Cheesy Spinach and Artichoke Twists Recipe

The rest of December just got a whole lot better with these spinach artichoke twists—an easy, crowd-pleasing holiday appetizer that’s as adorable as it is delicious.

They look impressive, but the truth is they’re simple to make. If you’re hunting for a festive starter to serve this season, these twists fit the bill—flaky puff pastry wrapped around a savory spinach, artichoke, pancetta and blue cheese filling, finished with a sprinkle of everything seasoning.

This recipe is far easier than it appears. It’s inspired by a tart-style pastry idea but streamlined so anyone can make it at home. The shortcut is using store-bought puff pastry and fresh ingredients for a quick, flavorful filling.

Instead of frozen spinach, this version uses fresh baby spinach—no thawing required and a brighter texture and flavor. Chopped artichokes add holiday-worthy richness, and the combination with pancetta and a crumbly blue cheese gives the filling a lovely balance without turning it into a runaway, bubbling mess during baking.

Crumbly cheeses like gorgonzola or another blue cheese are ideal here: they bring big flavor without becoming too liquid. If you’ve never paired blue cheese with spinach before, you’ll find it elevates the dish and makes it surprisingly addictive.

The combination is just wonderful.

Another favorite addition is crispy pancetta. With shallot, garlic, spinach, chopped artichokes, pancetta and blue cheese, the filling is savory and layered. It’s the kind of mixture you could happily eat with a spoon while watching your favorite show—though wrapped in buttery puff pastry, it becomes party-perfect finger food.

Before baking, brush the top with egg wash and shower the pastry with everything seasoning for an extra punch of flavor and texture. That final touch lifts these from delicious to irresistible.

Yes—you can assemble these ahead of time. Puff pastry is best baked and served soon after it comes out of the oven to retain maximum flakiness, but you can prepare the filled and twisted pastry and refrigerate until you’re ready to bake. That makes them an excellent option for holiday entertaining.

Everything Spinach Artichoke Twists

Everything Spinach Artichoke Puff Pastry Twists

Yield:

6
people

Prep Time:
25 mins

Cook Time:
20 mins

Total Time:
45 mins

A flaky puff pastry filled with a savory mix of spinach, artichokes, pancetta and blue cheese, finished with an everything seasoning crust—perfect for the holidays.

Ingredients

• 2 sheets frozen puff pastry, thawed
• 4 ounces diced pancetta
• 1 shallot, diced
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
• 3 cups fresh baby spinach, chopped
• 6 artichoke hearts, chopped
• 1/2 cup crumbled gorgonzola or other blue cheese
• 1 egg + 1 teaspoon water, lightly beaten (for egg wash)
• 1 to 2 tablespoons everything seasoning

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 425°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Heat a large skillet over medium-low heat and cook the pancetta until crispy. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Reserve about 1 teaspoon of the rendered fat in the skillet and discard the rest.
• Add the shallot and garlic to the skillet with the reserved fat, stir in the black pepper, and cook until the shallot softens, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
• Using a circular object roughly the size of the puff pastry sheets, cut an equal circle from the center of both pastry sheets so they match. Place both circles on the parchment-lined baking sheet.
• In a large bowl, combine the chopped spinach, artichokes, cooked pancetta, shallot and garlic mixture, and crumbled cheese. Mix well. Mound the filling in the center of one pastry circle, leaving a 1/2-inch border. Brush the border with egg wash, then place the second pastry circle on top, aligning edges and pressing to seal.
• Press a biscuit cutter or the rim of a glass into the center without cutting through. Using a sharp knife, cut slits from the center to the edge about 1 inch apart. Gently twist each strip from the center two to three times to form twists.
• Brush the top with egg wash and sprinkle with everything seasoning. Bake on the center rack for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the pastry is golden and glossy. Serve immediately.

Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: American

Author: How Sweet Eats

Consider making a dipping sauce on the side—this filling would pair nicely with a simple herbed yogurt dip or a lemony aioli for extra brightness.