Easy Puff Pastry Wreath Recipe with Jam
Are you in need of a quick and delicious dessert? This super easy Puff Pastry Wreath Recipe with Jam has only two ingredients! It’s so simple yet looks so beautiful and tastes like a delicious freshly baked good.
This is a dessert for every baking skill and level, yet it looks like a store-bought, fancy dessert.
Serve it warm -freshly out of the oven- with ice cream on top, or dust it with powdered sugar, either way, it’s so good and looks gorgeous.
Ingredients you’ll need for this Pastry Jam Wreath
This dessert is only 2 simple ingredients, found in any grocery store. You’ll only need:
- Puff Pastry. One sheet of puff pastry is enough for this dessert
- Jam. Any flavor will work with this pastry, choose your favorite and switch to a new flavor for a completely different dessert.
- Optional: To decorate your wreath, dust it with a bit of powdered sugar and add some edible flowers for a colorful touch
Take a look at the recipe card at the bottom of the post for the full recipe.
How to make this easy puff pastry dessert recipe
- Start by Preheating your oven to 425 Fahrenheit and lining a large baking sheet with a piece of parchment paper. If your store-bought puff pastry comes with one, you can certainly use it.
- Dust a surface with flour or work over parchment paper to prevent pastry from sticking.
- Place puff pastry dough in a single layer on top of the lightly floured work surface. If the dough is too hard, let it come to room temperature for a few minutes. If you feel that your pastry is uneven, use a rolling pin to smooth it out. Add a little extra flour if needed.
- Spread raspberry jam evenly on top of your pastry, leaving a 2-inch border on the edges of the sheet.
- Starting with the long edge, roll the dough tightly to the opposite side until a big log is formed. Excess Jam will start to puddle when forming your log, if this happens, remove the excess with a spoon and continue rolling
- Pinch with your fingers the sides of the pastry to the log so it doesn’t open when cut or baked. With a sharp knife cut your log in half, then twist both strips together, to form a braid appearance. Press one end of the braid slightly on top of the other, pinching with your fingers to close and form a wreath.
- Place your cookie sheet inside the preheated oven, and bake for 20 minutes or until the top of the wreath is golden brown
- Let cool completely, dust with powdered sugar, and decorate with edible flowers if desired
Take a look at this video for a quick tutorial on how to do this golden puff pastry wreath.
Filling substitutions for this buttery puff pastry
The next time you make this dessert, you can switch up the filling for any of these options.
- Cream Cheese. You can fill your braid with a Cream cheese mixture instead. Mix 8 ounces of cream cheese and 1/4 Cup of powdered sugar, spread your cream cheese filling on top of the sheet puff pastry, and add chocolate chips on top of the cream cheese. Braid as directed above.
- Nutella. For a Nutella puff pastry braid just spread 1/4 cup of Nutella on top of your pastry sheet, braid, and bake as directed.
- Fresh fruit. Use your fruit choice to fill your puff pastry dessert: fresh berries, banana, or apple, and add a drizzle of maple syrup on top of the fruit
- Cinnamon. Mix 1/4 cup turbinado sugar or brown sugar, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, and 2 teaspoons of melted butter for some puff pastry cinnamon twists
- Holiday Season: Add sweet cranberry sauce and creamy brie as a filling for the festive season. If served warm, you’ll have oozy brie cheese in every slice. You can add fresh rosemary for extra flavor.
Expert Tips
- Use High-Quality Jam: Choose a good-quality jam with a thick consistency. Thinner jams can leak or make the pastry soggy.
- Don’t Overfill: Spread the jam in a thin, even layer, leaving a small border on each side to prevent it from oozing out when baking.
- Seal the Edges Properly: Press the edges together firmly to keep the jam from spilling out during baking. You can also brush a little water or egg wash along the edges for a tighter seal.
- Score the Pastry: Gently score the top of the pastry with a knife before baking for added texture and to help the sheets of puff pastry pastry rise evenly.
- Add Egg Wash for Color: Brushing the pastry with egg wash with a pastry brush will give it a golden, bakery-quality shine, enhancing the presentation.
- Dust After Baking: If you’re using powdered sugar, sprinkle it after baking once the pastry has cooled slightly to prevent it from melting on hot pastry.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use homemade puff pastry?
