17 Recipes That Start With Puff Pastry, From Appetizers to Desserts

Although puff pastry may not rank quite as high as chicken stock and canned beans on your must-have food staples list, if you keep a package of it in your freezer, you’ll never be far away from a delicious dessert—or dinner, for that matter. Turns out, the light and flaky dough, which you'll find in the freezer aisle, is a key building block for so much more than sweets.

In this collection, we've pulled together store-bought puff pastry recipes that put this essential to clever use, from breakfast options (like toaster pastries and waffles!) and snacks (pigs in blankets!), to lunches, hors d'oeuvres, dinners, and, yes, desserts (like peach pie, apple tart, and so much more).

Want to set yourself up for shortcut success? Your best bet is to thaw the frozen puff pastry in the fridge, overnight, before you start cooking or baking. The dough should be pliable, but not too soft or limp. Once it's thawed, unfold it carefully—if it's still frozen in parts, it will crack or break, so it's worth the extra few minutes to let the dough thaw completely.

Be gentle as you roll or cut it—less is more, and you want maximum flakiness. If you can, chill the pastry again before baking, so the butter can firm up; this will help contribute to a beautiful crunch and flake.