This Easy 2-Ingredient Appetizer Will Look Like You Spent All Day Making It

Easy appetizers exist on a spectrum that starts with, say, a simple no-cook dish of olive oil for dipping, and stretches all the way to something more scratch-made but still low effort, like sweet and savory three-ingredient bacon-wrapped dates. And both can be great. But, when you're aiming to impress your guests, you might want to present something closer to the latter end of that spectrum. Puff pastry sausage roll bites are just the thing to make it look like you were preparing dough all day when nearly all you really need to do is wind the carb around the protein, bake, slice into bite-sized pieces, and bask in the praise.

If puff pastry sausage roll bites already sound pretty similar to pigs in a blanket and sausage rolls, then you can probably throw this appetizer together with minimal further instruction. But while pigs in a blanket typically use tiny hot dogs, and sausage rolls often call for pork, these are more adaptable as you can choose any kind of sausage to suit any occasion or tastes. Their two simple ingredients (sausage and puff pastry) are also easy to shop for on the day of an event, or even keep tucked away in the freezer for when folks just drop by and you want to look like a last-minute home cooking genius. They're just an elegant snack to whip up for everyone, whenever. And puff pastry sausage bites are just as suitable for morning fêtes as they are for evening soirées, depending on the flavors you incorporate.

To make these bite-sized appetizers, you'll need your preferred package of store-bought puff pastry, plus practically any sausage variety you like. Something like hot Italian sausage can make for a lightly spicy nibble, while its sweeter alternative will bring a more sweet-savory quality to the table. Kielbasa (Polish sausage) should impart some smoky notes, and fresh chorizo can be a bright, peppery choice. You'll just want something with a decent circumference, about 2 inches or so in diameter, so the puff pastry doesn't overwhelm the appetizer. You'll unfurl the puff pastry, place your chosen sausage at the bottom of the sheet, and roll the pastry upwards. You'll then slice the cylinder into inch-wide medallions, and bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for about 20 minutes.

Dips and sauces make puff pastry sausage roll bites even more versatile. There are enough kinds of mustard alone to create a whole tasting flight. Fruit compotes can also lean into the sweeter side of things, or even maple syrup for breakfast sausage bites served at brunch. And accompaniments like chili crisp and chimichurri have rarely met a meat and carb combo that they didn't love. Portion your condiments into ramekins and serve with plenty of toothpicks so folks can easily sample as many flavors as they wish.