Cream Cheese-Filled Puff-Pastry Carrots

Name: Cream Cheese-Filled Puff-Pastry Carrots
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 3 puff pastry sheets; 1 cup cream cheese ((at room temperature)); ¼ cup chopped parsley; 1 tbsp lemon peel (grated); ½ tsp salt; 10 small parsley sprigs; metal cones

You might leave out carrots for the Easter bunny, but you’ll want these carrots for yourself. These Cream Cheese-Filled Puff-Pastry Carrots are the perfect way to celebrate Easter! They’re made with herbed cream cheese and puff pastry, so they’re delicious and fun.

Anyone who has been following AAM for even a minute knows that I like to get creative with my recipes. Sometimes the recipe made more sense in my head than in my kitchen, with the result looking NOTHING like I had envisioned it. Other times, the finished product surpasses my expectations. This is what happened when I attempted these Easter appetizers. I just can’t get over how much the pastry looks like carrots!

I love to make these cream cheese filled puff pastry carrots as part of my Easter celebration. If we are making a special brunch, these puff pastry carrots make a great addition. When we are making Easter dinner and want to serve a simple appetizer, these herbed cream cheese puff pastry treats are always on the menu. Sometimes, I have to remind people not to eat too many or they will ruin their appetites for dinner!

This Cream Cheese Puff Pastry appetizer is the perfect addition to your Easter feast! Flaky puff pastry is filled with a creamy mixture of cream cheese and parsley, then baked until golden brown. Serve them warm or at room temperature, with a glass of sparkling wine, Champagne or Sparkling Bunny Easter Drinks.

Why You Will Love This Recipe

Your guests will think they’re cute while the younger ones at your Easter dinner will gobble them up, which may be the only time they gobble up anything carrot related (apart from carrot cake, I suppose).
Serve this as an Easter appetizer or in the place of dinner rolls or biscuits.
Looking for a conversation starter? Look no further than these eye-catching apps. It adds that bit of whimsy to the table that everyone ‘Oohs‘ and ‘Ahhs‘ over.

Watch how easily these come together:

What is the Cream Filling for Puff-Pastry Roll-Ups?

This is a cream cheese filling that goes inside of the puff pastry roll ups. I am seasoning the cream cheese with fresh parsley. It adds the perfect amount of flavor to the cream filling for the puff pastries. You can add other herbs, either together or instead of. I am also using parsley to use as the ends of the carrots, so the parsley does double duty in this recipe.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Yields: 6

Ingredients

3 puff pastry sheets
1 cup cream cheese (at room temperature)
¼ cup chopped parsley
1 tbsp grated lemon peel
½ tsp salt
10 small parsley sprigs

Special Tools Needed

Stainless Steel Cream Horn Molds

If you don’t have these, you can make your own with aluminum foils. I highly recommend these cream horn molds, though. In addition to these savory puff pastries, you can easily make your own cream horn dessert pastries and other fun things like homemade ice cream cones.

How to Make Cream Cheese-Filled Puff-Pastry Carrots

Preheat the oven to 400°F
Put the cream cheese, salt, and grated lemon peels in a mixing bowl.

Finely chop the parsley and add to the mixture.

Whisk the mixture to a smooth consistency.
Put the puff pastry sheets on a floured surface and unroll the dough.

Cut into 12 (1-inch) strips with a knife or a pizza cutter.

Wrap 1 or 2 strips around each metal cone in the shape of a carrot.

Place on a baking tray and brush each with egg yolk.
Bake for 10 to 12 minutes (until golden brown.)
Remove from the oven and let cool.
Pipe the cheese cream mixture into each pastry.

baked rolled puff pastry horns on a baking sheet

Decorate each top with 1 parsley sprig.

What to Serve with Cream Cheese-Filled Puff-Pastry Carrots

These are perfect for your Easter dinner, but I also love making these with brunch. For brunch I will also serve a quiche, some bacon-wrapped dates, and a fruit salad. These are all great options that will pair well with the cream cheese-filled puff-pastry carrots. Here are some more of my favorite ideas to serve with these cream cheese pastry horns:

FAQs

Can I use a different type of cheese instead of cream cheese?

Sure, any soft cheese will do, like goat cheese or Brie.

Delicious Spinach and Ricotta Stuffed Shells

Can I make mini versions of these puff pastry cones?

Yep, the size of the cone is up to you. Just cut smaller pieces of the pastry and adjust the amount of filling used. Obviously, with less food comes a shorter baking time.

Can I serve the cream cheese-filled puff pastry cones as a dessert?

Now you’re thinking! You can stick with the cream cheese and add some honey or powdered sugar OR you can replace the cream cheese with a high-fat Greek yogurt or whipped cream.

Can These Be Made Ahead Of Time?

These are best when made before serving; however, you can do your prep ahead of time. Just do not bake and fill them until you are just about ready to serve. If you do need to reheat the pastries, I suggest wrapping in aluminum foil to prevent the cream cheese filling from melting out of the pastry.

How to Store Cream Cheese-Filled Puff-Pastry Carrots

These Puff-Pastry Carrots are best when eaten the same day they’re made. This is because you will need to reheat them before enjoying them again. This can cause them to get overdone and even the best-made “carrots” can develop a dry texture. However, they can be stored in the fridge for up to two days. Just make sure to reheat them in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes before serving. Be prepared to lose a bit of the filling.