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If you’re looking for an easy yet elegant pastry, these date and goat cheese puff pastry twists are a great choice! Flaky puff pastry is layered with a delicious date spread, creamy goat cheese, and crunchy walnuts, then twisted into a golden, crispy treat. These pastries are perfect for gatherings, brunch, or as a delicious snack with tea or coffee.
If I had to choose one sweet ingredient to work with for the rest of my life, it would be dates. Not only are they absolutely delicious, they’re also incredibly versatile and easy to work with.
Looking for a natural sweetener? Date syrup is a must-have in your pantry! Craving a treat? My soft and chewy date cookies are perfect for any occasion. Looking for a sweet drink? My date coffee smoothie is the best! Got 15 minutes and want a good breakfast that actually keeps you full? Try my Persian date omelette! Have people coming over? These date and goat cheese puff pastry twists will have you looking like a pro! And if you love baking, don’t miss my tahini banana date bread.
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Quick & Easy – Uses store-bought puff pastry for convenience.
- Sweet & Savory – The combination of dates, cinnamon, and goat cheese creates a perfect balance of flavors.
- Make-Ahead Friendly – Prepare the twists in advance and bake when ready.
Ingredients
Dates: I use Natural Delights Medjool dates as they are sweet and very soft, making them perfect for the filling.
Cinnamon: Complements the dates well and adds a bit of warmth to the twists.
Puff pastry: Make sure it’s thawed before you start preparing the recipe.
Walnuts: Chopped walnuts add a nice crunch to the pastry.
Goat cheese: Savory goat cheese goes very well with the sweetness of the dates, which would make these pastries simply irresistible. Alternatively, you can use feta cheese.
Egg: To brush the pastries for that final golden color.
Sesame seeds and pistachio powder: These are optional and are used to garnish the twists.
How To Make Puff Pastry Twists
Prepare the Date Spread: Pit the dates and place them in a measuring cup. Add ¼ cup of hot water and the cinnamon. Blend using an immersion blender or a regular blender until smooth.
Assemble the Pastry: Roll out one puff pastry sheet and evenly spread the date mixture on top. Sprinkle with chopped walnuts and crumble the goat cheese over the surface.
Cut, Twist and Shape: Place the second puff pastry sheet over the filling, gently pressing down to seal. Using a pizza cutter or a sharp knife, cut into ½-inch wide strips.
Take each strip and twist the ends in opposite directions to create a spiral. Place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and refrigerate for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Bake to Perfection: Brush each pastry twist with the whisked egg, then sprinkle with sesame seeds and pistachio powder. Bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown.
Recipe Tips
Customize the filling: Swap walnuts for pecans or pistachios. You can add a pinch of cardamom for extra warmth.
Use chilled puff pastry: Cold puff pastry flakes ensure flaky layers that makes this treat even better.
Storage
Store the leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. If you’d like to keep them longer than that, it’s best to refrigerate them. These puff pastry twists can be refrigerated for up to 5 days. I recommend reheating them slightly before serving to maximize the flavor.
Frequently Asked Questions
If puff pastry is not available, use pie dough for this recipe. However, the texture will be different since pie dough is not as flaky.
Yes! You can assemble the twists and refrigerate them for up to 24 hours before baking. You can also freeze unbaked twists and bake them straight from the freezer, adding a few extra minutes to the baking time.
Yes, simply leave out the walnuts or replace them with sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds.
More Recipes Using Dates
Dessert
Tahini Date Cake Recipe
Persian Recipes
Ranginak (Persian Date Walnut Dessert)
Persian Recipes
Persian Banana Date Shake (Majoon)
Dessert
15-Minute Date Balls Recipe
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Puff Pastry Twists with Dates and Goat Cheese
Ingredients
- 6 Medjool dates, pitted
- ¼ tsp cinnamon
- 2 puff pastry sheets
- ⅓ cup walnuts, chopped
- 4 oz goat cheese, softened
- 1 egg, whisked
- 1 tbsp Sesame seeds
- 1 tbsp ground pistachios
Instructions
- Open the Medjool dates using a knife and remove the pit. Place them in a measuring cup and add in ¼ cup hot water and the cinnamon.
- Blend using an immersion blender. Alternatively, you can do this using a regular blender.
- Roll out the puff pastry and spread the date mixture on top. Top with chopped walnuts and pieces of the goat cheese.
- Place the second puff pastry on the dates and walnuts. Gently press and seal the sides.
- Using a pizza cutter or a sharp knife, cut the pastry into ½ inch wide strips.
- Grab the two ends of each strip and twist in opposite sides. Place on a clean surface and twist to form a swirl pattern. Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Refrigerate for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
- After 15 minutes, brush the pastries with egg and bake them for 20 minutes until they are golden and flaky.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
