Talk about complex and multi-layered flavors, these Cheddar Bacon Jam Puff Pastry Bites are made with bacon, onions, figs and a variety of other ingredients that make up the perfect, handheld appetizer.
Who doesn’t love anything in puff pastry, right? Add to that a bacon jam made up of slow rendered bacon, sautéed red onion, figs and apple cider vinegar to name a few of the ingredients, and you will be captivated by this one. If the bacon jam isn’t your thing, crumbled bacon works well, too!
Now layer that bacon jam with shredded cheddar cheese and you will find your new cocktail party food, Game Day appetizer, or with the upcoming holidays, something to tide the guests over before the big dinner. Wow these are good!
Using up the last of our fig bounty, I decided to add a few to my bacon jam that’s sweet and savory. I read several recipes and tried my hand at my own version and these Cheddar Bacon Jam Puff Pastry Bites came to be. The key ingredient that makes the bacon jam so dimensional, or better yet, umami, is the coffee addition. So good and rich.
After a sauté of the red onions in apple cider vinegar, the figs and other ingredients were added and adjusted to taste. It kept building and the red pepper flakes addition is great. A tad bit of heat to counter the sweet and savoriness.
Puff pastry is a great go to for any appetizer and this is no different. Thawed out and spread with the cooled bacon jam, this gets topped with shredded sharp cheddar cheese and rolled up spiral style. A pop in the refrigerator to firm up for 10 minutes and then I used a serrated knife to slice.
I could have just cut them and made spiral puff pastry bites, and so could you at this point, but I tried another route by dropping them in muffin pan and they held their shape better.
Truth be told I made them both ways. We had friends over one Friday and I taste tested the spiral version on everyone and then made them again in the muffin pan. I like how compact they are in this version, but you can be the judge.
Either way these are cheesy, packed with bacon, sweet figs and offset by tart apple cider and the coffee (I used a double shot of espresso) gave it all that umami flavor to bring it together and become these incredible Cheddar Bacon Jam Puff Pastry Bites.
I’ve made bacon jam before, like in my older recipe for Bacon Jam and Fontina Loaded Turkey and Rice Meatloaf, but this version is just incredible. If you don’t have fresh figs, dried can be soaked in hot water to reconstitute a bit and used instead.
These are a fantastic appetizer and a great idea to add to your list for the upcoming holidays to serve. If you like this kind of appetizer, check out my Maple Pancetta Cheddar Cheese Tart, too. Enjoy!
- Fig and Bacon Jam:
- 1 lb bacon chopped into 1/2 inch pieces
- 1 large red onion diced
- 2 cloves garlic diced
- 8 figs chopped, fresh or dried
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 cup coffee or espresso
- pinch red pepper flakes
- Assembly:
- 2 sheets puff pastry
- 1 1/2 cups cheddar cheese shredded
- For the Fig Bacon Jam: In a large skillet, cook chopped bacon over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until fat is rendered and bacon is browned, about 15 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, remove bacon to plate lined with paper towels to drain.
- Remove all but 1 tablespoon of bacon fat from skillet (See Note 1) and over medium heat, sauté red onions and garlic, and cook until onions are translucent, about 5 minutes.
- Add figs (See Note 2), brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, coffee (See Note 3) and pinch of red pepper flakes (See Note 4) and bring to a boil, stirring and scraping skillet with a wooden spoon, about 2 minutes. Add bacon back to the skillet and stir to combine. Continue to cook for 2 minutes, mixture should thicken and reduce.
- Allow to cool and scrape into food processor. Pulse several times to a chunky, spreadable jam consistency.
- Refrigerate in airtight container for up to 2 weeks if not using immediately.
- Assembly: Preheat oven to 400°F.
- Thaw puff pastry sheets and place on lightly floured surface. Divide and spread fig bacon jam over each sheet, almost to edges. Divide cheddar cheese over each, topping the fig bacon jam.
- Starting at a short side, roll up like a jelly roll. Using a serrated knife slice each roll into about 12 slices. Place the slices, cut-side down, into greased muffin pan and bake for 15 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from oven, allow to cool slightly and run knife around each muffin mold to loosen and lift out. Serve immediately.
2. If you don't have fresh figs, dried can be soaked in hot water to reconstitute a bit and used instead.
3. I used a double shot of espresso and like the intensity of flavor, but feel free to use same amount of brewed coffee.
4. Feel free to substitute 1/4 teaspoon black pepper for the pinch of red pepper flakes.
Whoa. The flavor combination in these! I’m always up for puff pastry treats (sweet and savory), but this really sounds special.
