These delicious Smoked Salmon Appetizers are the most perfect salmon bites you’ll ever have! Not only are they incredibly beautiful and elegant, but they taste amazing too!
You seriously won’t be able to get enough of these as every single bite is a burst of delicious flavors! These salmon appetizers are also really unique! They’re made of a crispy, flaky puff pastry base and are topped off with the creamiest, most delicious salmon and cream cheese mixture!
You really don't need to worry about leftovers because these little savory treats will fly off the dinner table as soon as you roll out the trays! They’re an instant crowd-pleaser with their smooth, creamy texture and the crispy puff pastry base.
These smoked salmon appetizers might look intricate, but they’re one of the easiest ones to throw together! Seriously, assembling them is so easy that even kids enjoy helping with them!
They are honestly the best way to entertain a crowd before dinner for a holiday or special occasion. They tick all the boxes for the perfect appetizer, and I’m sure you’re going to fall in love with them!
Want to learn how to make these delicious Smoked Salmon Appetizers? Then keep on reading!
Table of Contents
What are Smoked Salmon Appetizers?
These Smoked Salmon Appetizers are the perfect combination of bite-sized pieces of baked puff pastry, topped with the most delicious cream cheese and salmon mixture that is then garnished with a piece of salmon.
They can be used to make the perfect salmon appetizer platter for any special occasion or holiday! Most salmon appetizer recipes are made up of a crostini, and sometimes a smoked salmon crostini can be a bit boring. But not these bites!
These salmon appetizers are unique and use puff pastry sheets to give you the most incredible flavor in each bite. We are so used to using puff pastry sheets to make desserts, but we forget just how versatile they are!
Puff pastry sheets can actually be used in many different ways! You can stick practically anything on a little baked piece of pastry, and it goes!
So, this recipe is all about having some fun by pulling out a sheet of puff pastry dough and adding the most delicious ingredients on top for the perfect salmon appetizer bites!
Why You Need to Make These Smoked Salmon Appetizer Bites
These Smoked Salmon Appetizers are by far the tastiest ones you’ll ever make! There are so many reasons why you need to make these, but here are the top ones:
- These salmon appetizers have the perfect texture in each bite with a little crunch from the puff pastry, creaminess from the salmon and cream cheese mixture, and the beautiful texture of a piece of salmon on top!
- They’re so incredibly pretty and look beautiful on a dinner table during a holiday or when you have guests over!
- You can easily make them gluten-free by using some gluten-free puff pastry instead of the regular ones!
- These tasty salmon appetizers are impossible to resist and will disappear as soon as you can roll out the trays during a holiday, or appetizer-worthy event.
- They’re super quick and easy to whip up and kids and adults seem to love it alike! I’ve seriously yet to meet someone who didn’t love these salmon appetizer bites
Why You’re Going to Love This Smoked Salmon Appetizer Recipe
Now that we know why you need to make these delicious salmon appetizers, let's look at all the reasons why you’re going to personally fall in love with them:
- The cream cheese and salmon mixture that goes on these salmon appetizer bites is just so perfect that you can even use it on its own as a salmon dip with some cucumber slices!
- You can add this recipe to your list of easy appetizer recipes because it’s not only quick and easy to make, but also incredibly versatile! You can add any combination of toppings and it’ll go great with the puff pastry base!
- With just a handful of ingredients, these salmon appetizers are the tastiest ones out there! What’s best is that you only need simple ingredients to make it!
- The flavors in the cream cheese and salmon mixture go well with just about everything. Try this recipe to a T and you’ll see just about delicious it is.
- Most salmon appetizer recipes are made with a crostini base, but not these bites! They have a super versatile puff pastry base that goes well with just about everything!
- As you try this recipe again and again, I encourage you to add whatever other ingredients your family loves. Some great options include chopped red onion, lemon juice, or lemon zest for a little tang, some avocado for extra creaminess, and some capers if your family loves an extra tang! I’ve also had some readers try pickles and they’ve mentioned it going great with the recipe.
- Regardless of how you choose to have these salmon bites, you’re going to love every bit of them!
