I’ve got New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day duties to tend to. By duties, I mean that people will be coming to my house expecting to eat and drink delicious things, and… I have a reputation to maintain. This holiday is about celebrating! It’s about remembrance and hope, love and champagne. It’s not about being the hostess with the mostess, as much as it’s about being the hostess with the most streamers and bubbly.
Sidenote: I wish I could teach my cat to do something useful… like, wash champagne flutes.
In the absence of a dishwashing cat, I’m keeping things simple and festive for the holiday. Simple yet totally impressive.
Puff pastry is the key to all things simple and impressive. Fancy mustard, ham, and good cheese are just a bonus.
Delicious bonus.
It’s really important to use all-butter puff pastry for this recipe.
Any puff pastry that doesn’t boast about its all-butterness is made of weirdo fats that just aren’t cool.
Puff pastry is thawed, but still cold… and rolled out just slightly.
Oh! My puff pastry is usually rectangular. This round puff pastry was a surprise. This recipe will work both round and rectangle shaped. Go with what ya got!
Egg wash. Whole grain honey mustard. Thinly sliced Black Forest Ham.
I’m so satisfied with myself.
Scratch that. Now I’m satisfied with myself.
Here’s what’s so clever about this recipe: it’s a total make-ahead situation.
The puff pastry can be thawed and assembled (just like above), and then placed in the fridge overnight. When you wake up on New Year’s Day, you can brush this with egg wash and toss it in the oven. Almost instant brunch. Add an egg. Call it success.
Humble pie.
Oh how you are filled with beautiful mustard, salty ham, and creamy cheese.
This dish is wonderfully simple and gloriously make-ahead. Because this pie highlights just a few ingredients, I like to use the best ingredients I can find/afford. All-butter puff pastry is a luxury and so worth the splurge. Whole grain mustard pops with flavor. Black Forest Ham and Gruyere cheese were meant to be married for life. It’s simple, because delicious doesn’t have to be complicated.
Ham and Cheese Puff Pastry Pie
serves 6
inspired by Ina Garten
1 package (2 sheets) all-butter puff pastry, defrosted but still cold
1 large egg, beaten
1/4 cup whole grain mustard
1/2 pound thinly sliced Black Forest Ham
1/4 to 1/2 pound Gruyere cheese, sliced (depending on how much cheese you like)
Place a rack in the center of the oven and preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet, or round pizza pan with parchment paper. Set aside.
Unfold or unroll one sheet of puff pastry on a lightly floured surface. Gently roll with a rolling pin until each side is increased by about 1/2-inch. This is just a light rolling. Place the pastry on the prepared baking sheet.
Brush pastry, from edge to edge with egg wash. Spread mustard atop the egg wash, leaving 1/2-inch of space between the mustard and the edge of pastry. Layer on ham slices. Top with sliced cheese.
Gently roll out the second piece of puff pastry. Layer on top of the ham and cheese pastry. Press the edges together with your fingers. Gently fold about 1/2-inch of the edges over, creating and thick crust. Press with the tines of a fork. Dip the fork in flour if the fork sticks to the puff pastry during pressing.
Brush with egg wash from edge to edge. Use a sharp knife to cut three venting holes through the top pastry.
Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until puffed and golden brown. Allow to cool for 10 minutes before serving. Serve warm.
107 Responses
I use this recipe during the holidays all the time, my family just loves it. I substitute it with havarti cheese and it is just divine. Thank you for sharing this wonderful recipe.
Joy this looks so amazing and easy! I always have puff pastry in the freezer. I think hubby would love this!
ANTHONY will try thi is sounds and looks amazing from the Spanish baker
looks delicious …yummy
In Canada we have a brand of grocery products that has a Butter Puff Pastry. The brand is President’s Choice. It’s amazing. Best I have ever used. if you ever come north….stock up.
You can try it with tomato sauce instead of mustard! It is very common in greek ham pies and it tastes wonderful!
I can’t stand mustard, so thanks for sharing this idea!!
I have smoked turkey in the freezer from our Christmas Eve celebration. Could I use this instead of the ham? What changes would you recommend in the ingredient list?
This week I made puff pastry with a layer of tomato sauce (thin), mozzarella cheese, champions, Italian salami, very thinly sliced onion, sliced bell pepper, sprinkled with oregano and a good layer of old Dutch cheese. It was amazing!! Your recipe looks great too, thanks for sharing!
I do not like mustard – what would you recommend substituting the mustard with, keeping the ham and cheese?
what do you think about a thin layer of cherry preserves?
Sounds interesting. I’ll have to try it. Thank you!
Looks delicious, one to try i think.
