Easy Goat Cheese Puff Pastry

If you ask me, goat cheese puff pastry is one of those recipes that just makes sense.

These flaky, golden bites are what happens when you combine buttery puff pastry with creamy goat cheese – a match that never disappoints. The pastry puffs up nice and light while the cheese gets warm and spreadable.

I like to add a touch of honey and fresh thyme to mine, which brings out the natural tanginess of the goat cheese. Plus, it’s the kind of appetizer that looks like you spent hours in the kitchen, when really it’s pretty simple to put together.

It’s the kind of dish that works just as well for a casual weekend brunch as it does for a dinner party with friends.

What Kind of Goat Cheese Should I Use?

For puff pastry recipes, plain soft goat cheese (often labeled as chèvre) is your best bet since it spreads easily and has just the right creamy texture. While aged goat cheese is great for other dishes, the soft, fresh variety will give you that perfect tangy flavor that pairs so well with sweet toppings. You’ll find goat cheese in most grocery stores either in a log shape or in small containers – both work equally well for this recipe. Just make sure your goat cheese is at room temperature before spreading it on the pastry, which will make it much easier to work with and help prevent tearing the delicate dough.

Options for Substitutions

This simple recipe can be adapted with several tasty alternatives:

• Puff pastry: Puff pastry is pretty essential for this recipe – it creates that nice flaky texture. While you could use crescent roll dough in a pinch, the result won’t be quite the same. Just make sure to adjust baking time as crescent dough cooks faster.
• Goat cheese: Not a fan of goat cheese? Try cream cheese, ricotta, or even brie as alternatives. Each will give you a different but equally good flavor. If using cream cheese, let it soften at room temperature first for easier spreading.
• Cranberry sauce/fig jam: This recipe is super flexible with the sweet spread – try apricot preserves, raspberry jam, or even honey as alternatives. Each will bring its own unique taste to the dish.
• Fresh thyme: Fresh thyme can be swapped with dried thyme (use 1/3 the amount), or try other herbs like rosemary or sage. You could even skip the herbs altogether if you prefer.

Watch Out for These Mistakes While Baking

The biggest challenge with puff pastry is temperature control – working with pastry that’s either too cold (it’ll crack) or too warm (it’ll become sticky and lose its layers) can ruin your dish, so let it thaw in the fridge overnight and work with it when it’s just pliable.

Many home cooks make the mistake of spreading the goat cheese and jam all the way to the edges, which prevents proper sealing and can lead to filling leakage – instead, leave a 1-inch border around the edges and brush it with egg wash for a secure seal.

Another common error is opening the oven door while baking, which releases the steam needed for the pastry to rise properly – resist the urge to peek and maintain a consistent temperature of 400°F for those perfectly flaky layers.

For the crispiest bottom, pre-heat your baking sheet in the oven and brush the bottom of the pastry with a beaten egg before adding the fillings.

What to Serve With Goat Cheese Puff Pastry?

This flaky, creamy puff pastry makes a fantastic appetizer or light lunch when paired with the right accompaniments. A simple arugula salad dressed with lemon vinaigrette adds a nice peppery contrast to the rich, tangy goat cheese. Since this dish works well as part of a spread, try serving it alongside some mixed olives, honey-drizzled nuts, or thin slices of prosciutto for an easy appetizer board. If you’re planning a wine pairing, a crisp Sauvignon Blanc or light Pinot Noir would go perfectly with these flavors.

Storage Instructions

Keep Fresh: These goat cheese puff pastry treats are best enjoyed fresh from the oven, but if you have leftovers, place them in an airtight container and keep them in the fridge for up to 3 days. Just remember that the pastry might lose some of its crispiness over time.

Make Ahead: Want to prep these ahead? You can assemble them up to 24 hours in advance – just keep them covered in the fridge until you’re ready to bake. This is super handy when you’re planning a party or gathering!

Warm Up: To bring back that lovely crispy texture, pop the leftover pastries in a preheated oven at 350°F for about 5-7 minutes. They’ll taste almost as good as freshly baked! Just keep an eye on them to prevent over-browning.

Preparation Time	15-20 minutes
Cooking Time	18-22 minutes
Total Time	53-42 minutes
Level of Difficulty	Easy

Estimated Nutrition

Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):

• Calories: 800-900
• Protein: 20-25 g
• Fat: 50-60 g
• Carbohydrates: 70-80 g

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups fig jam (I use Dalmatia fig spread)
• 1/2 cup goat cheese (softened, at room temperature)
• 1 handful fresh thyme (finely chopped for best flavor)
• 1 sheet puff pastry (thaw according to package directions)

Step 1: Prepare the Oven and Puff Pastry

Preheat your oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.

While the oven heats up, unfold the puff pastry on a flat surface.

Using a pizza cutter, carefully cut the pastry into 24 equal sections.

This will form the base of your mini tartlets.

Step 2: Assemble the Tartlets

Place one rectangle of puff pastry into each cup of a mini muffin tin, gently pushing the pastry down to form a small cup.

Fill each pastry cup with about 1 tablespoon of jam or cranberry sauce.

Add a small spoonful (around 1 teaspoon) of goat cheese on top of each filling.

Step 3: Bake the Tartlets

Place the muffin tin in the preheated oven and bake for 18-22 minutes, or until the edges of the puff pastry turn golden brown and crisp.

Keep an eye on them near the end of baking to prevent over-browning.

Step 4: Cool and Garnish

Once baked, remove the tartlets from the oven and let them cool on a wire rack for about 20 minutes.

This will allow the pastry to set and make the tartlets easier to handle.

Just before serving, sprinkle each tartlet with a bit of fresh thyme for added flavor and a pop of color.

Step 5: Serve and Enjoy

Serve the tartlets warm or at room temperature.

These delightful treats are perfect for gatherings, providing a perfect balance of sweet and savory flavors.