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This Puff Pastry Sausage Braid is an easy and impressive looking side or appetizer. Especially when dipped into a Beer Cheese Sauce made with American wheat ale, cheddar, and smoked Gouda for a sweet n’ smoky explosion of flavor. | www.megiswell.com

Puff Pastry Sausage Braid with Beer Cheese Sauce

This Puff Pastry Sausage Braid is an easy and impressive looking side or appetizer. Especially when dipped into a Beer Cheese Sauce made with American wheat ale, cheddar, and smoked Gouda for a sweet n’ smoky explosion of flavor.
Course Sides and Snacks
Prep Time 40 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings 6
Author Megan Wells

Ingredients

Puff Pastry Sausage Braid

  • 2/4 cups Parmesan cheese, grated
  • 1/4 cup smoked Gouda, grated
  • 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
  • 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary, finely diced
  • 1 teaspoon coarse sea salt
  • 1 sheet puff pastry
  • 1 (14 ounce) package Jennie-O Hardwood Smoked Turkey Sausage

Beer Cheese Sauce

  • 1/4 cup evaporated milk
  • 12 ounces American wheat ale wheat beer, blonde ale, pale ale, or pilsner
  • 3 cups sharp cheddar cheese, grated
  • 2 cups smoked Gouda cheese, grated
  • 2 to 3 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 2 teaspoons dijon mustard
  • pinch Morton Kosher Salt, to taste

Instructions

Puff Pastry Sausage Braid

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. 

  2. Mix together the grated cheese, rosemary, and sesame seeds. Sprinkle 1/4 cup of the mixture onto the countertop in a rough 5 by 9-inch rectangle. 

  3. Roll out the puff pastry sheet onto the cheese and herb mixture until it’s 1/4 of an inch thick. If you are using frozen puff pastry, wait until it is thawed, unfold it and roll it a little to press the cheese into the dough. 

  4. Sprinkle another 1/4 cup of the cheese and herb mixture on top of the puff pastry sheet. Roll it out until it is 1/8 of an inch thick. 

  5. Sprinkle with a 1/2 teaspoon of coarse sea salt. 

  6. Fold the puff pastry sheet in half, turn the dough so that the seam is on your left, and sprinkle with another 1/4 cup of the cheese and herb mixture. 

  7. Roll out the puff pastry sheet until it is 1/8 of an inch thick and 10 inches long. 

  8. Sprinkle with another 1/2 teaspoons coarse sea salt. 

  9. Cut the puff pastry sheet into 1.5 inch thick strips of dough. 

  10. Remove the Jennie-O Turkey Sausage from the package and pat it dry with a paper towel. Place it on the prepared baking sheet. 

  11. Starting from one end, wrap the strips of dough around the sausage.  

  12. Chill for 30 minutes in the fridge. 

  13. Bake for 10 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Lower the heat to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until the puff pastry is a deep golden color, puffed and crispy, and feels dry to the touch. 

  14. Let the braid cool briefly on the baking sheet until it’s firm enough to transfer to a cooling rack. 

Beer Cheese Sauce

  1. Toss the grated cheese with 2 tablespoons cornstarch. 

  2. Heat the beer and milk on medium heat. Once it’s hot, stir in the cheese until completely melted. Add more cornstarch until the desired consistency is reached. This cheese sauce is supposed to be pourable at room temperature.

  3. Stir in the honey, mustard, and salt and stir. Pour the cheese sauce into a container and serve hot or at room temperature. If you put the sauce in the fridge it might slightly solidify. If so, just put it in the microwave for 5 to 10 seconds and stir until it's the consistency you want.