Homemade Ham and Cheese Hot Pockets

Make your own ham and cheese hot pockets with a buttery white or healthy wheat-option crust, and all the gooey cheese filling with thin sliced ham. See notes for how to freeze.

Why this recipe works

This hot pockets recipe is so easy to make, there's no reason to buy the boxed version.

You can make these warm pockets of portable joy with real ingredients, and for a fraction of the cost.

I tweaked my Whole Wheat Pizza Crust recipe for the dough, and added spices and other ingredients for a healthier option. However, you can stick to the tender, flaky white flour crust if you prefer.

The small amount of yeast used in the hot pocket dough is perfect: it's just enough to get the job done, resulting in a chewy thin crust that isn't overly puffy.

Either hot pocket dough recipe will yield a delicious crust, but I tend to prefer the wheat crust version.

They're freezer friendly! Just like the frozen boxed brand, these can be made ahead and stored in the freezer for months. To heat, microwave on high for 1 ½ to 2 minutes, or bake at 350°F (177°C) for 15-18 minutes.

Ingredients

Ham- Smoked ham from your deli sliced thin (you can even ask them to slice it for you!)

Cheese- a blend of medium or sharp cheddar, or both, along with a small amount of American cheese makes for a creamy sauce like consistency. Use cheese on the block, and shred by hand; don't use pre shredded cheese.

Flour- all purpose, bread flour are both fine, and you can substitute a portion of whole wheat flour as well, if desired.

Yeast- use instant or bread machine yeast as it doesn't require being activated. See recipe notes for using active dry yeast.

Making the dough for the crust

As I mentioned above, this recipe calls for a portion of whole wheat flour, but you can use all white in the same quantity, and follow the recipe the same.

Using whole wheat makes it a healthy hot pocket alternative, but I do think the sweet, nutty flavor of the crust goes better with the rich cheese sauce and salty ham.

Start by combining the dough ingredients in a stand mixer using the dough hook on the lowest speed. Continue to run the mixer for 5 minutes until dough begins to pull away from the edges as shown below (photo 1). Then, transfer the ball of dough to a greased bowl and rotate it a few times to coat in the shortening or butter (photo 2). Cover, and allow to rest in a warm location for 1 hour (or in the fridge overnight).

Make the filling

While the dough is resting/rising make the ham and cheese sauce filling.

In a medium sauce pan, on medium high heat, melt the butter and add the flour (photo 3). Whisk this until smooth to create a roux, which will thicken the cheese sauce. Add the spices, and whisk until blended (photo 4), sautéing for a minute to lightly toast.

Reduce the heat to medium, and add the shredded cheese, cream cheese and water (to aid in melting) to the pot, and allow to melt, stirring occasionally for about 5 minutes until completely smooth (above, photo 5).

Add sliced ham pieces (photo 6, above). Stir to combine, and remove from heat. Ham and cheese filling should be thick.

Cut the dough

On a floured surface, use your finger tips to press the dough flat. Roll the dough out into ⅛ inch thickness.

Use a pizza wheel, pasta cutter or just a sharp knife to cut 2-inch by 4-inch rectangles. You can collect the scraps together and repeat with remaining dough until it has all been cut.

Fill the pockets

Transfer rectangles onto a parchment lined or non stick baking sheet, leaving an inch of room in between. You'll likely need two baking sheets, or to work in batches.

Spoon 3-4 tablespoons of filling onto each rectangle and spread lengthwise, leaving about ½-inch space. Filling will be thick if it's cooled down a lot. Repeat until all rectangles are topped with filling.

Once the filling is spread on, dip your finger in a cup of water, and run over the edges all the way around. This will help create a seal when the top dough is placed on.

Place a top rectangle over the filling, matching up the edges. Press around the perimeter of each pocket with the tines of a fork to further seal them.

Create vents for steam

For a shiny, golden crust that is more attractive looking, brush the pockets with beaten egg before baking.

Before baking, cut slits using a sharp butcher knife, or poke holes using the tines of a fork to allow steam to escape.

If they close up, the filling might burst out the sides, so keep an eye on them, especially if you've brushed them with egg wash.

Bake the pockets

Bake the ham and cheese pockets in a 350°F (180°C) for 20-26 minutes until edges are golden brown and bottoms appear cooked when lifted with a spatula.

Check the ham and cheese hot pockets 10 minutes into cooking time to see if they need to be re-pierced.

Allow ham and cheese hot pockets to cool for at least 10 minutes before eating, and be careful because they will be hot!

Recipe notes

• When baking, the steam vents are very important. Check them 10 minutes into the cooking time to see if they need to be re-pierced, as sometimes they can close up (especially when using egg wash).
• Do not substitute the water in the cheese sauce with milk (the addition of water in the cheese sauce is to aid in melting, and most of it evaporates), because the milk won't evaporate. You'd end up with exploded hot pockets, as the filling will bubble too much inside the crusts as they bake.
• For freezer friendly ham and cheese hot pockets, follow the recipe as is and bake 5 minutes short of regular baking time.
• To reheat ham and cheese pockets from frozen, cook on high power in the microwave for 3 minutes on 50% power (or 1 ½ minutes on high power); or bake in the oven for 25 minutes at 350°F, or until heated throughout.

