Christmas Puff Pastry Pizza Squares
There’s a certain magic in the air during the festive season, isn’t there? The house smells of pine needles and cinnamon, and there’s a constant, gentle hum of anticipation. For me, the heart of this magic is in the kitchen, creating food that brings everyone together. Amidst the chaos of preparing a grand Christmas dinner, we all need those reliable, show-stopping appetizers that look like they took hours but actually come together in a flash. These Christmas Puff Pastry Pizza Squares are precisely that. They are my secret weapon for holiday gatherings.
This isn’t your average pizza. We’re swapping the traditional dough for a sheet of all-butter puff pastry, which bakes into a crisp, flaky, and unbelievably light base. On top, we layer a festive trio of flavours: a generous schmear of sweet-tart cranberry sauce, dollops of creamy, melting brie, and a final flourish of fresh rosemary and thyme. The aroma that fills the kitchen as these bake is pure holiday cheer. I’ve been making this for over 8 years, and it never disappoints; it’s the first thing to disappear from the table every single time. It’s the kind of holiday snack that feels both elegant and immensely satisfying.
These pizza squares work beautifully for so many occasions throughout December. They’re an ideal offering for a casual get-together with friends, a sophisticated canapé to pass around at a drinks party, or even a light lunch on Boxing Day when you can’t face another heavy meal. They manage to be both a treat for adults, pairing wonderfully with a glass of prosecco, and a hit with younger family members who just see a delicious, cheesy pizza square. For another simple yet impressive dish for gatherings, you might also like my Easy Ground Beef Tacos Recipe For Family Dinner.
Recipe Overview
These Christmas Puff Pastry Pizza Squares deliver a wonderful combination of textures and tastes. You get the shatteringly crisp layers of buttery pastry, the smooth, gloriously melty brie, and the sharp sweetness of cranberry sauce, all tied together with the piney, earthy notes of fresh herbs. From my testing, I’ve found that letting the brie come to room temperature for about 20 minutes before using it helps it melt more evenly across the pastry.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20-25 minutes
- Total Time: 30-35 minutes
- Servings: 12 squares (serves 6-8 as an appetizer)
- Difficulty: Easy
Why You’ll Love This Christmas Puff Pastry Pizza Squares Recipe
- Genuine Flavour: The combination is truly special. The rich, salty brie is perfectly balanced by the sweet acidity of the cranberry sauce. The fresh rosemary and thyme add a fragrant, savoury depth that makes every bite feel festive.
- Ready in Under 35 Minutes: This is a genuinely quick recipe. From unrolling the pastry to pulling the golden, bubbling squares from the oven, the whole process is straightforward and speedy.
- Flexible Recipe: Feel free to make it your own. Not a fan of brie? A good quality camembert or a sharp goat’s cheese works just as well. You could also add a scattering of toasted walnuts or pecans for extra crunch before baking.
- Great for Holiday Gatherings: This is the ultimate holiday appetizer. You can cut it into small squares for a canapé-style snack or larger portions for a more substantial offering on a buffet table. It always gets compliments.
- Family Tested: My entire family adores these. Even my niece, who is notoriously picky, will happily devour a few squares, calling them “fancy Christmas pizzas.” It’s a definite win in our house.
Ingredients You’ll Need
For this recipe, using a good quality all-butter puff pastry makes a world of difference to the final flavour and texture. I find that the Jus-Rol all-butter ready-rolled sheet is consistently reliable and gives a fantastic rise. When it comes to the cranberry sauce, a chunkier, whole-berry sauce provides a better texture than a smooth jelly.
- 375g sheet of ready-rolled all-butter puff pastry
- 1 large free-range egg, beaten (for the egg wash)
- 120g good quality cranberry sauce (whole-berry is best)
- 200g brie, chilled and sliced
- 1 tbsp fresh rosemary leaves, finely chopped
- 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- A generous pinch of sea salt flakes
- Freshly ground black pepper
Marcus’s Tip: Don’t be tempted to overload the pastry with toppings. A little goes a long way. Too much sauce can make the base soggy, and too much cheese can become greasy. The balance specified here is one I’ve perfected over many attempts.
How to Make Christmas Puff Pastry Pizza Squares
The process for making these puff pastry pizza squares is very straightforward. The key is to work with cold pastry straight from the fridge and a properly preheated oven to get that signature puff. We’re essentially creating a tart with a built-in crust.
- Preheat and Prepare: First things first, preheat your oven to 200°C (180°C fan/Gas Mark 6). Line a large baking tray with parchment paper. This will prevent any sticking and make cleanup much easier.
- Prepare the Pastry: Carefully unroll your sheet of puff pastry onto the prepared baking tray. Using a small, sharp knife, lightly score a 1.5cm border all the way around the edge of the pastry. Be careful not to cut all the way through.
- Dock the Centre: Using a fork, prick the pastry inside the border all over. What works best for me is to be quite thorough with this step. This ‘docking’ process prevents the centre from puffing up as much as the edges, creating a stable base for your toppings, much like a traditional pizza crust. You can learn more about the science behind working with puff pastry to get the best results.
- Egg Wash the Border: Brush the beaten egg over the 1.5cm border you scored. This will give the edges a beautiful, deep golden-brown shine once baked.
