My version of the viral upside down puff pastry is made with ham, fontina, caramelized shallots and garlic aioli. It’s such a delicious recipe hack and perfect for serving at brunch or as an appetizer.
What is Viral Upside Down Puff Pastry Trend?
Whisking away on a whirlwind of nostalgic comfort, the Viral Upside Down Puff Pastry with Ham & Cheese is a culinary dreamboat that sails right into your heart.
Imagine the flakiest puff pastry, golden and crisp, cocooning layers of luscious ham and molten, ooey-gooey cheese, all flipped upside-down for that dramatic, show-stopping effect.
A love child of classic croque monsieur vibes and the playfulness of a trendy tiktok dish, this masterpiece is pure melty magic, ensuring each bite is a comforting hug for your taste buds.
Dive in, let go of all pretense, and let's get cheesy with it!
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Frozen Puff Pastry - No sub here - this is what you need to get all of those delicious flaky layers!
- Roasted Garlic Aioli - I'm using Marie's Squeezable Roasted Garlic Aioli! It's so good and its so easy to get that perfect drizzle!
- Shallot - If you don't have shallots, you could use thin slices of sweet onion.
- Rosemary Ham - If ham isn't your thing, you can use whatever sort of deli meat you prefer.
- Fontina - Same goes with the cheese. If Fontina isn't your thing, skip it and use whatever melty cheese you like.
- Egg - This is for the eggwash to make the pastry shiny. You could also brush it lightly with milk or oil if you don't have an egg.
- Candied Jalapeno Slices - These are totally optional but I love them. THey add a sweet heat element that I think really makes these pop off.
How to make it
Making the viral upside down puff pastry recipe is super easy!
Begin by preheating your oven to 400F degrees.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and add 4 1 teaspoon dots of the Roasted Garlic Aioli evenly across the baking sheet.
Top each one with a slice of shallot, followed by a slice of ham and half a slice of fontina cheese.
Add a piece of puff pastry on top and smush down the edges to seal it close. Then use a fork to crimp the edges a little bit more to real seal it down.
Brush the exterior of the puff pastries with the whisked egg and place in the oven.
Bake for 18-20 minutes or until puff pastries are golden brown and puffed up.
Remove from heat, let cool for a few minutes then flip each puff pastry over and top with a drizzle of Marie’s Roasted Garlic Aioli.
Add a few candied jalapenos on top if you’re into that!
What goes with Viral Upside Down Puff Pastry with Ham & Cheese
This sandwich pairs perfect with my Air Fryer Breakfast Potatoes and a big glass of kale juice!.
And if you want more tasty breakfast recipes, try this easy shortcut stuffed bagels , the Best ham and cheese present rolls recipe, or even First Watch’s Elevated Egg Sandwich .
There's also my Hot croissant buns with ham and cheese,and my nostalgic Pork Roll Egg and Cheese Sandwich.
Frequently asked questions
Does puff pastry need to rest before baking?
Just like we all need a little R&R, your puff pastry absolutely craves that chill time to ensure those buttery layers rise to the flaky occasion. I recommend letting it get to room temp as you work with it so that it gets pliable and doesn't break.
What is the secret to baking puff pastry?
The secret to baking puff pastry is making sure that your dough is room temp so it's pliable. I also recommend brushing the puff pastry to really bring out the shine and flakiness.
Can I make the upside puff pastry recipe vegetarian?
Absolutely! Just leave out the meat and contine on with the recipe.
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Recipe
Viral Upside Down Puff Pastry with Ham & Cheese
Ingredients
- 1 sheet thawed out frozen Puff Pastry cut into 4 rectangles
- 4 teaspoon Roasted Garlic Aioli + more for the drizzle!
- 1 large Shallot cut lengthwise into 4 slices
- 4 slices Rosemary Ham
- 2 slices Fontina halved
- 1 Egg whisked
- 12 Candied Jalapeno slices ** optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400F degrees.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and add 4 1 teaspoon dots of Marie’s Squeezable Roasted Garlic Aioli evenly across the baking sheet.
- Top each one with a slice of shallot, followed by a slice of ham and half a slice of fontina cheese.
- Add a piece of puff pastry on top and smush down the edges to seal it close. Then use a fork to crimp the edges a little bit more.
- Brush the exterior of the puff pastries with the whisked egg and place in the oven.
- Bake for 18-20 minutes or until puff pastries are golden brown and puffed up.
- Remove from heat, let cool for a few minutes then flip each puff pastry over and top with a drizzle of Marie’s Roasted Garlic Aioli.
- Add a few candied jalapenos on top if you’re into that!
