My turn to try the viral upside down puff pastry trend! These are ALL OVER social media and I can't say I'm surprised...they're easy to make, fun, and totally unique. My version is ultra-easy and I went for a broccoli cheddar option with a little bit of red onion to kick things up. So, without further ado, here are my broccoli cheddar upside down puff pastry squares.
Broccoli cheddar upside down puff pastry squares: ingredients
I think you'll appreciate how few ingredients you need for these.
- A sheet of puff pastry (thawed (BUT STILL COOL) and cut into nine square
- Broccoli florets (fresh—not frozen, cut into very small bits)
- Shredded cheddar cheese (shred it yourself—do not use pre-shredded cheese)
- Diced red onion
- Onion powder
- Garlic powder
- Salt and pepper
- Egg (for the egg wash)
- A tiny bit of olive oil (to very lightly grease the parchment paper you'll place on top of your baking sheet)
Tips for cooking with puff pastry
If you're super familiar with cooking/baking with it, you might not need these tips. But if it's new for you, please give these a read to ensure you get the result you want!
Cooking with puff pastry is one of my favorite things to make, especially when I'm whipping up these delectable treats like your broccoli cheddar upside-down puff pastry squares...I can't get enough of them.
Here are some tips to make sure yours turn out perfectly:
Thawing puff pastry sheets
First things first, make sure your sheets are completely thawed before diving into the cooking process. Check the instructions on the package for the best thawing method, typically involving leaving the pastry in the refrigerator overnight.
Avoid thawing at room temperature to prevent uneven thawing and maintain the pastry's texture.
Rolling out the puff pastry (just a little bit!)
Once your puff pastry is thawed, it's time to roll it out. Find a lightly floured surface and roll the sheets to your desired thickness. For most recipes, a thickness of about ⅛ to ¼ inch works well. Evenly rolled pastry ensures consistent baking and that satisfying puffiness we all know and love.
Now, let's get that oven preheated to the temperature mentioned in your recipe—in this case, that's 375º F.
Egg wash
To give your squares a gorgeous golden color and a subtle shine, brush them with an egg wash before baking. Whisk together an egg with a tablespoon of water or milk, then lightly brush it over the pastry using a pastry brush. Don't skip this step!
Baking
Now it's time to let your oven work its magic. Follow the baking time and temperature specified in your recipe. Puff pastry bakes relatively quickly, typically taking between 15-25 minutes, depending on the thickness and specific instructions. Keep a close eye on it to avoid over-baking or under-cooking.
A few minutes to cool
Once your squares are beautifully golden and puffed up, give them a few minutes to cool before serving. This brief cooling period allows them firm up slightly, making them easier to handle and enjoy.
Other puff pastry recipes
Along with these broccoli cheddar upside down puff pastry squares, I have a bunch of other recipes that use these handy sheets.
Here are a few:
- PISTACHIO CREAM PUFF PASTRY TWISTS
- BROCCOLI CHEDDAR VEGETARIAN PUFF PASTRY POT PIE
- BAKED BOURSIN WRAPPED IN PUFF PASTRY
📖 Recipe
Upside Down Puff Pastry Squares with Broccoli & Cheddar
My turn to try the upside down puff pastry trend! These ones are packed with cheddar cheese, broccoli, red onion, and lots of flavor. This kid-friendly option can also be made without the red onions if your little ones don't like them. Go ahead and try different shredded cheese if you don't have cheddar on hand.
5 from 6 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes mins
Cook Time 18 minutes mins
Course Appetizer, Lunch, Side Dish, Snack
Servings 9 pastries
Calories 214 kcal
Equipment
1 Pastry brush for the egg wash
1 pizza slicer for cutting the puff pastry
Ingredients
- 1 sheet puff pastry defrosted BUT STILL COLD TO THE TOUCH!
- 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded shred your own cheese from the block, go ahead and use more if you'd like!
- 1 cup broccoli florets finely chopped, fresh, not frozen
- ¼ cup red onion very finely chopped
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt or more, to taste
- pepper
- olive oil just a tiny bit to grease the parchment paper
For the Egg Wash
- 1 egg whisked with 1 tablespoon of water for an egg wash
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 375º F.
Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Very lightly grease the parchment paper with olive oil (you can use the pastry brush for the egg wash to do this). Set aside.
In a mixing bowl, combine the shredded cheddar cheese, finely chopped broccoli, finely chopped red onion, garlic powder, and onion powder. Season with salt and pepper.
Mix well.
Take your defrosted (but still cold to the touch*) puff pastry sheet and very gently roll it with a rolling pin on a lightly floured surface. This step is just to flatten it and smooth it a tiny bit) before you cut it into nine equal-sized pieces with a pizza cutter.
Place the filling mixture in nine piles (3 rows of 3) on the lightly greased baking sheet that's lined with parchment.
Place each square of puff pastry over the filling portions on the baking sheet.
With a fork, gently score (and press down) the edges of all four sides of each puff pastry square.
Whisk one egg with a tablespoon of water. Lightly brush the top of each puff pastry square with the egg wash. This will give them a beautiful golden color and a shiny finish when they bake.
Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the top of the puff pastry is just golden brown and crispy.
Let them sit for a few minutes to cool, then use a cookie spatula to lift them off the baking sheet. Serve hot!
Notes
*Ensure the pastry remains cold throughout this process to maintain its texture.
Nutrition
Calories: 214kcalCarbohydrates: 14gProtein: 6gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0.002gCholesterol: 31mgSodium: 225mgPotassium: 73mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 216IUVitamin C: 9mgCalcium: 100mgIron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Whew! There ya have it! Can't wait to hear what you think if you give these a try.
Until next time,
Chelsea XO
By the way, I have anew page on my site with a bunch of helpful links. It has links to my social profiles, LTK, Amazon Storefront, etc. There's NO pressure to shop from any of these links, but if you're curious about the products I use, etc., that's where you'll find them. As always, your support is SO appreciated!