Yes, homemade puff pastry works well if you have it on hand! Just make sure it’s thoroughly chilled before you start assembling the wreath to keep it flaky and easy to work with.
How do I keep the jam from leaking?
Spread a thin, even layer and leave a small border along the edges to help prevent leaking. Sealing the edges tightly also helps.
How long does it stay fresh?
This dessert is best enjoyed fresh out of the oven. However, you can store leftovers at room temperature for up to two days.
Can I make it ahead of time?
Puff pastry is best served fresh. You can prepare the wreath, refrigerate it covered, and bake just before serving.
How can I reheat leftovers?
Reheat in a 350°F (175°C) oven for about 5 minutes to restore crispness. Avoid microwaving as it may make the pastry soggy.
For more puff pastry recipes, follow the links below. You can also click this link for easy dessert recipes.
Take a look at this video for a quick tutorial on how to do this delicious recipe!
If you make this recipe, please be sure to give it a star rating and leave a comment!
Easy Puff Pastry Braid Recipe with Jam
Ingredients
- 1 sheet Pastry Dough
- 1/3 Cup Jam any flavor you like
- 2 tablespoons Dusting Sugar and edible flowers Optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425 F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. If your store-bought puff pastry comes with one, you can certainly use it.
- Dust a surface with flour or work over parchment paper to prevent pastry from sticking. Place puff pastry dough in a single layer on top of the lightly floured surface. If the dough is too hard, let it come to room temperature for a few minutes. If you feel that your pastry is uneven, use a rolling pin to smooth it out.Spread raspberry jam evenly on top of your pastry, leaving a 2-inch border on the edges of the sheet.1 sheet Pastry Dough, 1/3 Cup Jam
- Starting with the long edge, roll the dough tightly until a big log is formed. Excess Jam will start to puddle when forming your log, if this happens, remove the excess with a spoon and continue rollingPinch with your fingers the sides of the pastry to the log so it doesn't open when cut or baked. With a sharp knife cut your log in half, then twist both strips together, to form a braid appearance. Press one end of the braid slightly on top of the other, pinching with your fingers to close and form a wreath.
- Place your cookie sheet inside the preheated oven, and bake for 20 minutes or until the top of the wreath is golden brown
- Let cool completely, dust with powdered sugar, and decorate with edible flowers if desired2 tablespoons Dusting Sugar and edible flowers
Notes
Filling substitutions for this buttery puff pastry
The next time you make this dessert, you can switch up the filling for any of these options.- Cream Cheese. You can fill your braid with a Cream cheese mixture instead. Mix 8 ounces of cream cheese and 1/4 Cup of powdered sugar, spread your cream cheese filling on top of the sheet puff pastry, and add chocolate chips on top of the cream cheese. Braid as directed above.
- Nutella. For a Nutella puff pastry braid just spread 1/4 cup of Nutella on top of your pastry sheet, braid, and bake as directed.
- Fresh fruit. Use your fruit choice to fill your puff pastry dessert: fresh berries, banana, or apple, and add a drizzle of maple syrup on top of the fruit
- Cinnamon. Mix 1/4 cup turbinado sugar or brown sugar, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, and 2 teaspoons of melted butter for some puff pastry cinnamon twists
- Holiday Season: Add sweet cranberry sauce and creamy brie as a filling for the festive season. If served warm, you’ll have oozy brie cheese in every slice. You can add fresh rosemary for extra flavor.
Expert Tips
- Use High-Quality Jam: Choose a good-quality jam with a thick consistency. Thinner jams can leak or make the pastry soggy.
- Don’t Overfill: Spread the jam in a thin, even layer, leaving a small border on each side to prevent it from oozing out when baking.
- Seal the Edges Properly: Press the edges together firmly to keep the jam from spilling out during baking. You can also brush a little water or egg wash along the edges for a tighter seal.
- Score the Pastry: Gently score the top of the pastry with a knife before baking for added texture and to help the sheets of puff pastry pastry rise evenly.
- Add Egg Wash for Color: Brushing the pastry with egg wash with a pastry brush will give it a golden, bakery-quality shine, enhancing the presentation.
- Dust After Baking: If you’re using powdered sugar, sprinkle it after baking once the pastry has cooled slightly to prevent it from melting on hot pastry.