These savory palmiers need only 3 ingredients (puff pastry, cheese and fig preserves) but they are transformed into a delicious sweet-savory, crispy snack. Perfect for a party or any excuse you want to find!

side view of cheese and fig savory palmiers on plate

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I live in a house of cheese lovers, in pretty much any form. My kids have surprisingly sophisticated tastes which I guess I'm proud of (even if it can be expensive).

They like pieces of cheese as part of their lunch often, but also cheesy snacks. Things like adjaruli khachapuri (Georgian cheese bread) and tiropita (Greek cheese pastries) were incredibly popular! And so were these cheesy palmiers.

cheese and fig savory palmiers on plate from overhead

What are palmiers?

Palmiers, also known as elephant ears, are a simple French pastry. They get the 'elephant ear' name as they are formed with two spirals of puff pastry joined together (and it looks a little like a big ear). In the classic sweet version, you sprinkle sugar over the pastry as you roll.

I've made a variation on sweet palmiers before, date walnut palmiers, which we really enjoyed, but I've meant to make a savory version for a while. In fact I tried a while ago, but my filling was too moist and the pastry didn't cook fully.

These fig and cheese savory palmiers, however, turned out perfectly.

cheese and fig savory palmiers held in hand showing cheesy bottom

Actually that's not totally true as a few unravelled a bit as I cooked them as I didn't stick the two spirals together quite well enough.

But with a little nudging, they stayed together as they cooled and the lovely cheese layer formed on the bottom. And no one was complaining as they dove in.

adding jam layer on cheese and fig savory palmiers

How to make cheese and fig savory palmiers

Flatten out a sheet of puff pastry on a lightly floured surface.
Spread a thin layer of fig preserves over the top of the pastry.
Sprinkle over a layer of grated cheese.
Roll two opposite edges into the middle and use a little water to gently help the two 'rolls' stick.
Using a serrated knife, cut the rolled up pastry into slices then carefully transfer to a lined baking sheet.
Bake until crisp and golden.

Learn from my mistakes!

The bit I forgot to do is make a slightly better seal on the two spirals. Since the outside of the pastry was on a floured surface (so it doesn't stick to that too much), it may not stick to itself as well. They may seem like they are holding together, but remember the pastry will expand as it cooks.

I'd suggest you brush the part that joins with a little water to help it stick better. And if they separate while baking, as mine did, then you can nudge them back together.

rolled up cheese and fig savory palmiers ready to slice

When you transfer the slices to the baking sheet, you may think they are looking a little empty on filling. You might be tempted to add more cheese or twist them tighter. Don't. Having done that with a few myself, it really doesn't help, and also remember, as I said above, they will expand when they cook anyway.

In case you are wondering which way to roll them up, it doesn't really matter. If you roll the longer edges, you'll get more, thinner palmiers. If you roll the short edges, you get less that are wider.

Personally, I made more, thinner coils, which meant I had more to go around. Which was definitely a good thing.

cheese and fig savory palmier slices on baking sheet ready to bake

These are the kind of snack that are really easy to make, and also easy to adapt. You can use different cheeses and different jams or preserves. Although I have to say, the combination of fig preserves and a sharp cheddar was pretty much perfect to me.

Lightly sweet, crisp, and cheesy, these savory palmiers are a delicious any time snack. These were well shared with friends and got rave reviews from all. And disappeared in no time as a result. It's just as well they are so easy to make. Give them a try and enjoy yourself!

cheese and fig savory palmiers stacked on plate

Try these other bites with a crunch:

Pesto goat cheese filo parcels
Tiropita (Greek cheese pastries)
Yuca fries
Chorizo cheese twists
Plus get more appetizer recipes in the archives.

Print Recipe

4.34 from 3 votes

Savory palmiers

These cheese and fig savory palmiers are so easy to make and make an addictively tasty, crisp snack.

Prep Time10

Cook Time15

Total Time25

Course: Snack

Cuisine: American, Fusion

Servings: approx (or less if thicker)

Calories: 84kcal

Author: Caroline's Cooking

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Ingredients

7 oz puff pastry (1 sheet, depending on size of packet)
2 tablespoon fig preserves fig jam
¾ cup grated cheddar or gruyere also works well

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 400F/200C and line a baking sheet with a silicone baking mat or parchment.
Flatten out the sheet of puff pastry on a lightly floured surface.
Spread a thin layer of fig preserves over the top of the pastry, leaving just a small edge without any on.
Sprinkle over a layer of grated cheese, covering evenly.
Roll two opposite edges into the middle - don't roll too tightly, just as it naturally rolls. Use a little water to gently help the two 'rolls' stick by brushing along the join. You might want to chill the roll before slicing to make it easier.
Using a serrated or large, sharp knife, cut the rolled up pastry into slices then carefully transfer to the lined baking sheet.
Bake until the pastry is crisp and golden, about 15 minutes. Nudge in any coils that have opened up too much. Leave to cool a few minutes so that the cheese can firm up before transferring to a cooling rack.

Video

Notes

I have made these with both a sharp cheddar and gruyere along with the fig preserves and they pair well, but you can try different cheeses, as well as different jams/preserves.

Nutrition

See some of my favorite cooking tools and ingredients in the Caroline's Cooking Amazon store.

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These savory palmiers need only 3 ingredients (puff pastry, cheese and fig preserves) but they are transformed into a delicious sweet-savory, crispy snack. Perfect for a party or any excuse you want to find! #brunchweek #ad #savorypalmiers #cheesepastry

Disclaimer: Thank you to #BrunchWeek Sponsors: Dixie Crystals, Cabot Cheese, Joyjolt, Sweets & Treats, Torani, Sarcastic Cooking, Dessert for Two, Sweet Phi, and The Little Ferraro Kitchen for providing prizes free of charge (giveaway now closed). These companies also provided the bloggers with samples and product to use for #BrunchWeek recipes. All opinions are my own.