Forget boring sausage rolls — this Halloween, we’re serving up something wickedly rebellious – golden, flaky, and full of spicy surprises that’ll cast a spell on your taste buds.

My Witch’s Cornish Pockets are golden puff pastry parcels stuffed with spiced minced beef, fiery chilli, and a sneaky rebel ingredient: orange jelly. The jelly gives a hauntingly sweet tang that balances the heat, making each bite mysterious and addictive.

These little “ghostly pockets” are perfect for Halloween parties — make them ahead, freeze, then bake fresh before your guests arrive. With their golden shells and fiery filling, they look innocent… but packed with flavour that’ll spook your taste buds in the best way possible.

Ingredients

• 2 ready-made puff pastry sheets
• 2 tbsp peanut oil (or olive oil | vegetable oil| sunflower oil)
• 1 onion, diced
• 600g minced beef
• 2 cinnamon stick
• 1 Red chili
• 2 bay leaves
• 2 medium red potatoes, diced
• 1 tsp each: Chinese cinnamon powder, turmeric powder, cumin powder, MSG
• ½ tsp red chilli powder
• 2 tsp coriander powder
• 1 tbsp garlic paste
• 1 tbsp ginger paste
• 1 tbsp lemongrass paste
• 2 tbsp tomato puree
• 3 tbsp orange jelly (the secret spooky twist!)
• 1 cup dried fenugreek leaves (optional but adds depth)
• 1 egg (for brushing)
• Sesame seeds (for sprinkling — think “pumpkin freckles”)

Why use MSG?

What is MSG? MSG is Monosodium Glutamate used to enhance flavour in food. I first heard about it from Nigel who is known for his comedic alter ego Uncle Roger, and let me tell you – MSG IS AMAZING! Uncle Roger is right to love it! my kids absolutely love Uncle Roger’s videos and it as my son that spotted MSG in the local Asian supermarket. I am also using it because MSG works by stimulating taste receptors, giving a richer, more balanced Flavours that really complements the beef rather than masking its natural taste.

Where can you find Orange Jelly?

Orange Jelly also known as Marmalade can be found in any supermarket but today, I am using Wilkin and Sons Orange Jelly from Hinchcliffe Farm Shop in Huddersfield. This was a gift and I absolutely love it. It actually tastes better than your standard orange marmalade from the supermarket and spreads so much easier on bread. You can find this at Amazon, and Tiptree. This works in beef and if you have kids that are fans of Paddington Bear, they’ll love that you added marmalade. 

 Method

1. Prep the potions – Measure out all your spices, pastes, and that rebel orange jelly. Remove pastry from the fridge to soften.
2. Slice the chilli – Dice up your fresh red chilli (sun-dried if you’re witchy like me).
3. Summon the aromas – Heat 2 tbsp peanut oil in a pan. Drop in the chilli, bay leaves, and cinnamon stick — let them sizzle for a minute until fragrant.
4. Beef goes in – Add minced beef, remove bay leaves, and stir until lightly browned.
5. Spice storm – Add all spices, onion, and potatoes with a splash of water. Cook for 5 minutes.
6. Tomato magic – Stir in tomato puree, cover slightly, and simmer 5 minutes.
7. The spooky twist – Stir in 3 tbsp orange jelly. Sweet, sticky, mysterious. Cook 5 minutes.
8. Final brew – Stir in fenugreek and cook 5 more minutes. Filling done! Cool before using.
9. Shape the pasties – Roll pastry, cut out 7–10 cm rounds. Add filling to one half, fold, and crimp edges with a fork.
10. Reuse scraps – Roll leftover pastry into more spooky bites.
11. Bake or freeze – Egg wash, sprinkle sesame seeds, and bake at 190°C for 25 minutes until golden. Or freeze and bake later.
12. Serve with Ghoul’s Mint Potion – a creamy mint yoghurt dip with a zing of lemon, perfect for dipping your little golden spells.

Optional Garnish/Extras:

• Sprinkle “Vampire Dust” (paprika or red chilli powder) for a fiery kick.
• Use “Spider Web” pastry cuts on top (cut small lines in the pastry before baking for a web effect).

Time & Calories

• Prep time: 10 mins
• Cook time: 25 mins
• Filling parcels: 10 mins
• Bake Time: 25 mins
• Total: 1hr 10 mins

Why You’ll Love These

• Spooky & Fun – Perfect for Halloween parties.
• Make Ahead – Freeze and bake when needed.
• Rebellious Flavour – Sweet jelly, fiery chilli, and comforting beef.
• Crowd Pleaser – Adults love the spice; kids love the pastry.

Happy Halloween prep, witches and wizards of the kitchen! Remember, a little bit of magic, a dash of spice, and a whole lot of fun make every bite unforgettable.