and cheese sticks in advance until the chilling stage and then cut into strips and bake the next day.

What you’ll need ham and cheese straws:

  • 100 g (3.5 oz/ ½ cup) cream cheese
  • 1 tablespoon Italian herb seasoning
  • 100 g (3.5 oz/ 2/3 cup) ham
  • 1 store-bought puff pastry (approx.: 275 g (10 oz))
  • 100 g (3.5 oz/ 1 cup) grated cheese
  • salt and pepper

You’ll also need:

  • 1 egg and 1 tablespoon of milk to wash the sticks
  • 2 bowls
  • 1 parchment paper
  • a cutting board
  • 1 baking sheet
  • a sharp knife/pizza cutter

How to make ham & cheese puff pastry twists

Start off by cutting the ham into slices.

In a bowl combine cream cheese and dried herbs. Using a spoon, mix until well combined. Season with salt and pepper.

Lightly flour a cutting board and roll out the puff pastry. Spread the cream uniformly over the half of the pastry. Next, align ham slices on the pastry spread with cream and sprinkle with grated cheese.

Fold the side of the pastry that is not covered with the cream cheese, grated cheese and ham over the covered side. (as shown on the picture below)

Once again, spread the half of the pastry uniformly with cream, followed by ham slices and grated cheese. Fold the uncovered pastry over the covered pastry and refrigerate it for at least 5 minutes. 

  • It’s very important to chill the pastry roll, because it makes it easier to cut when it’s cold. You can also prepare the roll a day before and chill it to use it the next day.

In the meantime preheat the oven to 200°C (392 °F) and line a baking sheet with a parchment paper.

Using a sharp knife cut the pastry roll into at least 15 equal strips.

Using your hands, hold the each end of the strip while twisting it carefully into opposite direction to form a spiral form.

Arrange the spirals on a baking sheet lined with a parchment paper. Don’t forget to leave enough space between the sticks for them to expand.

In the second bowl, whisk the egg and milk

Brush each puff stick top lightly with it.

Bake for 20 minutes or until nicely golden brown.

More puff pastry recipes you’ll like

Print Recipe
5 from 1 vote

Ham And Cheese Sticks

These ham and cheese sticks made with store-bought puff pastry are surprisingly easy to make, taste and look amazing and can be made ahead.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Course: Appetizer, Brunch, Finger food, Snack
Cuisine: European, German
Keyword: brunch, cheese and ham sticks, Comfort food, Game Day, Ham & cheese puff pastry straws recipe, how to, new year's eve, party, party snack, pastry sticks, picnic, puff pastry recipes
Servings: 15 cheese twists
Author: Ester | esterkocht.com

Equipment

  • baking sheet and parchment paper

Ingredients

  • 100 g (3.5 oz/ ½ cup) cream cheese
  • 1 tablespoon Italian dried herbs
  • 100  g (3.5 oz/ 2/3 cup)  ham
  • 1  store-bought puff pastry  (approximately: 275 g (10 oz.))
  • 100 g (3.5 oz/ 1 cup)  grated cheese
  •  salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 egg and 1 tablespoon of milk to brush the sticks before baking

Instructions

  • Start off by cutting the ham into slices. In a bowl combine cream cheese and dried herbs. Using a spoon, mix until well combined. Season with salt and pepper.
  •  Lightly flour a cutting board and roll out the puff pastry. Spread the cream uniformly over the half of the pastry. Next, align ham slices on the pastry spread with cream and sprinkle with grated cheese. Fold the side of the pastry that is not covered with the cream cheese, grated cheese and ham over the covered side. (see step by step photo recipe).
    Once again, spread the half of the pastry uniformly with cream, followed by ham slices and grated cheese. Fold the uncovered pastry over the covered pastry and refrigerate it for at least 5 minutes. In the meantime preheat the oven to 200°C (392 °F), with both top and bottom heat and line a baking sheet with a parchment paper.
  • Using a sharp knife cut the pastry roll into at least 15 equal strips. Using your hands, hold the each end of the strip while twisting it carefully into opposite direction to form a spiral form. Arrange the spirals on a baking sheet lined with a parchment paper. Don't forget to leave enough space between the sticks for them to expand.
    In the second bowl, whisk the egg and milk and brush each puff stick top lightly with it. Bake for 20 minutes or until nicely golden brown.

Notes

  • It's very important to chill the pastry roll, because it makes it easier to cut when it's cold. You can also prepare the roll a day before and chill it to use it the next day.

Did you make this ham and cheese twist recipe? I’d love to hear from you! Simply write a review and add rating to it.

Recipe Rating




Ausreal

Thursday 12th of August 2021

They are delicious. I love it. Ham really fits cheese and pastry.

Pere

Wednesday 16th of October 2019

Excellent recipe. Very tasty. Congrats on the explanation. Have you tried it with spanish or iberico ham? It should be delicious too.

Ester

Thursday 17th of October 2019

Thank you Pere! I'm so glad you like it. I haven't tried it with iberico ham. I'm sure it tastes soo dreamy!! But I prefer eating such kind of ,,fancy'' ham on a slice a bread.

Janice

Sunday 2nd of September 2018

What cheese and herbs do you use

Ester

Monday 3rd of September 2018

Hello Janice, I've used Emmental grated cheese, but you can use any cheese of your choice, as long as it's grated. With regard to the herbs, I've used dried Italian herbs.