• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Joy the Baker
Joy the Baker
  • New Magazine!
  • Bread
  • Cookies
  • Cakes
  • Pies
  • Recipes
    • All Recipes
    • Biscuits
    • Muffins
    • Cupcakes
    • Drinks
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
    • Dinner
    • Fruit
    • Nuts
    • Buttermilk
    • Chocolate
    • Vanilla
    • Holiday
    • Healthy
    • Gluten-Free
    • Vegan
  • Blog
    • Baking 101
    • Tips
    • Beyond the Kitchen
    • Let It Be Sunday!
    • New Orleans

French Onion Pastry Puffs

November 25, 2013 by Joy the Baker 92 Comments

French Onion Pastry Puff Bites

There are two phrases that when placed together make me rrreeaaalllyy nervous:  “It’s cool.  There’s a method to my madness.”

No.  There seems to be no method at all.  Mostly I just think that your pot is about to boil over, you’re about to burn me and everyone in the room with that hot glue gun, please put that staple gun down, and your new parallel parking technique is totally not working out.

I say this with kindness… mostly because I’m talking to myself.  If you ever hear me say “there’s a method to my madness” you should run, because the oven is probably about to explode.  Wait… maybe there is a method.

Mostly there’s just a madness to my madness.  Let’s be real.

French Onion Pastry Puff Bites

Original photography shot with the Canon EOS 5D Mark III digital SLR. The filmmaker’s camera.

I assume that there’s going to be a method to your Thanksgiving meal-prep madness this week.  It’s totally a balancing act.  The turkey goes in at a certain hour.  The basting is thorough and often.  The mashed potatoes will have extra butter.  Someone will burn the marshmallows on top of the sweet potato casserole (most likely my sister).  It’s all so precarious.

These French Onion Pastry Puffs are my effort to help you get ahead.  They’re little appetizer bites that can be made ahead of time and kept frozen until ready to bake.

They are like little flakey biscuits with French Onion Soup filling inside.  Soooo delicious.  When eaten in moderation they should not at all interfere with mashed potato and stuffing consumption.

French Onion Pastry Puff Bites

Onions + salt and pepper + a big pinch of sugar + butter and olive oil + fresh thyme + beef broth (or beer or wine or whatevs).

French Onion Pastry Puff Bites

The smell of onion cooking in butter and olive oil could be a perfume.  You’d wear it, right?

French Onion Pastry Puff Bites

Patience with these onions.  Let them really cook down over medium heat.  They shouldn’t burn, but they will wilt and yield to the heat, salt, sugar, and broth.

I insist on using all-butter puff pastry.  It’s more expensive, but you know where your fats are coming from and the flavor is supreme.

I also cut out my little puffs as circles using a 1 1/2-inch biscuit cutter.  This comes at a cost.  Some puff pastry scraps were left over and I was unable to reuse them.

If you’d like to make this recipe as rectangles, you’ll get more out of the batch.  Use these instructions found with the Bite-Sized Baked Brie Bites.

French Onion Pastry Puff Bites

Let’s layer these flavors.

First, egg wash.  This will help the pastry stick to itself.

Next, a tiny smear of whole grain mustard.

Up next, caramelized onions!

French Onion Pastry Puff Bites

Gruyère goes on top of the caramelized onions!

Just a small pinch of each flavor.  No need to overstuff.

French Onion Pastry Puff Bites

The egg wash will act like glue in sticking the two pieces of puff together, but these little suckers will fluff up like you wouldn’t believe!  We need some extra sealing security.  A good crimp with a fork will do the trick!

French Onion Pastry Puff Bites

Now the question is, how much convincing do you need?  We’ve combined buttery puff pastry with caramelized onions and sharp Gruyère cheese.  Do I need to twist your arm any further?

These bites can be assembled, placed on a parchment lined baking sheet, and frozen.  Once they’re chilled through you can remove them from the baking sheet and place them in an airtight bag.  Bake from frozen or thaw in the refrigerator and bake from chilled.  You can also bake these off, and freeze them once baked.  They reheat very easily in the oven.  Whatever works for you and your holiday madness!

French Onion Pastry Puffs

makes 12 puffs

Print this Recipe!

