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A platter of holiday shrimp puff pastry bites arranged for a festive gathering.

Classic Holiday Shrimp Puff Pastry Bites

These elegant Classic Holiday Shrimp Puff Pastry Bites are easy to make and perfect for entertaining. Flaky puff pastry surrounds a creamy, savory shrimp filling, making them an irresistible appetizer for any festive occasion.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings: 4 bites
Calories: 250
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Puff Pastry & Shrimp
  • 2 (8‑ounce each) frozen puff pastry sheets
  • 1 lb (about 30) large, peeled & deveined shrimp
Filling
  • 4 oz softened cream cheese
  • 1 tsp fresh lemon zest
  • 1 clove minced garlic
  • ½ tsp smoked paprika
  • 2 tsp chopped fresh dill
  • Salt & freshly cracked black pepper to taste
Egg Wash & Cooking
  • 1 egg lightly beaten
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 1 tsp lemon juice
Optional Garnish
  • microgreens
  • edible gold leaf
  • pomegranate seeds

Equipment

  • Baking Sheets
  • Parchment Paper
  • Medium Bowl
  • Small Skillet
  • Cutting Board
  • Knife
  • Rolling Pin
  • Pastry Brush

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Preheat oven to 400 °F (200 °C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
  2. Thaw puff pastry sheets according to package directions.
Prepare Filling
  1. In a medium bowl, combine softened cream cheese, lemon zest, minced garlic, smoked paprika, chopped fresh dill, salt, and pepper; mix well.
  2. Pat shrimp dry then chop into small, bite-sized pieces.
  3. Melt butter in a small skillet over medium heat, cook chopped shrimp for 2-3 minutes until pink, then stir in lemon juice and let cool slightly.
Assemble & Bake
  1. Unfold puff pastry sheets on a lightly floured surface; roll each into a 10x10 inch square and cut each into 16 smaller squares.
  2. Place a small dollop of cream cheese mixture onto the center of each pastry square; top with a few pieces of cooked shrimp.
  3. Fold two opposite corners of the pastry over the filling and press to seal, or bring all four corners to the center and pinch together.
  4. Arrange on baking sheets, brush tops with beaten egg, and bake for 12-15 minutes until golden brown and puffed.
  5. Cool for a few minutes before serving, and garnish with microgreens, edible gold leaf, or pomegranate seeds if desired.

Notes

For best results, make sure your cream cheese is well softened to ensure a smooth mixture. When sealing the puff pastry, don't overfill to prevent the filling from oozing out during baking. These bites can be assembled a few hours ahead of time and refrigerated until ready to bake; just make sure to brush with egg wash right before baking.