What You Need to Make Smoked Salmon Appetizers at Home
Making these Smoked Salmon Appetizers at home requires the simplest of ingredients! Here’s everything you need to whip them up today:
For the Salmon Appetizers
Cream cheese: Cream cheese adds the perfect balance of flavor and creaminess that goes incredibly well with smoked salmon. I recommend using softened cream cheese for the right texture!
Mayonnaise: By adding mayonnaise, you’ll be an extra creamy topping that perfectly complements the smoked salmon. I used homemade mayonnaise for delicious flavor without the preservatives and added calories in store-bought ones!
Wild smoked salmon: You’ll need 8 ounces of wild smoked salmon to make these appetizers! You can also use lox, but I prefer smoked salmon for this recipe the most.
Salt and pepper: We’ll add some freshly ground black pepper and sea salt to taste our cream cheese and salmon mixture!
Garlic: All you need is one small garlic clove to take this appetizer to the next level! One drop of freshly ground or pressed garlic juice is all that you need.
Puff pastry sheets: We’ll be using puff pastry sheets as the base of our delicious salmon appetizers. You’ll need 2 sheets that are 10 x 14 inches each. I recommend thawing them for 30 minutes before you start working with them.
For the Egg Wash
Egg: You’ll need one large egg in the egg wash. Eggs a shine to the salmon appetizers and the yolk will help give it a beautiful color when it is baked.
Water: We’ll use two tablespoons of water to thin out the egg wash so that it goes on smoothly.
Everything bagel seasoning: This is the perfect secret ingredient to take your smoked salmon appetizers to the next level! Just sprinkle some on top of the appetizers to do the trick!
How to Make Smoked Salmon Appetizers (Step-by-Step)
Making these delicious Smoked Salmon Appetizers is so easy that you’d be surprised! Here’s how to make them step by step:
How to Prep Puff Pastry Sheets for Salmon Appetizer
Let’s prep the puff pastry sheet to start off with! First, let’s make the egg wash. To do this, whisk together egg and water in a small bowl and set it aside until ready for use.
Next, preheat the oven to 400 F (or 205 C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set it aside. I personally like to grease the baking sheet I'm using with butter so the parchment paper stays on better.
Now, use a pizza cutter to cut each pastry sheet into 2-inch squares. Then use a knife to slightly imprint a border around each square without cutting completely through the dough.
You can use a fork and poke lots of holes in the middle of each pastry square instead, whichever method you prefer more. This will prevent the pastry dough from puffing up too much.
Now use a pastry brush to brush the egg wash all over the top of all the puff pastry squares.
Next, sprinkle the pastry squares with the desired amount of Everything Bagel Seasoning so an extra kick of flavor!
How to Bake Salmon Appetizers
Now transfer the pastry squares onto the baking sheet that you lined with parchment paper. Bake them for 10 to 12 minutes or until they turn light golden brown in color.
Once done, remove the baking sheet from the oven, and while it is hot, use a spatula to gently flatten the squares a bit if they puffed up way too much.
Next, use a measuring spoon that’s one inch in diameter to further press the pastry down in the center of each square to create a little crater for the cream mixture.
Set aside and cool completely before piping on the cream mixture.
How to Make Smoked Salmon Cream Cheese Filling
Now, using a hand mixer beat softened cream cheese until it’s smooth. Add mayonnaise and beat again until well combined and smooth in texture.
Next, add half of the smoked and mashed salmon. You’ll notice that the wild salmon meat can be quite tough sometimes, so I prefer to mash it with a fork before adding it to the cream. Only add half of the smoked salmon as we’ll be reserving the rest of it to garnish our appetizers.
Now add garlic juice (pressed from one small garlic clove), freshly ground black pepper, and sea salt to taste into the bowl.
Beat everything together once more for a minute or until everything is well combined and incorporated. Scrape the side of the bowl using a silicone spatula halfway through mixing.
Next, add freshly chopped dill and mix just until combined for 5 seconds or so.
