Monte Cristo Puffs are bite-sized crescent baked party appetizers filled with ham, brie cheese and raspberry jam.
Monte Cristo Puffs
By Sue Lau | Palatable Pastime
Monte Cristo Puffs is my recipe of the day with the blogging group Baking Bloggers. This is the last event of the year, plus our last event together as this particular group. In January we will be moving to the first and last Saturdays as Supper Club Saturday and Potluck Party so be sure to look for us on our various blogs.
Jump to Recipe~Print Recipe
What is a Monte Cristo Puff?
This is a baked party appetizer using Pillsbury crescent rolls and stuffing them with ham, Brie cheese and raspberry jam for an interesting variation on the classic sandwich.
A friend of mine had been asking about a type of these made with puff pastry that was leaking. I wanted to do a test to sort the problem, but only had a tube of crescents handy.
I went ahead and stuffed the pastry, crimped it up and baked them off. Which as you can see, except for a few steam holes I purposely made, and a couple of poor seam cracks (shame on me!) they held together fine.
Sprinkled with some powdered sugar, these would make a great Christmas day brunch item. Because even with party appies, we still party in the morning on certain days.
What are Monte Cristo Sandwiches?
Normally, the Monte Cristo is a type of croque monsieur sandwich that is a type of French toast sandwich dipped in egg wash and grilled with the ham and cheese filling inside. Most places will offer a raspberry jam dip. And of course the sugar sprinkle.
Monte Cristo as a Retro Sandwich
The Monte Cristo used to be really popular decades ago. And to be quite honest, I haven’t ordered one in a restaurant since I was in a coffee shop in L.A. probably around 1979.
They have essentially disappeared from menus after that. You may spot one if you’re lucky. Otherwise you are on your own.
Pillsbury Crescent Appetizers
Using Pillsbury crescent dough for appetizers has also become somewhat of a retro thing. During the 1980’s it seemed like this was the hot item at any Pampered Chef party. Well, not this particular recipe. I do recall a cream cheese spread crescent roll pizza at parties almost without fail.
And while using the dough for appies is now a very unoriginal idea, it can be fun to revisit from time to time, especially around holidays. That’s the time when the familiar is always welcome.
Baking Bloggers December 2021
Baked Party Appetizers
- Brie Gougere from Sid’s Sea Palm Cooking
- Cheddar Cheese and Pecan Crisps from Karen’s Kitchen Stories
- Cheesy White Sauce Chicken Buns from Sneha’s Recipe
- Crescent Roll Samosa Wreath from Magical Ingredients
- Mini Christmas Cakes from Small Batch Baking Kitchen
- Monte Cristo Puffs from Palatable Pastime
- Pigs In A Blanket Christmas Wreath from Making Miracles
- Shrimp and Pork Roll Lettuce Cups from A Day in the Life on the Farm
This is the final installment of Baking Bloggers before it is retired this month.
Join us in January on the first Saturday as we begin a new recipe endeavor called “Supper Club Saturday” featuring a variety of favorite recipes from many of our same bloggers, and some new friends. We will also be posting on the last Saturdays of the month for a similar event called “Potluck Party”. See you there!
Monte Cristo Puffs
You Might Also Like:
Monte Cristo Waffle Sandwiches
Monte Cristo Waffle Sandwich is the classic Monte Cristo ham sandwich- cleverly disguised inside a waffle.
Cajun Style Crab Dip
Cajun Style Crab Dip is my take on the popular crab dip often found at the grocery store seafood counter made with imitation crab
Mexican Queso Dip
Mexican queso dip is easily made on y0ur stove with white cheeses and a few other simple pantry ingredients.
Spanakopita Bites
Spanakopita Bites take all the flavors of the phyllo wrapped feta and spinach pastries and place them in a simple bite sized tart.
Lit’l Smokies in Grape Jelly Sauce
Lit’l Smokies in Grape Jelly Sauce are the easiest appetizer for holiday parties. Ever. Only 3 ingredients and under a half hour!
Monte Cristo Puffs

Monte Cristo Puffs
Ingredients
- 8 ounce roll Pillsbury Crescent Rolls
- 2 ounces very thinly sliced deli ham
- 8 teaspoons spreadable Brie cheese
- 2 teaspoons raspberry jam
- powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375F.
- Piece together the seams on the rolls if not using the seamless sheet.
- Cut into 8 squares.
- Place ham on squares and top with Brie and jam.
- Bring corners together to make parcels, making sure the seams are pinched together nicely.
- Cut a small slit in the top of each parcel with a small knife or toothpick to allow steam to escape during baking.
- Bake 12 minutes or until nicely browned.
- Cool 15 minutes the sprinkle with powdered sugar.
Notes
Nutrition
Join my recipe group on Facebook for more recipes from blogger friends around the world!
Pillsbury to the rescue for a few of us this month. Love these little bite size monte cristos.
I like their dough. We should play with it more often! (Play-dough *rofl*) <3
These sound perfect and delicious! Pillsbury crescent roll comes in handy for quick appetizers!