Rye Party Puff Appetizers

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These Rye Party Puff Appetizers are impressive to serve and delicious to eat. They do take some time to make, but they’re worth every minute of preparation.

It took me a long. long time to come up with a recipe that I wanted to share for this week’s #SundaySupper theme of “tantalizing trays.” I hemmed and I hawed and then I remember this recipe for Rye Party Puffs that I had made years and years ago when I hosted some sort of home party (it may have been Tupperware, and yes, I am dating myself here). I’ve not made them since, but they’ve always been in the back of my mind…

*Disclaimer – This recipe was originally published in 2014. I’m working hard to update all my older recipes with recipe cards, new photos, and additional recipe information. But, getting to all of them will take time. Please bear with me. In the meantime let me assure you that this recipe is still a winner and one I’m sure you’ll be well pleased with when you make it at home.

I’ve always been fascinated with choux pastry. The process of preparing it is simple (butter, water, flour and then the beating in of eggs) and yet the bang you get for your buck as they bake in the oven is tremendous as they puff and expand to twice they’re size. Whether they’re intended as a vessel for sweet or savory fillings, they are always impressive and always a star on a buffet table or a tantalizing tray.

I chose to fill my party puffs with a savory mixture of cream cheese, ham, Dijon mustard and a touch of sweet pickle relish for a tangy surprise. But don’t let that sway you from filling your puffs with whatever filling you choose. As I think of it now, a filling made of cream cheese, chopped corned beef, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, etc. would make for a really, really fun and tasty Reuben Puff.  *note to self *

RYE PARTY PUFFS   {PRINT THIS RECIPE}
Yield:  3 dozen        Prep Time:  15 minutes       Bake Time: 20-22 minutes

For the puffs:
1 cup water
1 stick butter
1 ½ teaspoons caraway seeds
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon salt
½ cup all-purpose flour
½ cup rye flour
4 large eggs, at room temperature

For the filling:
12 ounces cream cheese (1 and ½ packages), softened to room temperature
3/4 cup mayonnaise
3/4 pound ham, finely chopped
2½ tablespoons Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons sweet pickle relish
pinch black pepper

To make the puffs:
-Preheat oven to 400 degrees
-In a medium saucepan, heat the water and butter until simmering.
-Add the caraway seeds, garlic powder and salt.
-Turn off the heat and using a wooden spoon, briskly stir in the flours until the mixture forms a ball.
-Set aside to cool for about 5 minutes.
-Once the mixture has cooled, beat in the eggs, one at a time, until smooth.
-Transfer the choux paste (dough) into a pastry bag that has been fitted with a large round pastry tip (Wilton 2A), or you can use two teaspoons, and pipe (or carefully drop) the choux paste onto 2 parchment lined baking sheets, leaving about 1″ – 1½” spacing between each puff. *Note – should you have any puffs with pointy tops, wet your finger and press them down lightly to prevent them from burning and to have them uniformly shaped.
-Bake in a preheated oven for approximately 20 minutes, or until they’re completely puffed and lightly golden in color.
-Remove them from the oven and immediately pierce the side of each puff with a pairing knife to allow the steam to escape or else they’ll collapse. Allow the puffs to cool completely.
-Using a serrated knife, gently cut the puffs in half and fill with your choice of filling.
-Once filled, place the tops back onto the filled puffs and refrigerate until ready to serve.

To make the filling:
-In a large bowl with a hand mixer or the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together all 6 ingredients until relatively smooth and creamy.
-Place the mixture into a pastry bag that has been fitted with the 2A pastry tip (or you can use two teaspoons) and carefully fill the bottom half of each puff with a nice big dollop of the filling.
-Place the top onto the filled puff and refrigerate until ready to serve.

I’ve taken some step-by-step photos while I was making of these Rye Party Puffs to help you better understand the process. I hope you find them helpful:

Bring the water, butter, caraway and garlic powder to a simmer on the stove top. Use a wooden spoon to quickly incorporate the flours and form a ball.

Once the choux paste has cooled for about 5 minutes, beat in the eggs, one at a time to form until smooth.

Fill a piping bag with the choux paste mixture (or use two teaspoons) and pipe (or drop) about 1½” dollops of dough onto parchment lined baking sheets. Use a wet finger to press down any pointy tips you may have before baking to prevent burning and create uniformly shaped puffs.

Bake until they’re puffed and golden. Remove from the oven and immediately pierce the side of each puff with a paring knife to allow the steam to escape so the puffs don’t collapse. Once completely cooled, use a serrated knife to gently cut the puffs in half so they’re ready to be filled.

Mix all the ingredients for the filling together until smooth and relatively creamy. Fill a pastry bag with ham and cream cheese mixture (or use two teaspoons) and fill each puff bottom with a nice, big dollop of the filling. Place the top back on each puff and refrigerate until ready to serve.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this recipe for #SundaySupper’s “Tantalizing Trays” as much as I’ve enjoyed bringing it to you. Thankfully we have a party to go to today so I’m able to get these out of the house so I don’t eat them all by myself!! Please keep these in mind to make for any sort of party, tailgating or special occasion you’re celebrating, as are all the other “Tantalizing Tray” recipes you’ll find listed below. Check them out…

Thank you so much for hosting this fun event, Connie of The Foodie Army Wife!


Savory Bites:

• Antipasto Skewers by Simply Gourmet
• BLT Bites by The Life and Loves of Grumpy’s Honeybunch
• BLT Canapes by Peaceful Cooking
• BLT Crostini with Basil Mayonnaise by Bobbi’s Kozy Kitchen
• Cajun Deviled Eggs by Peanut Butter and Peppers
• Charcuterie Board by Family Foodie
• Coquilles St. Jacques by Nosh My Way Momma’s Kitchen Chaos
• Crunchy Tuna Salad Boats by A Mama, Baby & Shar-pei in the Kitchen
• Feta Zucchini Bites by Curious Cuisiniere
• Heirloom Caprese Salad by Shockingly Delicious
• Jalapeño Mac ‘n Cheese Bites by The Wimpy Vegetarian
• Mostarda di Frutta by Rhubarb and Honey
• Pimento Cheese Stuffed Peppers by Magnolia Days
• Ploughman’s Platter for a Party by The Girl In The Little Red Kitchen
• Spinach and Mushroom Pizza Bites by The Dinner-Mom
• Tomato Basil Soup Shooters by Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
• Zucchini and Summer Squash Crostini by Hip Foodie Mom

Sweet Treats:

• Alice in Wonderland Sugar Cookies by Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
• Baked Lemon Glazed Mini Donuts by Killer Bunnies Inc.
• French Silk Shooters by That Skinny Chick Can Bake
• German Chocolate Brownie Bites by Wallflour Girl
• Mini Banana Nutella Cheesecake Parfaits (#glutenfree option) by Cupcakes & Kale Chips
• Strawberry Shortcake Dessert Shooters by The Redhead Baker
• Vegan Caramel Truffles by What Smells So Good?
• White Chocolate Peanut Butter & Banana Bites by Take A Bite Out of Boca
• Witchy Chocolate Mousse with Culinary Fairy Dust by Culinary Adventures with Camilla

Thank you so much for visiting me here today in my Kudos Kitchen!

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Until we eat again, I hope you have a delicious day!