How to Assemble Smoked Salmon Appetizers
Time to put it all together! Once the pastry squares are cooled, fill a reusable piping bag with a 1M attachment and pipe about a teaspoon of the cream filling into the center of each pastry.
Now cut small strips of smoked salmon (reserved from earlier) and roll them into tiny rose shapes and place one in the center of each piped salmon cream cheese filling. Garnish your appetizers with fresh dill.
Chill your delicious smoked salmon appetizers for an hour or so before serving. Time to enjoy these seriously, unspeakably tasty mouth poppers!
Similar Recipe
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Check all appetizer recipes.
Recipe Card
Easy Smoked Salmon Appetizers (w/ Crispy Puff Pastry Base)
Ingredients
Salmon Cream Cheese Pastry Appetizers Ingredients
- 2 - puff pastry sheets (10 x 14 inches each (thaw pasty sheets for 30 minutes before working with them).
- 8 oz. – softened plain cream cheese
- 1 cup – mayonnaise (I used homemade mayonnaise)
- 8 oz. – wild smoked salmon
- freshly ground black pepper and sea salt to taste
- 1 small - garlic clove (one drop of freshly ground or pressed garlic juice)
Pastry Egg wash and Seasoning Ingredients
- 2 tbsp. – water (room temperature)
- 1 large – egg (I used home-raised chicken eggs)
- Everything Bagel Seasoning
Instructions
How to Prep Puff Pastry Sheets for Salmon Appetizer
- Let’s prep the puff pastry sheet to start off with! First, let’s make the egg wash. To do this, whisk together egg and water in a small bowl and set it aside until ready for use.
- Next, preheat the oven to 400 F (or 205 C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set it aside. I personally like to grease the baking sheet I'm using with butter so the parchment paper stays on better.
- Now, use a pizza cutter to cut each pastry sheet into 2-inch squares. Then use a knife to slightly imprint a border around each square without cutting completely through the dough.
- You can use a fork and poke lots of holes in the middle of each pastry square instead, whichever method you prefer more. This will prevent the pastry dough from puffing up too much.
- Now use a pastry brush to brush the egg wash all over the top of all the puff pastry squares.
- Next, sprinkle the pastry squares with the desired amount of Everything Bagel Seasoning so an extra kick of flavor!
How to Bake Salmon Appetizers
- Now transfer the pastry squares onto the baking sheet that you lined with parchment paper. Bake them for 10 to 12 minutes or until they turn light golden brown in color.
- Once done, remove the baking sheet from the oven, and while it is hot, use a spatula to gently flatten the squares a bit if they puffed up way too much.
- Next, use a measuring spoon that’s one inch in diameter to further press the pastry down in the center of each square to create a little crater for the cream mixture.
- Set aside and cool completely before piping on the cream mixture.
How to Make Smoked Salmon Cream Cheese Filling
- Now, using a hand mixer beat softened cream cheese until it’s smooth. Add mayonnaise and beat again until well combined and smooth in texture.
- Next, add half of the smoked and mashed salmon. You’ll notice that the wild salmon meat can be quite tough sometimes, so I prefer to mash it with a fork before adding it to the cream. Only add half of the smoked salmon as we’ll be reserving the rest of it to garnish our appetizers.
- Now add garlic juice (pressed from one small garlic clove), freshly ground black pepper, and sea salt to taste into the bowl.
- Beat everything together once more for a minute or until everything is well combined and incorporated. Scrape the side of the bowl using a silicone spatula halfway through mixing.
- Next, add freshly chopped dill and mix just until combined for 5 seconds or so.
How to Assemble Smoked Salmon Appetizers
- Time to put it all together! Once the pastry squares are cooled, fill a reusable piping bag with a 1M attachment and pipe about a teaspoon of the cream filling into the center of each pastry.
- Now cut small strips of smoked salmon (reserved from earlier) and roll them into tiny rose shapes and place one in the center of each piped salmon cream cheese filling. Garnish your appetizers with fresh dill.
- Chill your delicious smoked salmon appetizers for an hour or so before serving. Time to enjoy these seriously, unspeakably tasty mouth poppers!
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