You know those moments when you just want something to nibble on – not a full meal, not a packet of crisps – just a little something delicious? That’s where Parmesan Nibbles come in. Trust me, once you make these, you’ll be looking for excuses to whip up a batch!
They’re ridiculously simple. All you need is some puff pastry (shop-bought is absolutely fine – no judgement here), a good handful of grated Parmesan cheese, a beaten egg, and maybe a sprinkle of black pepper if you’re feeling fancy. That’s it. Honestly.
The puff pastry is the magic ingredient that makes everything feel a bit more special without you having to faff around for hours. It puffs up into these beautiful, golden, flaky layers in the oven, so every bite is light and buttery and just right.
And then, the Parmesan. Oh, the Parmesan. It’s what brings the whole thing to life. Salty, nutty, a bit sharp – it’s basically flavour gold dust. You don’t need to drown the pastry in cheese; a nice even sprinkle is perfect. It melts and goes all golden and crispy on top, and honestly, it’s the stuff of dreams.
A quick brush of egg over the pastry before you add the cheese helps everything stick nicely, and it gives the nibbles that gorgeous glossy sheen once they’re baked. You’ll feel like a professional baker pulling these out of the oven, I promise you.
If you want to get a bit adventurous, you could throw on a few sesame seeds or a tiny pinch of herbs like thyme or rosemary. But really, these are so good in their simple, cheesy glory, you might not even want to mess about with them.
Serve them up warm, piled onto a plate or a wooden board – they’ll be gone faster than you can say “help yourself.” They’re perfect with a glass of wine, a few olives on the side, or just on their own when you need a little pick-me-up.
Best bit? They’re ready in no time at all. Perfect for last-minute guests, Friday night snacks, or just because you fancy treating yourself (which, by the way, you absolutely should).
Parmesan Nibbles – once you try them, you’ll wonder how you ever got through a party without them.
Parmesan Nibbles
Ingredients
- 1 sheet puff pastry about 320g
- 1 large egg free range beaten
- 50 g Parmesan cheese finely grated
- freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 200°C (180°C fan) / 400°F / Gas Mark 6. Line a baking tray with baking paper.
- Unroll the puff pastry and place it flat on a lightly floured surface or straight onto the lined baking tray.1 sheet puff pastry
- Brush the pastry all over with the beaten egg.1 large egg
- Sprinkle the grated Parmesan evenly across the surface. Add a light grinding of black pepper if you like.50 g Parmesan cheese, freshly ground black pepper
- Cut the pastry into small squares, rectangles, or strips – about 3–4cm wide is ideal for bite-sized nibbles.
- Bake in the oven for 12–15 minutes, or until puffed up and beautifully golden.
- Cool slightly on the tray, then move to a wire rack to cool completely (if you can resist eating them straight away!).
15 comments
The texture was so light and flaky, and the Parmesan gave just the right amount of salty kick.
Perfect little bites! I used a mix of Parmesan and mature Cheddar, and they came out beautifully golden and full of flavour.
Highly recommend trying different cheeses as well.
They look fancy, taste amazing, and take barely any time – what’s not to love?
Honestly one of the easiest appetisers I’ve ever made.
I added a pinch of rosemary on top and they were divine.
So simple but so good. I swapped the Parmesan for Gruyère and they were still absolutely delicious.
These nibbles are dangerously moreish! I served them with a glass of prosecco and it was the perfect pairing.
I made these for my book club night and they were such a hit.
I love that you can make them ahead of time and just warm them up before serving.
Puff pastry and Parmesan – such a simple but winning combo.
I added a sprinkle of sesame seeds too – lovely.
Crispy, cheesy, and just the right size for a snack.
I could happily have eaten these al myself. I used gruyere and they were stunning
So easy to prepare and they look really impressive on a platter.