Christmas has a habit of arriving faster than expected, leaving even the most organised hosts scrambling for impressive yet simple fare. According to health-focused recipe developer Emmy Clinton, founder of Entirely Emmy, a straightforward spinach and cheese stuffed pastry provides the perfect solution.
The Ultimate Festive Time-Saver
Emmy Clinton reveals that her stuffed spinach puff pastry slices have become a non-negotiable part of her own Christmas entertaining. She designed them specifically for hosts who desire something homemade that feels celebratory, without adding stress on the big day.
"This recipe is one of those festive lifesavers," Emmy explains. "You can pull it together in minutes, it uses ingredients people actually like, and it smells incredible while it's baking." She notes that the pastries appear sophisticated, giving guests the impression of significant effort, while actually demanding minimal fuss from the cook.
Simple Ingredients, Maximum Flavour
The recipe cleverly uses ready-rolled puff pastry as its foundation, which Emmy champions as a crucial time-saver. "Puff pastry does so much of the work for you," she says, praising its ability to deliver a golden, flaky finish effortlessly.
The filling is a harmonious blend of cheeses and greens. It combines softened cream cheese, mozzarella, crumbled feta, mayonnaise, garlic, and spinach, seasoned simply with salt and pepper. Emmy insists the cheese combination is key: the cream cheese adds smoothness, the mozzarella ensures a perfect melt, and the feta introduces a sharp, savoury note to prevent the flavour from becoming bland.
She highlights spinach as the ideal festive green. "Spinach is one of those things that works brilliantly at Christmas because it cuts through all the richness," Emmy points out. It brings vibrancy and a sense of balance to the indulgent pastry, making it feel slightly lighter ahead of the main feast.
Effortless Assembly and Baking Tips
To prepare, the filling is mixed thoroughly and spread evenly over a sheet of puff pastry, leaving a small border around the edges. "That little gap is important," Emmy advises, "It helps everything stay neatly inside when you roll it up." The pastry is then rolled tightly, sliced into uniform portions, and placed on a baking tray.
Each piece is brushed with an egg wash made from egg yolk and milk, then sprinkled with sesame seeds for added texture. They are baked at 190°C for approximately 20 minutes, until puffed and golden brown. Emmy suggests a brief moment under the grill afterwards if crispier edges are desired, reminding cooks that oven temperatures can vary.
The recipe's true strength lies in its flexibility for busy hosts. The filling can be prepared in advance and refrigerated, requiring only assembly and baking when guests arrive. Furthermore, the pastries are forgiving on serving temperature. "They're great fresh from the oven, but they're also lovely warm rather than piping hot," Emmy says, which alleviates the pressure of perfect timing.
Emmy Clinton assures that these pastries are a crowd-pleaser, even for those wary of greens. "I've served these to people who claim they don't like spinach and they still go back for seconds," she shares. For a warm, cheesy, and comforting bite that sets the perfect festive mood, this easy spinach puff pastry recipe promises to be a Christmas staple.