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Ham and Cheese Hot Pockets

Homemade ham and cheese sauce filled wheat pastry pockets.

5 from 5 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Appetizer, Main Course, Snack

Cuisine: American

Keyword: ham and cheese hot pocket, healthy hot pocket

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Dough Resting Time: 1 hour

Total Time: 1 hour 55 minutes

Servings: 12 pockets

Calories: 131kcal

Author: Erin

Cost: $2

Ingredients

For the Crust

• ▢ 1 ½ cups all purpose flour
• ▢ 1 cup whole wheat flour
• ▢ 1 tsp salt
• ▢ 1 tbsp sugar
• ▢ 1 tsp instant yeast
• ▢ ⅛ tsp onion powder
• ▢ ⅛ tsp garlic powder
• ▢ 2 tbsp shortening
• ▢ ½ tsp white vinegar
• ▢ 1 cup lukewarm water

For the Ham and Cheese Filling

• ▢ 2 cups shredded mild cheddar cheese off the block
• ▢ ½ cup water
• ▢ 2 oz cream cheese
• ▢ 2 tbsp all purpose flour
• ▢ ⅛ tsp paprika NOT SMOKED PAPRIKA
• ▢ ½ lb tavern smoked ham sliced thick from deli (then sliced into 1 inch long strips)

Optional

• ▢ 1 beaten egg for brushing (optional)

Instructions

Prepare the Dough

• In a stand mixer using dough hook or paddle, or by hand with bowl and long spoon, or in food processor mix together all purpose flour, whole wheat flour, salt, sugar, and instant yeast. Add shortening and mix until lightly crumbly.
• Add water and vinegar and knead to form a ball. Cover, and let rest in a warm area for 60 minutes, or up to an hour while you make the cheese sauce.

Start the Cheese Sauce

• While the dough is rising, make the ham and cheese filling in a small sauce pan. Add butter on medium high heat and whisk in flour until smooth.
• Reduce heat to medium low, add shredded cheese, cream cheese, paprika and water and stir until combined.
• Allow to melt for 5 more minutes, stirring occasionally until completely smooth; remove from heat.
• Stir in the sliced ham pieces. Set aside.

Assemble the Pockets

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• On a lightly floured surface, roll dough out to ⅛ inch thickness. Cut into 2x5 inch rectangles.
• Begin filling each pocket with the ham and cheese filling, being careful not to get it on edges. It will spread out during baking.
• Dip index finger in water and run it around the edges; this will create a glue to help seal the pockets.
• Lay the larger, corresponding rectangles evenly over the tops of the cheese and ham filling.
• Use the tines of a fork to seal the edges by pressing all the way around. They don't have to fit perfectly together on the edges, because they'll get trimmed up.
• For a golden, shiny crust, brush with a beaten egg. Pierce multiple times with a fork or slash each pocket 3 times to allow steam to escape.
• Using a spatula, transfer to a parchment paper lined baking sheet
• Bake at 350 degrees F for 20 to 30 minutes, or until golden brown. Check periodically that the steam holes are properly allowing steam to escape so that pockets don't burst and leak all of the cheese sauce out.
• Let cool before eating, and be careful because the filling will be very hot. Breaking in half helps the inside too cool faster.

Notes

Batch Size Tips and Tricks:

• Recipe makes 12 regular sized pockets. Rectangles can be cut larger for larger pockets, or smaller for more pockets of a smaller size.

Dough Tips and Tricks:

• Dough can be made using all white flour, or different combination of wheat/white flours as long as it adds up to the 2 ½ cups total flour. 
• When the dough goes through it's rise, or resting period, it needs to do so in a warm, non drafty area. 
• If you prefer to make the dough in advance, store it in the fridge right after kneading. It can be stored in the fridge, covered overnight. Remove it from the fridge 30 minutes before forming the crusts. 

Cheese Sauce Tips and Tricks:

• Don't use pre-shredded cheese, it won't melt smoothly. I has added ingredients to prevent it from caking. 
• Don't heat the cheese sauce on too high of heat, because the high heat will cause cheese to separate and become a clumpy, greasy mess. It won't melt back together after that. Instead, have patience and melt low and slow until smooth. That's the key to smooth cheese sauce!

Baking Tips and Tricks:

• The steam needs to be able to escape. Poke holes (many, see photo) or slit with a sharp knife a few times. Check periodically that the pockets are not starting to burst at a seam; if they are it just means the holes are not open because they either didn't go all the way through, or they plugged back up, so just re-poke the holes to allow steam out. The photo below shows an example of holes that were not properly poked, or got plugged up:

• Keep extra, leftover Ham and Cheese Hot Pockets in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. 

Storage Tips and Tricks:

• Pockets can be individually wrapped in freezer, wax, or parchment paper and kept sealed in a freezer zipper bag or plastic container for up to 6 months. Cook first before freezing. To heat, bake in oven at 300 F degrees for 20 minutes, or until heated through. Or, microwave on 50% power for 3 minutes. 
• Don't try to freeze them completely raw.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 131kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 18mg | Sodium: 277mg | Potassium: 76mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 127IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 74mg | Iron: 1mg

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