The House of Spices

What are puff twists/sticks?

These puff twists are simply strips of puff pastry sheets twisted into straws and topped with flavourful toppings that make an amazing snack. Pastry sheets are usually made of hundreds upon hundreds of thin layers of dough and butter which make these twists very flaky and buttery. When you pop them into the oven, these layers puff dramatically and become so incredibly crispy. 

 

These perfect and flavorful twists are so quick and easy to make. They are deliciously crunchy and you only need a few ingredients to make them! Add your favourite topping to those layers, and you’ve got something worth spoiling your dinner over. They are the ultimate finger food for any party.

 

What toppings can you use?

You can make these puff twists with literally any topping you like. I made these twists 5 ways with cheese and oregano, nigella seeds and salt, cinnamon and sugar, cumin seeds and salt and carom seeds and salt.

 

However, you could also try other toppings. If you are a savory person, you can try these with salt and black pepper, sesame seeds, pesto, shredded paneer as well. If you have a sweet tooth, you can make these twists with some chocolate, jam, chopped nuts, cardamom or anything else!

 

What should I do if these twists become soft and are no longer crispy?

Simply pop them back into the oven for 5 to 10 minutes at 200 degrees celsius and they’ll become crispy once again! You don’t need to brush them with milk when you do this.

 

Do you make the puff pastry sheets from scratch?

Absolutely not! This is supposed to be a quick and fun recipe, hence I decided to use store bought pastry sheets instead. Having said that, you can make the sheets from scratch, however, it will take much longer to make them.

 

How should I serve the puff twists?

Serve these puffs with a warm cup of tea or coffee or even a glass of wine! They’re a perfect evening snack or appetizer for any party. You can go the extra mile and serve it as a part of a spread with things like pickles, dips, crackers and other nibbles.

 

Can I make these twists in advance and store it?

You can prepare these twists in advance and freeze them. When you’re ready to bake them, brush them with milk and bake them for about 15 to 25 minutes until they are puffed and crispy.

 

Make sure you store them in an airtight container once they’re cooled down. I do recommend you to consume these twists within a couple of hours after baking them as they tend to become soft by the next day. Having said that, you could always pop them into the oven to crisp them up again!

 

Any substitute for the ingredients mentioned?

Unfortunately, there are no substitutes for the ingredients mentioned. You can however, make these twists with literally any topping you like, even if that’s just salt and black pepper, or even plain with no toppings at all! You can use any type of milk to brush the twists.

 

Any cooking tips for this recipe?

1. Make sure you bring your puff pastry sheet to room temperature before working with it. Don’t unfold it while it's frozen as it will break and your puff sticks will not end up puffing up due to this.

2. Once you puff pastry is at room temperature, work quickly! The longer you take, the more challenging it will be to work with the pastry sheet. The pastry sheet will become soft and might even stretch when you twist them. This will result in your twists not puffing up as much as you want them.

3. Make sure you preheat your oven before popping the twists inside the oven. You might end up with twists that do not puff up if your oven is not preheated or at the right temperature.