Description
Spooky Air Fryer Halloween Appetizer Bites! Easy, fun, and delicious for your ghoulish gathering. Get ready for crispy, cheesy, delightful treats.
Ingredients
Scale
- Air Fryer Halloween Appetizer Bites Base:
- 1 sheet (approx. 9 oz) frozen puff pastry, thawed
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- Spooky Flavor Boosters:
- 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
- Finishing Touches:
- 1 large egg, beaten (for egg wash)
- 1 tablespoon black sesame seeds
- 1 tablespoon white sesame seeds
Instructions
- Whip Up the Filling:: Okay, first things first, let’s get that creamy, cheesy core ready for your Air Fryer Halloween Appetizer Bites. In a medium bowl, take your softened cream cheese, the shredded cheddar, a dash of Worcestershire sauce, and that glorious garlic powder. Mix it all up until it’s super smooth and everything is combined. I usually use a fork for this, but if you’re feeling fancy, a rubber spatula works too. Don’t overmix, but make sure there are no lumpy bits of cream cheese hiding—that’s a rookie mistake I learned the hard way!
- Prep the Pastry:: Now for the puff pastry. Unroll one sheet onto a lightly floured surface. You want to gently roll it out a tiny bit, just to smooth it and make it a little thinner, maybe to about 1/8-inch thick. Then, slice it into even squares, roughly 2×2 inches. I usually eyeball it, and honestly, they don’t have to be perfect. Rustic, right? This is where my kitchen gets a bit messy, with flour dusting everything, but it’s part of the charm.
- Fill ‘Em Up:: Time to fill your Air Fryer Halloween Appetizer Bites! Take about a teaspoon of that creamy cheese mixture and dollop it right in the center of each pastry square. Don’t overfill, I’ve done that, and then the cheese just oozes out everywhere during cooking, creating a delightful but messy situation. Less is more here, trust me. You’ll smell that cheesy goodness starting to form.
- Shape the Spooky Bites:: Now for the fun part: folding them! Take two opposite corners of each square and bring them together, pinching them firmly in the center. Then, pinch the other two corners together, creating a little pyramid or star shape. This helps keep the filling tucked inside. Don’t be afraid to really pinch them; you want them sealed up tight so the cheese doesn’t escape in the air fryer. If they look a bit wonky, that’s fine—it adds character!
- Egg Wash and Seeds:: Whisk up that egg in a small bowl for your egg wash. Gently brush the tops of your shaped Air Fryer Halloween Appetizer Bites. This gives them that gorgeous golden color and helps the sesame seeds stick. Then, sprinkle generously with both black and white sesame seeds. They really make these bites look extra festive and a little spooky, like tiny little eyeballs peeking out! It’s a small step, but it makes a big visual difference.
- Air Fryer Magic:: Preheat your air fryer to 375°F (190°C). Arrange the bites in a single layer in the air fryer basket, making sure not to overcrowd them. You’ll probably need to do this in batches. Air fry for 8-10 minutes, or until they’re beautifully golden brown and puffed up, and the cheese is melted and bubbly. The smell, oh my goodness, the smell! It fills the kitchen with such a warm, savory aroma. Let them cool for just a minute or two before serving, because that cheese is lava hot!