The only place I have found butter puff pastry is in Fairway in Brooklyn, New York. Whole Foods probably has it
A most delightful and delicious dish to bring into celebrate office birthdays. :) Thanks Joy the Baker. You totally rock.
Made this just now :]
Used black forest ham and swiss and it was yummy. Thanks!
I LOVE the way you think Stephanie…definitely trying that next time!
I added sliced pear…delicioso!
Just made this for my man’s birthday breakfast! Unreal. Your recipes never ever fail me!
Oh, the deliciousness, thank you so much! It was as beautiful on the eyes as it was on the palate ~ it transported me right back to an amazing trip to Colmar, France. With a big, walnut filled, tart dressed salad on the side… Unbelievable. A bit like a ham & cheese croissant, at least that is what my 12 year old said :)
Ooh la la!
Tres francais!
Tried this for dinner last night with some homemade puff pastry I had leftover from the holidays. Fantastic. Thanks, Joy!
right on!!
I made this for dinner the other night, and it was wonderful!!! Loved it!! Thanks so much for an easy, delicious recipe!
GEEZ LOUISE…….or…BOY, WHAT A JOY!!!!! Got online to find white chip macadamia nut cookies, & have now printed several recipes, totally unrelated to cookies, except for the fact that all will get eaten! This recipe looks simply lucious, & can’t wait to try it! Oh, & as for the nostalgia stemming from the cookies…I see that the old has become the new. I am 54, & I, too, walked the mall in overalls! Only difference is, both my buckles were buckled. I was a teen LONG before you, & yet the mental picture was a common thread! Wish I would have found you before now, as I do believe I would have eaten every recipe more than once by now! Thanks for sharing the wonderful & tasty creations!
This looks so so great!! maybe for the superbowl party!
spot on!
How do you think this would be made with phyllo pastry instead of puff pastry?
many layers of buttered phyllo would be delicious!
Oh, my goodness. Here I am seriously craving salads as we return from vacation and bread and sugar and meat galore, and then I see this – and I’m back to craving meat and bread and cheese! Looks PERFECT!
What a fantastic idea! YUM!
This has been on my to-do list since you posted it. Finally making it for dinner tonight with a layer of shaved brussel sprouts and new potatos au gratin!
I totally made this for New Year’s Day brunch and it was awesome! My family was so impressed with me.
Just made this tonight and it was UH-MAZING! Suprisingly filling though! Not that that’s a bad thing, I just didn’t expect it. Will definitely be making it again, thanks for sharing!
this looks delicious, am so making it and I wasn’t even after anything savoury! in fact my boyfriend told me I’ve made almond butter and chocolate tart too many times (crazy talk?) so I was looking for a new desert when this fabulous little thing came up, yum, thank you
Oh Joy this is a keeper… for realz!
What a cool party dish! It’s so unique and festive, but still works as wintery comfort food, too. And it has Gruyere, which automatically makes everything amazing. :D
What a super idea! I have family in from out of town this weekend and this just solved my breakfast problem. Thanks!
Hey Joy!
I just wanted to say that I’ve tried your recipe today, and it was absolutely delicious!
Thank you for inspiring us with your lovely food!
I’m so jealous. Why wan’t I be invited to your New Years party? :P This looks marvelous!
Oh it hurts so good.
The mental picture of a cat washing champagne flutes cracked me up.
I made this for lunch yesterday, and it was a huge hit. So yummy! Thanks for sharing the recipe!
My husband and I are always saying that we wish the animals could magically clean our house while we are at work or away. Dishwashing would be killer.
Whoever gets to come to your house for New Years is incredibly lucky—this looks awesome!
LOVE this! thank you!! what a genius idea! i’m definitely going to make this for new year’s morning!
Whoa nelly! My favorite combo! But hey i have a tangy wedge of cheese with fancy grainy mustard In it.. (I know,I’m not cuisine correct, but I’m just too lazy to go downstair’s and look in fridge to see correct name o’ the cheese!) Soo I’m gonna give it a whirl, and toss in some fresh dill to melt in the cheese..yeah, that’s the ticket!
Sounds so good and easy to make. I love how it’s so simple!
What words of wisdom – delicious does not have to be complicated. This is going to be my motto for 2013.
looks & sounds delicious
Oh Joy, must you? Oh yes, and now so must I. Resolutions will come later, but looking forward to this on New Year’s Day.
love it! i bet this would be great with leftover Christmas ham and cheese from the cheese plate too :)
Gloriously make ahead, I SO appreciate that!! Love this. Cheese marriage.
Heidi xo
Yes! This looks delicious. Puff pastry is my go to cheater ingredient. I love that you can use it for anything and this combo looks perfect.
