Alert! Alert! We are T-Minus 3 weeks to Thanksgiving, people! And we all know what that means… the in-laws! Oh yeah, if you’ve been married as long as I have, then you know that as you nervously baste the turkey, your mother-in-law will be scrutinizing your every move. It’s like she’s got eyes in the back of her head! So distract her with a tempting appetizer that even she won’t look away from… Braided Ham & Brie Stuffed Pastry!

I was sent a delicious sample of Frick’s Applewood Smoked Ham and the recipe wheels immediately began turning. I personally always struggle with appetizer ideas, so I purposely challenged myself to create a unique and delicious appetizer that would stave off the hungry masses on Thanksgiving. Thus my Braided Ham & Brie Stuffed Pastry was born!

This may seem like a complicated recipe, but it’s actually quite easy to make. But just in case, let’s walk through it together. Preheat the oven to 375°F and line a baking pan with parchment paper. Roll the pastry puff out to approx. 11 x 13″ and place on the lined baking pan. Divide the sheet into thirds lengthwise by lightly scoring with a knife.

Then, cut 1 in. fringe along the outside sections.

Spread the fig jam along the inside section of the pastry.

Then layer with pine nuts, approx. 12 slices of Frick’s Applewood Ham, brie, apple, and another 5 or so pieces of ham.

Braid or fold the fringe by alternating from each side over the center filling.

Brush the pastry with egg wash.

Place the ban in the oven and bake approx. 25 minutes. Slice and serve warm. Enjoy!

I particularly love this recipe for two reasons. First, it can be prepared in advanced and served at room temperature, leaving you to worry about more pressing bird matters. Second, unlike the majority of appetizer recipes out there, you don’t have to tediously assemble hundreds of mini bites. Nope! You make one large stuffed pastry and then slice it into individual serving sizes. So what do you think? Would you mother-in-law be impressed? Shout it out in the comments and make sure to check out the delectable Frick’s Meats products and follow along on Facebook & Instagram!