12 Puff Pastry Appetizers

Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Styling: Christine Keely

Puff pastry is a busy host's best friend. Also known as pâte feuilletée, puff pastry is essentially just laminated dough. Like a croissant, it's flaky, feather-light, and packs big butter flavor thanks to the butter tucked in between every paper-thin layer. The store-bought freezer staple is as versatile as it is delicious, which makes it a well-loved tool for throwing a fabulous party. It can serve as the base for a rustic fruit tart served with ice cream, and it can just as easily roll up into addictive buffalo chicken pinwheels. And of course, nothing's more crowd-pleasing or time-saving than brie wrapped in puff pastry. Whether you're planning a football tailgate or elegant fall dinner party, these 12 puff pastry appetizers will steal the show at your next get-together.

Alison Miksch; Food Stylist: Karen Rankin; Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle

There are a million variations of this classic party appetizer. Swap out the flavor of preserves or pepper jelly you top the brie with, or get creative with accompaniments like toasted baguette or fresh figs.

Will Dickey

It's not a party without pigs in a blanket. Since Sister Schubert doesn't seem to be making her variety anymore, save this recipe so you can make your own for years to come.

Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Styling: Christine Keely

This savory-sweet dish is wonderful as a warm, passed hors d'oeuvre. Nothing beats a bite-sized appetizer when you're mingling.

Will Dickey

Sausage rolls may be a British staple, but we're adopting this perfect pairing of buttery puff pastry and spiced sausage for our next tailgate.

A close cousin to the classic cheese straw, this crunchy, cheesy, party-ready appetizer comes together in no time at all. Perfect for that last-minute Christmas cocktail party you unwittingly offered to host.

For the folks who always volunteer to bring the buffalo chicken dip, try serving this clever pinwheel recipe with a side of creamy blue cheese.

Get in the holiday spirit with this Thanksgiving-inspired bite that's big on fall flavor, from tangy cranberries to herbaceous sage and nutty pecans.

Make this recipe part of your fall or winter dinner party menu. Serve it as a comforting first course, or make a larger version to serve as a side with a hearty pot roast.

Tomato pie is a labor of love. This muffin pan tomato tart gives you all the same bright summer flavor in one easy, breezy bite-sized package.

Impress your guests with a "wow" moment thanks to the elegantly layered pears and bubbling brie in this easy-to-assemble tart.

Whether you want to shake up your weekend breakfast routine or delight guests with a breakfast-for-dinner party, this recipe deserves a spot in your repertoire.

Deli ham, gruyere cheese, and Creole mustard do the heavy lifting in these flavor-filled pockets of yum.