Name: CHEATER PUFF PASTRY, READY in minutes and 10 easy steps.
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 30 min
Cuisine: International
Ingredients: 1 package Philadelphia cream cheese (full fat, 8oz); 2 sticks Butter (8 oz Unsalted, good quality, cut into small cubes and chilled); 10.5 ounces flour (AP); 1 teaspoon salt (Kosher); 1 teaspoon sugar (Baker's or fine granulated); 1 egg (Yolk of a large egg); 1 pinch of salt; 1 tablespoon heavy cream; 1 tablespoon water

Piece de la Resistance they call it in France. Here I would call it the “bread and butter” (no pun intended) of many of my preparations: a cheater puff pastry ready in 10 easy steps. No lamination, no dramatic rolling. Just and easy mix, fold like a book, rest, repeat. In addition, the tangy aftertaste of the cream cheese gives the finished result a deeper flavor.
You could make big batches and keep it frozen, or whip one up at the last minute.
I have made it for years, and it’s truly easy as pie. Pun intended.
Ricetta in Italiano / recipe in Italian click here:
https://blog.giallozafferano.it/growingupitalian/vol-au-vent-velocissimi/

No lamination, no dramatic rolling. Just and easy mix, fold like a book, rest, repeat: a cheater puff pastry ready in minutes & 10 steps

DifficultyEasy
CostMedium
Preparation time30 Minutes
Rest time3 Hours
Cooking time30 Minutes
Serving6
Cooking methodOven
CuisineInternational

Ingredients

Ingredients should be cold.

Dough

1 package Philadelphia cream cheese (full fat, 8oz)

2 sticks Butter (8 oz Unsalted, good quality, cut into small cubes and chilled)

10.5 ounces flour (AP )

1 teaspoon salt (Kosher)

1 teaspoon sugar (Baker’s or fine granulated)

Egg wash

1 egg (Yolk of a large egg)

1 pinch of salt

1 tablespoon heavy cream

1 tablespoon water

Tools

This recipe is so easy that requires only :
a large bowl
a flat surface big enough for rolling the dough
a rolling pin
some clear plastic wrap

Steps

Prepare a large flat surface or a large bowl to mix all the ingredients first. You will need a flat surface to roll out the dough eventually.

Prepare the dough

1~Mix the dry ingredients: flour salt and sugar. Whisk to self sift.
2~Add the cream cheese and mix with your hands until incorporated.
3~Now incorporate the butter and mix again.
Do not worry if some chunks of butter are visible, they will disappear later as you keep rolling and folding the dough. This cheater puff pastry is very forgiving. Ideal for beginners.
4~Make a cohesive mass, try not to add too much extra flour.
5~Shape a small block and wrap it in clear plastic. Refrigerate 30 min to an hour.

Use the Cheater puff pastry to top your pizza dough and stuff it with ham and cheese!

6~Following the steps in the picture below, roll and fold the dough. It will be stiff at the beginning, but will soften up with time. Be gentle and leave the layers “airy”.
7~Repeat the process for a total of 4 times.
8~In the end, you should have a smooth, silky brick of “wanna be” puff pastry except is cheater puff pastry 🙂

9~Your dough is now ready to be used as you would a normal puff pastry.
NOTE: I find that I have more lamination and better flavor if I leave the brick to rest overnight in the fridge. So I generally prep it the day before service.

10~Bakes beautifully at 350 degrees, just remember to brush it with egg wash and (optional) score it for a great visual effect.
Enjoy!