For the Onions:

2 medium yellow onions, peeled cut in half and sliced into 1/4-inch thick semi-circles

3 tablespoon unsalted butter,softened, plus more for buttering the bread

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 scant teaspoon coarse sea salt

1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves

1/2 teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper

pinch of granulated sugar

3 tablespoons beef broth, beer, or white wine to deglaze the pan

For the Puffs:

2 9×9-inch sheets all-butter puff pastry, thawed but still cold

1 large egg, beaten

2 tablespoons whole grain mustard

1/3 cup finely grated Gruyère cheese

Place a medium, heavy bottom sauce pan over medium heat.  Add the butter and olive oil and stir until butter is melted.  Add the sliced onions all at once.  Stir to coat the onions in the fat.  Allow onions to cook, undisturbed, for about 4 minutes.  Add salt, thyme, pepper, and sugar, and stir.  Place lid on the pan and allow to onions to cook for about 4 minutes at a time.  Lower the heat if the onions are browning too quickly.  Remove the lid to stir the onions every so often.  The onions will begin to brown, break down, and resemble an onion jam.

When onions are entirely browned and completely soft, add your liquid (beef broth, beer, wine, or water) to the pan.  Using a wooden spoon, scrape any burned bits off the bottom of the pan as the liquid evaporates.  This takes about 30 seconds.  Remove pan from heat and allow to rest while you assemble the ingredients for the pastry puffs.

Unfold the thawed puff pastry on a lightly floured work surface.  Use a rolling pin to roll out the pastry about 1/2-inch on all sides. Use a 1 1/2-inch round cookie cutter to cut circles out of the pastry.  Two sheets should produce at least 24 pastry rounds.

Brush each round lightly with beaten egg.  Top 12 of the pastry rounds with a tiny smear (about 1/8 teaspoon) mustard.  Top the mustard with about 1 teaspoon caramelized onions and 1/2 teaspoon grated cheese.

Carefully place the remaining pastry puffs atop the onion and cheese mixture, brushed egg side down.  Pinch ends closed with your fingers, them use the tines of a fork to more securely press the pastry together.

(These bites can be assembled, placed on a parchment lined baking sheet, and frozen.  Once they’re chilled through you can remove them from the baking sheet and place them in an airtight bag.  Bake from frozen or thaw in the refrigerator and bake from chilled.  If baking from frozen, add 3 to 5 minutes to the baking time.  You can also bake these off, and freeze them once baked.  They reheat very easily in the oven.)

Place a rack in the upper third of the oven and preheat oven to 375 degrees F.  Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Place pastry on the prepared sheet and brush lightly with egg.  Prick the top of each pastry with the tines of a fork for ventilation.  Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, or until puffed and golden brown.  Remove from the oven and allow to cool for at least 15 minutes before serving.  These are lovely served warm, but are also delicious at room temperature.  

 

Previous PostNext Post

Filed Under: Holiday, Recipes, Savory

Previous Post: « Dad’s Sweet Potato Pie
Next Post: DIY: Homemade Lip Gloss »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. ROBERTA FLANNERY

    December 10, 2018 at 1:46 pm

    I was repelled by the disgusting exterminator ad on your website, right in the middle of the delicious-sounding recipe for French onion puffs.
    While I recognize that rodents and roaches exist everywhere, exterminator ads with photos of mice do not belong on a website featuring food.

    Reply
  2. Nelle

    April 8, 2017 at 12:56 pm

    It would be helpful if the comments were made by those who have actually tried the recipe, which I have. Not only do these puffs have eye appeal, they are wonderfully delicious and not hard to make. I have baked them shortly after making them, and also from frozen. They turn out equally as well.

    Reply
  3. Elise

    November 27, 2014 at 1:07 pm

    I made these 5 days before thanksgiving day, froze them, and then popped them in the oven just before folks started arriving. They turned out really well! I think next time I might make them with an all butter really flaky pie crust instead of puff pastry though. Puff pastry is so expensive and made the bites messy to eat as nibbles.

    Reply
  4. rachel porter

    February 21, 2014 at 2:16 pm

    I’m making these tonight for a baby shower at 10:30 tomorrow morning. Can I just refrigerate in a single layer with maybe plastic wrap on top? :) THanks!

