Goat Cheese Puff Pastry Appetizers
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These Goat Cheese Puff Pastry Appetizers are the perfect little one bite treats to make for parties and holiday gatherings. Featuring flaky pastry, apricot or cherry jam, and goat cheese, these sweet and savory bites will fly off the plate!
30 Minute Appetizer: Goat Cheese and Puff Pastry Bites
Table of Contents
There’s nothing I appreciate more in December than a party friendly appetizer I can whip up in a jiffy. The mental load of the holidays is enough without adding on a time consuming appetizer, am I right?
This is the season for quick, easy, two bite finger foods that nestle perfectly on a cocktail plate alongside Crock Pot BBQ Meatballs, Cranberry Brie Crostini, and Meat Candy.
These Goat Cheese and Puff Pastry Bites check all the boxes for me! Here’s why you’ll love them, too!
- Sweet, savory, and flaky– I just adore a sweet and savory treat, and you can’t mess up this combination of sweet jam, tangy goat cheese, and flaky puff pastry.
- Versatile– You can play with different fruit fillings and even substitute feta or blue cheese in these. It’s a great recipe to experiment with!
- Quick- As I mentioned, this recipe comes together in about 30 minutes! Just remember to thaw your puff pastry, and you’re good to go!
- Great warm or at room temperature– I really love to enjoy these goat cheese bites fresh from the oven, but they’re also lovely at room temperature.
We made these for a party, and ended up eating almost all of them ourselves! That’s how good they are! Consider making a double batch, so you have some extras to inhale before the gathering.
Key Ingredients
- Puff pastry– I use store bought frozen puff pastry. You’ll need one sheet to make 25 bites.
- Jam– This recipe was tested with apricot jam and sour cherry jam. Both were excellent choices. These could also be lovely with fig jam, blackberry jam, or a strawberry rhubarb jam, for a summery version.
- Goat cheese- You can buy crumbled goat cheese or a roll of goat cheese for this recipe. Either works great!
- Thyme– A hint of earthy herbiness really elevates these goat cheese bites and makes them look a little fancy.
How to Make Puff Pastry and Goat Cheese Appetizers
Step 1: Cut the pastry. Unfold the pastry and roll it out to smooth the creases. Cut into 25 equal squares (5 x 5).
Step 2: Place in muffin tins. Spray two mini muffin tins with cooking spray, then press each square into the tin.
Step 3: Fill the pastry. Place a dollop of the jam in each cup, followed by a sprinkle of goat cheese.
Step 4: Bake. Bake at 375 degrees for 15-17 minutes, or until edges are browned.
Tips for Perfect Goat Cheese and Puff Pastry
- Thaw your puff pastry properly. Transfer it to the fridge the night before you want to make the recipe OR let it rest for 30-40 minutes at room temperature. The puff pastry should remain cold, but be pliable enough to unfold.
- Keep the pastry cold. If your pastry has been sitting out for too long, or starts to feel soft and floppy, pop it back in the fridge for 20 minutes before baking.
- Stick to the order. Jam first, goat cheese last! When I put the jam on top, it spilled out and made a sticky mess in the pan.
- Remove quickly. It’s best to remove the bites from the pan soon after they come out of the oven, so any escaped jam doesn’t have a chance to harden.
- Use a metal spatula to pop out any sticky bites. If there are any sticky bits, you can easily slide a small metal offset spatula along the sticky part and pop them out.
Storage and Make Ahead Instructions
- Storing: Store the bites in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- Reheating: Reheat in the air fryer for about 5 minutes at 375 degrees or in a 375 degree oven for 10 minutes.
- Freezing: These bites can be frozen in a freezer safe container for up to 3 months. Pop the frozen bites in a muffin tin and bake at 375 for 18-20 minutes.
FAQs
Absolutely! This recipe is easy to double for a crowd. Use the slider in the recipe card to easily adjust the ingredient amounts.
Yes, feta is also wonderful in these appetizers.
Unfortunately, no. The uneven heating of the microwave can wreak havoc on puff pastry, causing it to melt and not have the puffed, flaky texture we’re going for!
More of our Favorite Party Appetizers
- Chipped Beef Cheeseball– A classic that’s great any time of year.
- Knorr Spinach Dip– A shortcut spinach dip served in a sourdough bread bowl.
- Puff Pastry Sausage Rolls– These rolls taste like Thanksgiving in bite-sized form.
- Puff Pastry Pigs in a Blanket– Use the second sheet of puff pastry to make these crowd pleasing puff pastry hot dogs!
- Hawaiian Roll Ham and Swiss Sliders– A perennial favorite that’s perfect for using up leftover ham!
Goat Cheese Puff Pastry Appetizer
Ingredients
- 1 sheet puff pastry (thawed but cold)
- ⅓ cup jam or preserves (I recommend apricot or sour cherry)
- 3 ounces crumbled goat cheese
- 4 sprigs fresh thyme (separated into small pieces)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees and spray two mini muffin tins with cooking spray.
- Unfold the puff pastry onto a silicone mat or parchment paper. Use a rolling pin to roll out the pastry just a bit, smoothing the creases.
- Cut the pastry into 25 squares, five cuts on each side. You can use a sharp knife or pizza cutter for this.
- Press each square into the prepared muffin tins. (You'll have one extra you can sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar and bake on a tiny baking sheet for a little treat).
- Top each puff pastry with about a ½ teaspoon of jam, followed by a spoonful of goat cheese crumbles. Bake for 15-17 minutes or until the puff pastry is turning golden on the edges.
- Soon after the trays come out of the oven, remove the pastries to a serving plate or cooling rack. If any of them are sticking to the pan, use a small offset metal spatula to wedge them out. Top with thyme and serve warm or at room temperature.
Notes
- To thaw puff pastry, transfer it to the fridge the night before you plan to make the recipe OR let it sit out at room temperature for 30-40 minutes, or until it’s cold but pliable enough to unfold.
- Feel free to experiment with different jams for this recipe!
- Feta can be substituted for the goat cheese.
- To make these in a full size muffin tin, cut the puff pastry into 16 squares (4 x 4), and add a few minutes to the baking time.
- Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 5 days, and reheat in the air fryer or oven before serving.