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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 + a recipe the whole family will enjoy.
Ingredients
- Light or brown dark sugar
- Fresh rosemary
- Kosher salt and black pepper
- Frozen puff pastry
- 1 egg, beaten
- Shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- Cayenne pepper
- Thin cut bacon
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 When I originally made these, it was just a few days before Thanksgiving.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.
Watch the How-To Reel
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!
This post was originally published on November 23, 2020
These were a hit! Though mine weren’t nearly as elegant looking as yours. I created my own “trick” by laying the bacon on top of the pastry strips BEFORE twisting so the two twist together. I found it much easier and less cheese fell out.
Hey Lindsay,
Happy Friday!! I’m so glad to hear this recipe was enjoyed, thanks for making it and your comment!
Have a wonderful holiday season!🎄
I have made these for a few years now and they’re SOOO delicious but I haven’t been able to keep them from sticking to my wire rack. I’ve tried brushing with oil, oil spray and using a paper towel (that was a mess). Any suggestions?
Hi Anne,
Happy Sunday! Thanks for the thoughtful feedback after trying this recipe, I’m happy to hear it was a win! What about using some parchment paper?
Did I just miss it, how many twists per serving?
Hey Anita,
A serving is 2 twists. Please let me know if you have any other questions!
I made these last year for a Christmas party I hosted. They were a hit. Although I did burn some. Oops! I don’t remember how many made. I’ll have about 30 guests this year. Various types of food both appetizers and something like small sandwiches. How many would you recommend I make of this recipe? Thank you!
Hey Lori,
Fantastic! Thanks for making this recipe, I’m so glad it was enjoyed! I would make 26 twists. Happy Sunday!
Hi! I accidentally bought regular cut bacon (not thin). Oops! What should I do? I see you say to cut regular bacon in half – do you mean vertical or horizontal wise? Thnx!!
Hi Jessica,
The regular cut bacon should be just fine, you will probably just need to increase your bake time. Fold in half length wise, you can view an example in the video above. I hope this helps!
I’ve made these for Game Night! My family loves them. But, mine still sticks to my rack. Any tips to alleviate this?
Hi Jean,
So glad to hear your family enjoys this recipe! Have you ever tried lining your rack with foil? That should help!
Question – do these still work ok cooked from frozen?
Looking forward to making them as I’ve had them at a friends and they were addictive!
Just want to make ahead for a busy entertaining season..
Hey Joni,
So sorry, I have never tried that, but I don’t see why it wouldn’t work for you! I hope you love this recipe! xx
These are amazing and something that gets asked for each holiday season or party! My daughter loves to have these in her lunch!
Very easy to make.
Will definitely be a keeper!
Hey Christie,
Yay! Love to hear this! Thanks for making this recipe so often and your comment! Have the best week! xT
These are delicious! Thank you! We made these for a New Year’s Eve party and everyone devoured them. At the last minute, I made a crock of whipped Brie ( Added honey) The crowd agreed that a smear on these was divine!
I used regular Costco bacon, added some various cheeses & fresh thyme to create a little variety on the tray. 3 sheets of pastry on one big rack took a solid hour. I brushed the bacon with bourbon, maple syrup towards the end and turned up the heat to 400° to finish! The platter was empty and the crowd wants them again for our next gathering! Awesome recipe!
Hi TeAnne,
Thanks so much for trying this dish and sharing your feedback, I’m so glad to hear it turned out well for you! Happy New Year!🥳🥂 xx
These things are addictive! The first time I made them I attempted to put them on the grill outside. They were a bit overcooked and I made the mistake of not using a rack on top of the pan. This time I went a different route. I microwaved the bacon first but didn’t cook it completely done. This helps alleviate the excessive grease. It was a bit challenging to wrap the bacon around the dough but I was able to make it work and they still tasted great. I’m not sure how long I baked them for…I just kinda eyeballed them until the dough was golden brown and crispy. Hope my trick of slightly precooking the bacon first helps others.
Hi Suzanne,
Wonderful! I’m so glad this recipe turned out nicely for you, thanks for making it! Merry Christmas!!🎄🎁☃️
I would suggest not cooking at 375 but at 340 for longer, as 375 burnt the brown sugar.
Hi. These look delicious. Reasonable to bake these and bring to a potluck lunch the next day?
Hi Jenn,
So sorry, I probably wouldn’t recommend that:) You could prep these the day before, but I would bake them the morning of your potluck. I hope this helps! xT
Just wondering if there is any substitution for the rosemary since it is not my favorite?
Hi Susan,
Sure, thyme or sage would both work nicely. You could also just omit it, no big deal:) I hope you love this recipe! xT
Love this recipe and it turned out amazing! Quick question–if I make these again, is there a difference between using frozen puff pastry or refrigerated puff pastry? Sometimes the frozen is tough to find and the refrigerated is more accessible.
Thank you!
Hey Mary Grace,
I appreciate you trying this recipe and your comment, love to hear it turned out well! Either one is fine to use:) Happy Holidays! xxT
Question? Is thin cut bacon regular bacon?
Hi there,
No, you will want to ask your butcher for thin cut bacon:) Please let me know if I can help in any other way! xT
Hi Tieghan! I’ve made these several times and my family loves them! I want to make them for Thanksgiving this year and I’m wondering if I can make them the day before and just bake them the day of? Thank you!
Hi Caroline,
I’m so glad your family loves this recipe, thanks for making it so often:) Yes, that should work nicely for you! Have a great day! xx
These are amazing!!! We dipped in ranch which was great but they are so good by themselves! They are great for a holiday appetizer that everyone loves!
Hey Katie,
Happy Sunday!! I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe, thank you so much for making it and your feedback! xx