    Reply
« Older Comments
Comments Page 6 of 6
« Previous 1 … 4 5 6

Trackbacks

  1. Friday Favorites | A Tasty Life says:
    December 11, 2015 at 6:54 am

    […] Flaky:  French Onion Pastry Puffs.  It’s the best of both mine and Big Guy’s word:  he adores French onion soup, I […]

    Reply
  2. Holiday Appetizers | A Broad At Home says:
    December 9, 2015 at 2:39 am

    […] French Onion Pastry Puffs […]

    Reply
  3. French Onion Soup Sandwiches | bediva says:
    September 6, 2015 at 4:59 am

    […] French Onion Pastry Puffs […]

    Reply
  4. friday faves: february 27 | The Party Girl says:
    February 27, 2015 at 7:01 am

    […] These amazing french onion pastry puffs from Joy The Baker, the perfect party […]

    Reply
  5. Sunday Summary – 1st December says:
    January 12, 2015 at 3:32 am

    […] Cinnamon Buns from M Bakes.Chocolate Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Icing from London Bakes. French Onion Pastry Puffs from Joy the […]

    Reply
  6. Joy the Baker – French Onion Pastry Puffs - Celebrity Chefs TV | Celebrity Chefs TV says:
    May 2, 2014 at 2:20 am

    […] Joy the Baker – French Onion Pastry Puffs […]

    Reply
  7. ??????? ????????? ?? ?????? ???????? | Babyglitter says:
    March 24, 2014 at 5:01 am

    […] ??????? ??? ?? Joy the Baker […]

    Reply
  8. Mini Onion Puff Pastry Pies | Babyglitter says:
    March 24, 2014 at 5:01 am

    […] Recipe from Joy the Baker […]

    Reply
  9. Global Iftar: Savory Finger Food « Ramadan Joy Ramadan Joy - says:
    February 12, 2014 at 4:09 am

    […] Joy the Baker French Onion Pastry Puffs […]

    Reply
  10. Super Bowl Snacks | Bite Me Capital City says:
    February 2, 2014 at 1:52 pm

    […] So on top of these little guys, I wanted something I could eat! So now it’s time for a just as savory vegetarian snack. I stumbled across this recipe on Pinterest and it just looked too delicious not to make. Drum roll please…. french onion soup bites in puff pastry! Yes! Caramelized onions and cheese packaged up in buttery flaky dough, I won’t even be thinking about that bacon. The recipe I’ll be following is from Joy The Baker. […]

    Reply
  11. Link Tank #9 says:
    January 31, 2014 at 4:16 am

    […] French onion anything is time-consuming but these look delicious. […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

RELATED POSTS IN Holiday

assembling chicken burger on wooden board
Bacon Jalapeno Smashed Chicken Burgers

Allow me to sneak in at the start of your holiday weekend, here at the unofficial beginning of summer (and my favorite weekend of the year) with a humble but high-key FANTASTIC chicken burger. This is one of those smash burger recipes that once you know, you cannot unknow.  This will color your burgers for…

Read More

fresh baked blueberry cobbler on a plate with vanilla ice cream on top.
The Secrets To My Favorite Blueberry Cobbler

In a shock to no one, I have a lot of thoughts about the perfect summer cobbler.  Cobbler is a sweetened fruit base topped with a wet biscuit batter that bakes up to be something between a cake and a biscuit atop simmering fruit.  A cobbler is not a crisp (though this apple crisp really…

Read More

Bowl of easy risotto recipe in a small bowl.
Oven-Baked Pea, Pancetta and Lemon Risotto

Rice is my preferred starch. Wait… does banana bread count as a starch?  If not I choose rice – it’s more versatile when it comes to dinner anyhow.  Today we’re taking the most elegant of Italian rice dishes and making it more of a one-pot-wonder than a labor of love.  There’s surely still love (read:…

Read More

Primary Sidebar

Fresh baked emails, delivered to your inbox

Jump to Recipe

Receive recipes from Joy the Baker and updates on events at The Bakehouse.

HI! I’M JOY!

Jump to Recipe

Welcome! This has been my little corner of the internet since 2008!

I’m a baker, photographer, cookbook author and teacher.  I live laugh love in New Orleans. 

MORE ABOUT JOY AND THE TEAM

BOOKS + Magazines

Jump to Recipe

JOY THE BAKER 2022 SUMMER MAGAZINE

JOY THE BAKER 2021 HOLIDAY MAGAZINE

JOY THE BAKER 2020 HOLIDAY MAGAZINE

HOMEMADE DECADENCE

OVER EASY: SWEET AND SAVORY RECIPES FOR LEISURELY DAYS COOKBOOK

JOY THE BAKER COOKBOOK

Jump to Recipe

Joy the baker with dyed bandana around neck

HOW TO MAKE DYED BANDANAS

as seen in JtB Magazine!

