Cheese, Bacon & Mustard Twists

Crisp pastry wrapped around streaky bacon with cheese and wholegrain mustard. These Cheese, Bacon & Mustard Twists are the perfect party snack!

What is a Cheese, Bacon & Mustard Twist?

These twists are so simple and so delicious. They are puff pasty lined with wholegrain mustard, sprinkled with cheese and then bacon laid on top. You then cut into strips and twist.

And there you have it. What could be better than pastry, cheese and bacon?

using shop bought pastry is not cheating

I never feel any shame in buying puff pastry. I have heard so many chefs say they buy it when they’re at home. So if it is good enough for them it is good enough for me!

Plus it is so much easier and quicker than making your own. So why wouldn’t you make your life easier!

I go the step further and buy read rolled puff pastry. I was not given pastry rolling skills so I embrace the shortcuts that have been provided for us!

can you use light puff pastry?

I made these using light puff pastry which worked really well. The only downside is that it is slightly harder to work with before it is cooked because I think it is softer.

If you would like to use light pastry but find you are struggling to separate the pastry from the paper, just put it back in the fridge for ten minutes or so for it to firm up slightly.

Which bacon is best to use?

You really can use whatever bacon you like.

I prefer to use smoked streaky bacon because that is my preference but you could use unsmoked.

Streaky bacon is the easiest to use as it is long thin strips. But you could use standard back bacon or bacon medallions instead. I would just cut them in half length ways and form lines with them.

If you don’t eat pork, you could easily use turkey bacon instead.

Which cheese is recommended to use?

I like to use a extra mature cheddar because I love it’s strong and slightly salty flavour. But you could use your favourite cheddar, or red Leicester if you prefer.

You could use any cheese that melts well; gouda, gruyere or mozzarella if you’re feeling a bit more fancy.

Use your favourite mustard

I like to use wholegrain mustard for these Cheese, Bacon & Mustard Twists. I love the mild flavour it has and is my go-to mustard.

But if you are a big mustard fan, you can use something with a little bit more heat. Dijon or English mustard would be good options to use, but you might wish to use a little less.

You could also use honey mustard which would work well with the cheese and bacon.

Can these twists be made vegetarian, vegan or gluten free?

Yes, they can be made suitable for all these diets.

To make them vegetarian, instead of using bacon you could use a vegetarian alternative. You could also leave the bacon out altogether and just serve them as cheese and mustard twists.

To make them vegan, make sure the pastry you use is suitable for vegan diets. Most pastry is accidently vegan unless you buy all butter pastry.

You could then swap the bacon for a vegan alternative or leave it out altogether. I would switch the cheese to a vegan cheese that melts well. And finally, use plant based milk to brush the twists.

If you want to make these gluten free, just make sure you buy gluten free  puff pastry. This used to only be sold frozen, but recently you can buy ready rolled sheets in the chilled section of supermarkets.

Can these twists be frozen?

Yes, they freeze really well.

Assemble them as per the recipe below without brushing them with milk and them place them on a baking tray. Lay the baking tray in the freezer for approximately one hour for them to become firm.

Take them out of the freezer and place them in a container before putting them back in the freezer to completely freeze.

When you want to bake them, take them straight from the freezer and place them on a baking tray. Brush them with milk and bake for 10 minutes longer than the recipe states below until they are golden and crisp.

When to serve these Cheese, Bacon & Mustard Twists

Cheese, Bacon & Mustard Twists are the perfect snack for between Christmas and New Year when you are destined to graze all day everyday. This time of year is so busy for everyone that any time saving tricks are a godsend in my opinion.

They are also the perfect picnic snack. They transport really well and are great for outdoor eating.

How long will these twists keep for?

Put these Cheese, Bacon & Mustard twists in an airtight container in the fridge and they will keep for 3-4 days.

You can serve them hot or cold. If you want to heat them up, place them on a baking tray in the oven for up to 10 minutes until warmed through.

You could also reheat them in the microwave but this will make the pastry softer and less crisp.

Other recipes you might like

• Puff Pastry Goat’s Cheese & Onion Tarts
• Quick Sausage Rolls
• Turkey & Cranberry Sausage Rolls 
• Mustard & Sage Sausage Rolls 
• Bacon Wrapped Halloumi

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