Stay in the Lines
ham, cheese and puff pastry – three of my favorite things!
i don’t think one can do any wrong with this recipe.
xo, cheyenne
mmmmmmouth watering! Your reputation will be soaring after serving this delicious pastry to your friends/family. I couldn’t think of a more delicious puff pastry!
i love simple. happy new year!
buttery puff pastries are the best! I made a whole batch of chicken patties, a savory strudel alike with spicy chicken and flaky, buttery pastry sheets YUM YUM YUM. For next time, I am so going to try these ham and cheese. I can smell the mustard and cheese already :) have a great new years
I usually leave ham and cheese for my sandwich fixins, but it’s probably better off relegated to buttery puff pastry than two slices of sourdough. Have a happy new year!
That ham looks amazing…well the whole thing looks amazing really. Smart idea, I’m just thinking of all the inner combinations I can spin off on! I bet you could make an artichoke and spinach filled variety that would knock everyone’s socks off.
This looks insanely delicious. I’m kind of obsessed with your 5th photo on here. The texture of that mustard! Gorgeous!
I need to track down some all-butter puff pastry. All I ever see in my grocery store is the Pepperidge Farm kind, which is tasty…but definitely not all-butter. Happy New Year, Joy!
Puff pastry is the best thing ever! Love it, and love your counter top!
I’ll have to think about this and find a good vegetarian equivalent. This looks way faster than making a gallette, even though it would be awesome to make everything 100% homemade.
And well, there really aren’t any good equivalents to cold cuts for vegetarians. At least none that I don’t find inherently frightening.
Hi Joy,
This looks a little like a savoury Galette des Rois (the King’s Pie) that Frenchies eat on and around the 6th of January. They hide a ‘feve’ a bean or a charm inside, and the one that finds it is king/queen/princess for the evening, complete with paper crown. That would make your hostess-mostess entertaining even more fun!
Deliciousness incarnate, I’m sure! Happy Hew Year xxx
how gloriously golden, love!
Love this idea – and it’s so adaptable to whatever you have on hand!
For the Canadians on this site, you can get all butter puff pastry from the Superstore/Loblaws. The President’s Choice brand is all butter, very well priced, and tasty! I think I will make this and bring it to the girls at work some Saturday. I think it would be fine even cold!
omg – i have all the ingredients for this! i’m so making it. it looks delicious!
What a great idea! It’s like a party-worthy Croque Monsieur. Who wouldn’t love that?
The moment I saw the recipe title I though to myself, “This looks like an Ina Garten recipe I’ve always meant to try!” And I was right! And I also watch too much Food Network……
I’ve never seen the round puff pastry before and I love it! Mind telling me who makes it? thanks!
I can’t wait to try this recipe. A pocket of puff pastry filled with deliciousness? I’m so in.
Yum. Just yum. Happy New Year Joy!
Ohhhh my! Oh, my. Coffee looks good. Might have to start with a Mimosa, tho.
I can’t find all butter puff pastry where I live. Is there a certain brand you use?
Where did you find all-butter puff pastry? I’m guessing Whole Foods…
amazing fancy hangover cure!
this looks amazing!
Your New Year guests are really lucky if this is what they get to eat! If you can train your cat to wash up champagne flutes you’d have a great side show. Happy New Year!
what a simple but great idea. That pie sounds so delicious that I’ll probably try it on Sunday :) yay, I’m excited :)
Anything with buttery pastry is super yum…am gonna try this with smoked chicken and sweet chilli sauce, capsicum and cheese. Than it would be like a PIZZA PIE.
Heavenly! We’ve got loads of home cooked ham to use up :)
do you have a suggestion on what cheese to substitute if i cant find Gruyere?
swiss or cheddar would be tasty.
How great is this idea??
Teaching one’s cat to wash champagne flutes would be the best thing ever!
And if I could only roll out puff pastry to be half as neat as yours, I’d be super happy!
I wonder if this would work on pizza?
I was thinking the same thing. Sauce instead of mustard, pepperoni and roasted veggies instead of ham, and cheese. Sounds good to me!
This sounds delicious. Just a thought: you can also take the stuffing from spanakopita (Greek Spinach Pie)–basically egg, feta, spinach–and use puff pastry rather than phyllo. Family is Greek and my mother would do this on occasion. I can’t even begin to tell you how out-of-this-freakin-world it is.
Wow, this looks amazing!
this looks amazing. and ohhh just imagine the variations. like pear, brie, and prosciutto. or roasted bananas and dark chocolate. puff pastry is such a beautiful vehicle…