These are wickedly delish! Thanks Marissa. 🙂
These must be the cutest things ever. I love the flavor combination too! I am seriously lacking in appetizer recipes and can’t wait to give this one a try!
Thanks for stopping by Karen. These are super easy to make, too. Enjoy!
Bacon jam? Bacon fig jam?!! I’ve never had a bacon jam in my life, but this sounds amazing and something I’ll need in my life soon. Kevin, I’m accepting 150, 250, and 375 ml. jars haha:) Needless to say, thes pastry puffs look and sound fantastic too. Just for a record: I accept them too:)
Oh my then you are in for a nice tasty surprise Ben. Savory, salty bacon with reduced red onions and vinegar and all sorts of other goodies make a thick and perfect spread for any appetizer. Who could resist with puff pastry, right? Cheers to a wonderful weekend friend.
Kevin, these sound so good! I’d like to make them for an upcoming party but I know one guest does not like figs. Do you have any suggestions for a substitution? Thanks
Honestly Rae, feel free to leave them out of the bacon jam process. They added a richness and slight sweetness, but just add a little honey or more brown sugar to taste if you like. Hope you enjoy and thanks!
thank you, honey sounds like a good solution! And definitely want to try them another time with the figs
Excellent, let me know how they turn out. Cheers!
Yes! Who doesn’t like bacon jam?! Crazy people! These sound incredibly delicious and totally addictive Kevin! I can tell, I’ll have a slight problem eating only a few! Thank the good Lord bathing suit season is ovah!
Hahaha, that’s funny Mary Ann. This is snack and comfort food season now!
Anything with puffed pastry and bacon gets my attention. I’d like to try making these bites for a Super Bowl party appetizer. Cheese is always a crowd pleaser.
I hear ya and these are amazing. Rich and tasty, your guests will be in heaven Heidi. Thanks!
I’ve made bacon jam loads of times, but never once have I tried it with figs and coffee??!! I’m very intrigued, and they look delicious Kevin. Might have a whip a batch up the next time a hockey game is on the TV as some game food.
Hey there Matt, thanks. OK, now make this and leave out the coffee/espresso first and taste test, then add that and see the difference – it’s amazing. Snack on!
Hold up… if bacon jam isn’t my thing? Do I look crazy? Wait. Don’t answer that! 😉 I’ll just say, YES BACON JAM IS MY THING! But, you are killing me Kevin, figs in your bacon jam?! OMG, I WANT! And you already know I haven’t been able to find any fresh figs dang it! Guess my bacon jam just won’t be an umami bomb of flavor. Womp Womp. Regardless, I loooooove these bites, buddy! Puff pastry is bomb and I just love all the bacon and cheese up in here! Appetizer heaven! Pinned! Cheers, Kevin!!
Haha, well some people might think it a process to make and if you want it easier, crumbled bacon on it’s own will do in a pinch! Maybe try dried figs and reconstitute in warm water? Thanks Chey!
Hey Kevin! Oh my! You hit all the right notes with this one! I will have to think up an “occasion” so I can make these when friends are around to help eat them! I always have a jar of bacon grease in the frig, it comes in handy for so many things!
I hear ya, these are rich, but so tasty Dorothy! As for the bacon grease, to throw it out is terrible, it’s so good as a flavor booster to other dishes other than just oil to cook with.
You had me at bacon jam and cheddar cheese! These little bites look perfect for the arrival of comfort food season…not to mention the arrival of football parties, too! Puff pastry is such an amazing and versatile creation. Well done on these bad boys, Kevin! (Also, I’m still annoyed at how easily you can get figs…just for the record. Haha!)
Thanks Dave AND if bacon jam with figs isn’t somebody’s gig, crumbled bacon on it’s own works just fine, too! Alas, all my figs are gone, though I think I might have one more post… 🙂
Hahaha….when I read ‘the key ingredient that makes the bacon jam so dimensional’…I was thinking in my mind ‘bacon’ and then read ‘coffee’….hahaha… 😀 Seriously, though, I bet the espresso is the bomb dot com in there. I adore using puff pastry for desserts and apps like this and then bacon jam and cheese? Totally swooning over these, Kevin. They are just perfect for when we have friends over. Pinned, of course. Hope you’re having a great week. P.S. Did you ever watch that show ‘Wentworth?’ I know I mentioned to you before….so good! Just curious 😉
OK, now make this and leave out the coffee/espresso first and taste test, then at that and see the diff – it’s amazing. I made several of these, rolled them up wrapped in plastic wrap and froze for later party time snacks. Still no Wentworth yet, and I say yet. Finishing up Fringe and some others. Thanks Dawn!