Jump to Recipe
joy the baker on facebook joy the baker on twitter pinterest-social instagram-socialbloglovin-social

JOY @ WILLIAMS SONOMA

Jump to Recipe

SHOP THE CAKE LINE OF CAKE MIXES!

DRAKE ON CAKE

Jump to Recipe

Passionate from miles away since 2015.

Check it out on Instagram

Drake on cake instagram.

 

FAVORITE FRUIT RECIPES

strawberry sheet cake on a plate with strawberries on top.

My Favorite Super Easy Strawberry Sheet Cake

Berry crostata topped with whipped cream with coffee.

A Single Serve Berry Crostata Recipe

fresh baked blueberry cobbler on a plate with vanilla ice cream on top.

The Secrets To My Favorite Blueberry Cobbler

POPULAR CAKES

strawberry sheet cake on a plate with strawberries on top.

My Favorite Super Easy Strawberry Sheet Cake

Slice of coconut cake on small white plate with coffee.

My favorite Coconut Cake is actually made with cake mix

A slice of lemon blueberry gooey butter cake held on a cake slicer.

Lemon Blueberry Gooey Butter Cake

Footer

Instagram

joythebaker

📚Baker and author of books and magazines
🎂Creator @drakeoncake
💁🏻‍♀️Classes with me @thebakehousenola
🍰 Products with @williamssonoma

joythebaker
My EASIEST Strawberry Sheet Cake is also my absolu My EASIEST Strawberry Sheet Cake is also my absolute favorite. Get into a box of white cake mix and fresh 🍓🍓 purée! Topped with a thick layer of strawberry cream cheese frosting - this cake is a little pink dream! ⁣
⁣
The Easiest Strawberry Sheet Cake recipe linked in the bio for you! 💋
Our resident reader, @tobyfels shares my favorite Our resident reader, @tobyfels shares my favorite list of the summer on Joy the Baker this year: The Best Books for Summer 2022!  As a person who reads Beach Reads all year long, this is IT! With titles by @ashleymcoleman_ @anarasong @annleary @bonnie_garmus_author @heyashposton @annabelmonaghan @greerhendricks @sarahpekkanen @shelbyvanpeltwrites @marilynsimonrothstein @@misterosman and @kirstin.chen. The guide to your bookworm summer linked in the bio!
Over here testing the limits of “you are what yo Over here testing the limits of “you are what you eat” and will soon be taking my final form as a summer tomato. ⁣🫠🍅
⁣
This Mediterranean Feta and Fresh Tomato Tart is an absolute show stopper with a buttery crisp, press-in crust, whipped feta, and layers of fresh tomato, cucumber, onions, and olives. I’ll leave the recipe linked in the bio - it’s really very special. Join me. We are 🍅🍅.
Here are my two best kept secrets for getting thro Here are my two best kept secrets for getting through this summer.  I’ve never been much for secrets so I’m letting you right in! ⁣
1.	I’m committed to folding crumbled chewy brownies into the easiest homemade no-churn ice cream.⁣
2.	I’m shopping for all of my baking and summer entertaining essentials, wine and cheese at the new @aldiusa stores opening across the Gulf Coast! Wait… you’re as obsessed with ALDI as I am, right? The shopping is always easy and affordable and I always come home with a fun treat among my essentials. Hit up my stories to see my grocery haul (and the chips I ate in the car on the way home) and head to your nearest ALDI for your summer essentials!  #ad⁣
⁣
I’ll leave the recipe and your #ALDILove grocery list linked in the bio!
Let’s just make one! ⁣ ⁣ One Single Berry Cr Let’s just make one! ⁣
⁣
One Single Berry Crostata just you for. Double the recipe (🔗 in the bio) only if you want to share. ⁣
⁣
#joythebaker #berry #crostata #smallbatch #dessert #foodblogfeed
The freezer is packed with ice cream treats from h The freezer is packed with ice cream treats from here on out, and that’s a promise. ⁣
⁣
Find this Milk and Cereal Ice Cream Bar and loads of other semi-homemade ice cream treats linked in the bio! 💓🍦🫠
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2022 · Joy the Baker
All rights reserved. Violators will be whupped and sent to bed with no dessert · Privacy Policy

Scroll Up