- Add the Toppings: Spread the cranberry sauce evenly over the centre of the pastry, right up to the scored border. Arrange the slices of brie on top of the sauce. Sprinkle over the chopped rosemary and thyme leaves.
- Final Touches: Drizzle the olive oil over the toppings and finish with a good pinch of sea salt flakes and a few grinds of black pepper.
- Bake to Perfection: Place the tray in the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes. You’re looking for the pastry border to be deeply golden and well-puffed, and the brie should be completely melted and bubbling.
- Rest and Serve: Remove from the oven and let it cool on the tray for about 5 minutes. This allows the cheese to set slightly, making it easier to slice. Using a pizza wheel or a sharp knife, cut into 12 even squares. Serve warm.
Tips From My Kitchen
- Temperature Control: A hot oven is non-negotiable for puff pastry. The initial blast of heat is what makes the water in the butter layers turn to steam, forcing the pastry layers apart and creating that light, airy texture. Don’t be tempted to put it in an oven that’s still heating up.
- The Secret Step: Scoring that border is more than just for looks. I learned that it effectively creates a ‘wall’, containing the toppings and encouraging the outer edge to rise up spectacularly around the filling. It’s a simple technique that yields professional-looking results.
- Make-Ahead: While you can’t assemble the whole thing in advance (the pastry will go soggy), you can prep all your components. Slice the brie and chop the herbs, storing them in airtight containers in the fridge for up to a day. Then, assembly takes just a couple of minutes.
- Storage: If you have any leftovers, they can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. To reheat, place them on a baking tray in an oven preheated to 180°C (160°C fan) for 5-7 minutes, until the pastry is crisp again. I’d advise against using a microwave, as it will make the pastry soft.
Delicious Variations to Try
One of the best things about this recipe is how easily you can adapt it. Here are a few variations I’ve tried and loved over the years:
- Spicy Version: For a bit of a kick, add a pinch of dried chilli flakes along with the herbs, or finish the baked squares with a drizzle of hot honey for a sweet and spicy contrast.
- Vegetarian/Vegan Option: The recipe as written is vegetarian. For a vegan version, use a vegan-friendly puff pastry (many store-bought versions are accidentally vegan), a good quality vegan brie alternative, and brush the border with a plant-based milk instead of egg.
- Different Protein: For a meatier bite, scatter over some cooked, crumbled prosciutto or crispy pancetta along with the brie before baking. Leftover shredded turkey from Christmas dinner also works wonderfully.
What to Serve With Christmas Puff Pastry Pizza Squares
These pizza squares are fantastic on their own, but they also pair well with a few simple accompaniments to create a more rounded spread.
- A Simple Green Salad: A handful of rocket or lamb’s lettuce tossed with a sharp lemon vinaigrette helps to cut through the richness of the cheese and pastry.
- Charcuterie Board: Serve them alongside a platter of cured meats, olives, and cornichons for a brilliant and varied appetizer board. They act as a wonderful, warm counterpoint to the cold items. For more comforting, shareable recipes, my Creamy Chicken And Rice Recipe One Pot Meal is always a family favourite.
- Drink Pairing: A crisp, cold glass of Prosecco or a dry Sauvignon Blanc is an excellent match. For a non-alcoholic option, a sparkling cranberry and rosemary pressé echoes the flavours in the dish beautifully.
Frequently Asked Questions
Christmas Puff Pastry Pizza Squares
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat and Prepare: First things first, preheat your oven to 200°C (180°C fan/Gas Mark 6). Line a large baking tray with parchment paper. This will prevent any sticking and make cleanup much easier.
- Prepare the Pastry: Carefully unroll your sheet of puff pastry onto the prepared baking tray. Using a small, sharp knife, lightly score a 1.5cm border all the way around the edge of the pastry. Be careful not to cut all the way through.
- Dock the Centre: Using a fork, prick the pastry inside the border all over. What works best for me is to be quite thorough with this step. This 'docking' process prevents the centre from puffing up as much as the edges, creating a stable base for your toppings, much like a traditional pizza crust. You can learn more about the science behind working with puff pastry to get the best results.
- Egg Wash the Border: Brush the beaten egg over the 1.5cm border you scored. This will give the edges a beautiful, deep golden-brown shine once baked.
- Add the Toppings: Spread the cranberry sauce evenly over the centre of the pastry, right up to the scored border. Arrange the slices of brie on top of the sauce. Sprinkle over the chopped rosemary and thyme leaves.
- Final Touches: Drizzle the olive oil over the toppings and finish with a good pinch of sea salt flakes and a few grinds of black pepper.
- Bake to Perfection: Place the tray in the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes. You're looking for the pastry border to be deeply golden and well-puffed, and the brie should be completely melted and bubbling.
- Rest and Serve: Remove from the oven and let it cool on the tray for about 5 minutes. This allows the cheese to set slightly, making it easier to slice. Using a pizza wheel or a sharp knife, cut into 12 even squares. Serve warm.
Notes
I truly hope you give these Christmas Puff Pastry Pizza Squares a go this holiday season. They are such a simple way to create something that feels special and festive, without adding any stress to your kitchen duties. Friends always ask me for this recipe after trying it at dinner parties, and I’m so happy to be sharing it with you. Let me know how you get on in the comments below – I’d love to hear if you try any fun variations!
Happy cooking,
Marcus
