Delicious Jalapeno Popper Twists for Your Next Game Day Recipe
These Jalapeno Popper Twists are flaky, creamy, and packed with bold cheesy and spicy flavors, making them the perfect appetizer for game days or gatherings. Made with puff pastry, cream cheese, sharp cheddar, and sliced jalapenos, these twists deliver a deliciously crispy exterior and a gooey, flavorful filling that’s sure to impress your guests.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 12 twists 1x
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
For the Twists
- 1 sheet Puff Pastry, thawed
- 8 oz Cream Cheese, softened
- 1 cup Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese (or Monterey Jack for milder flavor)
- 1/2 cup Sliced Jalapenos, fresh or pickled
- 1 tsp Garlic Powder
- 1 large Egg (for egg wash)
For Serving
- Dipping Sauces (ranch, sriracha mayo, or honey mustard), as needed
Instructions
- Preheat your oven: Set your oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper, preparing it to bake the twists evenly without sticking.
- Mix the filling: In a mixing bowl, thoroughly blend the softened cream cheese, shredded sharp cheddar, sliced jalapenos, and garlic powder until the mixture is smooth and creamy, ensuring an even distribution of flavor.
- Prepare the dough: Roll out your thawed puff pastry sheet to approximately 1/4 inch thickness, then cut into strips about 2 inches wide to create the base for the twists.
- Fill and twist: Spoon a generous amount of the cheese and jalapeno filling onto one half of each pastry strip, fold the other half over the filling, gently press to seal, then twist each strip several times to achieve the signature spiral effect.
- Brush with egg wash: Arrange the twisted pastries evenly on the prepared baking sheet and use the beaten egg to brush the tops, which will give the twists a beautiful golden, shiny finish after baking.
- Bake: Place the baking sheet in the oven and bake for 15-20 minutes or until the twists are puffed up, golden brown, and smell deliciously fragrant.
- Serve warm: Once baked, serve the Jalapeno Popper Twists while warm with your preferred dipping sauces such as ranch, sriracha mayo, or honey mustard for an enhanced flavor experience.
Notes
- Serve warm with your favorite dipping sauces for best flavor and texture.
- Thaw puff pastry completely before working to avoid tearing.
- Mix cheese filling thoroughly to avoid pockets of unflavored cream cheese.
- Do not overfill pastry strips to prevent bursting during baking.
- Keep an eye on twists in the oven to avoid burning; they brown quickly toward the end.
- These twists can be assembled up to 24 hours ahead or frozen unbaked for up to 3 months.
- Reheat leftovers in a 350°F (175°C) oven for 10-15 minutes to regain crispiness.
- For vegan or dairy-free versions, substitute cream cheese and shredded cheese with plant-based alternatives and use non-dairy milk for egg wash.
Keywords: jalapeno popper twists, game day appetizers, puff pastry snacks, cheesy jalapeno bites, party appetizers, baked jalapeno twists, spicy cheese twists
