Each year, for as long as we can remember, our neighbors Margarette and David have hosted an open house the Sunday before Christmas. The entire neighborhood stops by for warm apple cider and a buffet of sweet and savory bites. The one treat we always look forward to are Margarette’s little deviled ham turnovers, so after many years I finally asked for the recipe. I am so glad I did because not only are the ham tartlets wonderful, Margarette’s pastry dough is now my go-to recipe for pies and cookies!
For a novice baker, this is the most forgiving dough to work with. The cream cheese allows this pastry some elasticity, but still produces tender and flaky results.
½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature½ cup cream cheese, room temperature1 cup flour, plus more for rolling out the doughPinch of salt
Process the butter, cream cheese, and cream in a food processor, electric mixer, or by hand to thoroughly combine.
Add the flour and salt. Process just until combined and the dough holds together in a ball. Turn the dough out onto a well-floured surface. Divide into 2 pieces. Flatten into disks and wrap each in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before rolling out. If the dough is chilled overnight, take it out 15 minutes before rolling out.
Rub flour all over a rolling pin. Working with one dough disk at a time, place the disk on a clean, well-floured surface. Applying some pressure with the rolling pin, roll gently from the center of the dough to the top and bottom edges.
Rotate the disk and roll to the top and bottom edges again. Re-flour the work surface and rolling pin, turn the dough over, and continue to roll the dough from the center out to the edges. Turn over and roll again, rotating the disk to ensure even rolling until the dough is about 12 inches in diameter, thin but not transparent. Using a biscuit cutter (or an empty aluminum can or juice glass), cut the dough into rounds for filling. Devilish Filling:½ cup (or 4.25 oz. can) deviled ham½ teaspoon mayonnaise½ teaspoon Dijon mustard½ teaspoon hot paprika Pinch dry mustard
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. In a separate bowl, mix together deviled ham, mayonnaise, mustard and paprika and stir until well blended together. Place ½ to 1 teaspoon of filling on one side of each of the dough rounds cut above.
Moisten the edge of the pastry with a finger dipped in a little water, and then fold the empty half of the dough over the filling. Crimp the edges together using the tines of a fork. Place on the prepared baking sheet. Refrigerate while you make the remaining turnovers, putting each one on the sheet as it is assembled.
Place a baking rack in the center of the oven. Brush each turnover with a little milk or egg white if desired. Bake on the center oven rack for 10 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 375 degrees F, and bake for about 20 more minutes, or until golden brown. For even browning, rotate the sheet from front to back halfway through baking.Transfer the turnovers to a wire rack, and let them cool slightly. Serve while they’re still warm.
Freezing Instructions: Freeze unbaked turnovers on a baking sheet until they’re firm, then gently transfer them to a resealable freezer bag. Store them in the freezer for up to 1 month. To bake them from frozen, just add a few minutes to the baking time.
