Stilton and Walnut Palmiers

Who doesn’t LOVE puff pastry? That rich, buttery and flakey dough - when baked is like eating a cloud of pure goodness. Okay – maybe not a cloud per se, but a wonderful piece of pastry, whether it is savory or sweet is one of life’s simple delights.

Puff pastry is just one of those staple items that you should keep in your freezer for last minute guests, so you can whip up a quick appetizer or dessert. I have yet to make it from scratch, although it is on my bucket list; I do keep a couple packages on hand at all times.

For the past 11 years, I have been hosting an annual year end appreciation lunch for my direct reports. I really enjoy making people happy by cooking and entertaining for them. I plan the menu a few weeks in advance, since I need to allocate time to get everything done while working long hours at work. As an extra special touch, I create menus that I have at each place setting so the guests can anticipate what they will be feasting on and have a souvenir to take home with them. I keep a three ring binder of all menus I have ever created for not just this annual team lunch, but all dinners at my house.

{ Clockwise: Stefanie, Debby, Amy + her new baby, Me, Christine, Lisa, Catrina and Matt }



It is fun to reminisce about each gathering, along with ensuring I don’t repeat identical items for the same guests. I will typically tailor each menu by listing my guests, the date and the entire menu from appetizers to dessert. It is a fun way to make your dinner party special.

For this year annual lunch, I served three appetizers to start the festivities including: Truffled Butter and Parmesan Popcorn, Cranberry, Orange & Ginger Brie Cups and the Stilton and Walnut Palmiers I have highlighted in this post. All three were unique but the flavors were brilliant and were teasers for the rest of the menu. Enjoy!

Stilton and Walnut Palmiers

1 sheet puff pastry, thawed
3 ounces Stilton cheese, at room temperature
2-4 tablespoons heavy cream
1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts
2 tablespoon minced fresh rosemary

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Use a non-stick baking sheet.

On a lightly floured work surface, roll out puff pastry to 1/4 inch thick.

In a medium bowl, combine cheese and enough cream to make a spreadable paste. Spread the mixture on the prepared puff pastry, spreading to within 1/4 inch of the edges. Sprinkle with walnuts and rosemary.

Roll one side tightly to the middle, then roll the other side to middle and press slightly together. Wrap in plastic wrap and chill for 30 minutes in the refrigerator. Use a sharp knife, cut into ½ inch slices thick.

Place on prepared baking sheet spacing the rolls 1 inch apart. Bake 12 to 15 minutes, or until rolls are puffed and golden. Let cool 10 minutes before serving.

Adapted from Sweetpeaskitchen