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All I want to do in the spring is brunch. Yes, I mean that as a verb. I want to dress the part, get together with my girls, and bring a delicious home-cooked dish. My go-to plus-one is normally a breakfast casserole, but figuring out the logistics of transporting a huge casserole intact and warm to one of my friends' apartments in New York City is proving difficult.

York City

Because of this conundrum, I have been scouring the internet for other ideas. Sure, every brunch needs a trusty bagel arrangement and fruit bowl, but I like to be a little more creative than that. Enter: these ham and cheese pastry pockets. They're just the thing to bring that screams all things brunch, fun, and spring.

Get the recipe: Ham and Cheese Pastry Pockets

Related: Homemade Pork Dumplings

What Makes Our Ham and Cheese Pastry Pockets So Amazing

This recipe is part of our newest special issue, Spring Gatherings! If you're also looking forward to all the exciting spring brunches and get-togethers you'll soon be having, this is where you'll find all the best recipes to celebrate.

These ham and cheese pockets will have every guest at the brunch thinking you are a fancy pastry chef. They look so impressive, even though they're made with a pack of frozen puff pastry dough. (Shh, we won't tell!) The melted cheese on top is the final detail that gives the pockets that straight-from-the-bakery look.

A closer look

I love the crunch and butteriness of puff pastry, and the cheesy ham mixture makes things even more delicious. The dry mustard powder and white wine vinegar add a slight kick to the recipe that helps to cut through some of the cream and butter. I also always try to sneak spinach into just about every brunch and breakfast item, so I was happy to see it included here. There's a reason that the combo of ham and cheese is a classic, and it doesn't disappoint here.

How to Make Our Ham and Cheese Pastry Pockets

Get the recipe: Ham and Cheese Pastry Pockets

If you're also looking forward to all the exciting spring brunches and get-togethers you'll soon be having, this is where you'll find all the best recipes to celebrate.

Reading the wider picture

Texture settles most bakery arguments long before flavour gets a vote.

What to remember

  • Kitchn and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article
  • All I want to do in the spring is brunch
  • Because of this conundrum, I have been scouring the internet for other ideas
  • I love the crunch and butteriness of puff pastry, and the cheesy ham mixture makes things even more delicious

Common questions

What should you know about York City?

My go-to plus-one is normally a breakfast casserole, but figuring out the logistics of transporting a huge casserole intact and warm to one of my friends' apartments in New York City is proving difficult.

Why does it matter?

Because of this conundrum, I have been scouring the internet for other ideas.

The bottom line

Every change in the bakery case eventually reaches the same test, which is whether people keep choosing it once the novelty has worn off.