These crispy puff pastry rolls filled with tapenade are the perfect Provençal aperitif bite. Golden, flaky, and intensely flavoured with black olive paste and herbs, they disappear in seconds at any gathering. Quick to make and impossible to resist!

Ingredients (makes about 20-24 rolls)

1 sheet of ready-made puff pastry
4-5 tbsp tapenade (homemade or store-bought)
50 g grated Parmesan or Gruyère (optional)
1 egg, beaten (for egg wash)
Sesame seeds or poppy seeds for topping
Fresh thyme leaves

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 200°C (390°F). Line a baking tray with parchment paper.
Unroll the puff pastry on a lightly floured surface.
Spread the tapenade evenly over the pastry, leaving a 1 cm border around the edges.
Sprinkle with cheese if using and add fresh thyme leaves.
Roll up tightly from the long side into a log. Refrigerate for 15 minutes to firm up.
Cut into rounds about 1 cm thick. Place on the baking tray cut-side up.
Brush with egg wash and sprinkle with seeds.
Bake for 15-18 minutes until puffed and golden brown.

🫒🥂 Serve warm as an apéritif with a chilled glass of rosé!

About This Recipe

Feuilleté Apéritif à la Tapenade (Tapenade Puff Pastry Rolls) is one of those dishes that rewards a little care and shares beautifully at the table. Below you’ll find timings, practical tips and serving ideas so you can make it with confidence, whether it is your first attempt or a familiar favourite you want to get just right.

At a Glance

Prep time: 25 minutes (plus rising)
Cook time: 35 minutes
Total time: Around 2 hours with proving
Serves: 8-10 slices
Difficulty: Intermediate

Tips for the Best Results

Let the dough prove somewhere warm and draught-free until it has clearly doubled in size.
Weigh the flour rather than using cups for a reliable, repeatable Feuilleté Apéritif à la Tapenade (Tapenade Puff Pastry Rolls).
Don’t rush the second rise; patience here is what gives an open, tender crumb.
Cool the loaf fully on a rack before slicing so the interior sets properly.

Serving Suggestions

Enjoy the Feuilleté Apéritif à la Tapenade (Tapenade Puff Pastry Rolls) slightly warm or at room temperature. It is lovely on its own, with butter and jam, or as the base of a simple breakfast or afternoon treat.