Corutesy of ERIN CLARKE at WellPlated by Erin
Ingredients
4 strips thick-cut bacon
8 ounces reduced-fat cream cheese Neufchâtel, cut into large pieces
2 large eggs divided
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
10 ounces frozen spinach (1 package) thawed and thoroughly pressed dry
1/2 cup crumbled feta about 2 ounces
1/4 cup finely grated Parmesan about 1 ounce
2 sheets frozen puff pastry (9- or 10-inch) thawed overnight in the refrigerator (I like Pepperidge Farm)
Instructions
Place racks in the upper and lower thirds of your oven and preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Bake bacon according to these directions for Baked Bacon. Let cool, then chop or crumble into bits. Spray 18 total cups in two standard muffin tins with nonstick spray.
Meanwhile, place the cream cheese pieces in a wide microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 10 second bursts until the cream cheese is very soft and melty but not so hot that it is steaming. Stir in 1 egg, garlic powder, black pepper, and oregano until well combined.
In a separate large mixing bowl, combine the spinach, feta, Parmesan, and chopped bacon with a fork, breaking apart the spinach. Scrape the cream cheese mixture on top of the spinach mixture, then stir the ingredients until well combined. Taste and adjust seasoning as desired.
Unfold the first sheet of pastry on a lightly floured surface and gently roll to remove any creases (it will be a 10- or 11-inch square). Cut the pastry sheet into 9 even squares (three squares across and three down—they will be a little more than 3 inches on each side). Line the wells of the muffin pan with the pastry squares so that the center is pressed on the bottom of the muffin cups and the corners over hang the sides . If needed, stretch the squares to be a bit larger so that they extend all the way up the sides. With a spoon or small scoop like this one, portion the spinach filling by heaping tablespoons and place it in the center of each muffin cup, dividing it evenly among the 18 cups.
Bring the four points of each puff pastry square together towards the center so that they cover the filling, then lightly press them together in the middle (no need for them to totally stick or seal). In a small bowl, beat the remaining egg to make an egg wash and brush it over the tops of the pastry (you will not need the whole egg).
Bake the puffs, one muffin tin on each rack, for 21 to 24 minutes, until puffy and deeply golden, switching the pans’ position on the upper and lower racks halfway through. Allow to cool for 10 minutes, then run a knife carefully around the edges to gently loosen them. Transfer to a wire rack. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Notes
Puffs may be fully baked and then frozen for up to 1 month. Reheat in a 375 degree F oven directly from frozen, until warmed through.
Filling can be made up to 1 day in advance and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. In an ideal world, I would recommend filling the cups right before baking, BUT I think you could line the cups with the unbaked puff pastry squares, scoop in the filling, then store the pan in the refrigerator for an hour or two. Apply the egg wash just before baking.
These are best enjoyed the day they are made but can last in the refrigerator for a day or so. Reheat in the oven prior to serving.
All right let’s get to the basics of this delicious operation we’re making spinach Puffs repeat after me spinach Puffs now everyone focus on my words this is important you’re going to need four strips thick cut bacon and 8 O reduced fat cream cheese cut into large pieces two large eggs divided you got
That I said divided then you need half teaspoon garlic powder 1/4 teaspoon black pepper 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano 10 oz frozen spinach finally a/ cup crumbled feta about 2 oz a 4 cup finely grated Parmesan about 1 o and two sheets frozen puff pastry 9 or 10 in thought
Overnight in the refrigerator to get the operation going to please your tyrannical Emma in charge Place racks in the upper and lower thirds of your oven and preheat the oven to 400° F she won’t forgive temperatures lower let cool then chop or crumble into bits spray 18 total cups in two standard
Muffin tins with non-stick spray Great Value works just fine meanwhile place the cream cheese pieces in a wide microwave safe Bowl microwave and 10-second bursts until the cream cheese is very soft and melty but not so hot that it is steaming stir in one egg garlic powder black
Pepper and oregano until well combined can we stop the scary wind sounds in the background in a separate large mixing bowl combine the spinach feta parmesan and chopped bacon with a fork breaking apart the spinach scrape the cream cheese mixture on top of the spinach mixture then stir the ingredients until
Well combined taste and adjust seasoning as desired unfold the first sheet of pastry on a lightly flowered surface and gently roll to remove any creases it will be a 10 or 11 in square cut the pastry sheet into nine even squares three squares across and three down they
Will be a little more than 3 in on each side line the wells of the muffin pan with the pastry squares so that the center is pressed on the bottom of the muffin cups and the corners overhang the sides if needed stretch the squares to
Be a bit larger so that they extend all the way up the sides with a spoon or small scoop like this one portion the spinach filling by heaping tablespoons and place it in the center of each muffin cup dividing it evenly among the 18 cups bring the Four Points of each
Puff pastry Square together towards the center so that they cover the filling then lightly press them together in the middle no need for them to totally stick or seal in a small bowl beat the remaining egg to make an egg wash and brush it over the tops of the pastry you
Will not need the whole egg now what you do with the remainder of the egg is something you’ll have to discover for yourself I can’t tell you how to live your life I mean Emma can but she’s well yeah lastly bake the Puffs one muffin
Tin on each rack for 21 to 24 minutes until puffy and deeply the golden switching the pans position on the upper and lower racks halfway through allow to cool for 10 minutes then run a knife carefully around the edges to gently loosen them transfer to a wire rack
Serve warm or at room temperature and there you have it spinach Puffs delicious non-threatening you’ll love them the end of the day it’s all about love baby it’s all about love all right now get out of here you beautiful fools you that’s right bounce along now it’s
Tiger time oh for God’s sake not you do you have a problem with tiger Mr Cronk if you do we can discuss it out back oh dear God do you think God will help you spinach boy I’m getting out of here