Looking for a fancy-looking bite-sized appetizer that’s simple and easy to make? These Balsamic Onion and Goat Cheese Puff Pastry Bites are just that. The crispy golden-brown puff pastry harbors a creamy and flavorful filling of goat cheese, crunchy toasted pecans, and dried cranberries that complement the balsamic with some sweetness. These vegetarian appetizers are perfect for every holiday occasion.
I argue that holiday appetizers are almost as important as the main dish. Well, at least these delicious Balsamic Onion and Goat Cheese Puff Pastry Bites are! These cute vegetarian pastries are flavorful and can be enjoyed in just one bite. Everyone will love this easy, delicious recipe.
Why You’ll Love These Puff Pasty Bites
- They’re the perfect one-bite appetizer – These puff pastry bites are made using a mini muffin tin, so they’re the perfect size to pop into your mouth. You can make them using a regular-sized muffin tin, but I love how cute these tiny ones are.
- They’re impressive looking – Maybe it’s just me, but I feel like when puff pastry or phyllo dough is involved in a recipe, it must be fancy. In reality, they’re actually really easy to make, so don’t shy away from them.
- They’re great for the holidays – Between Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s, many holidays are coming up that call for parties. The cozy flavors in these puff pastry bites go perfectly with any other savory holiday dish.
Puff Pastry Bite Recipe Tips
- Don’t skip rolling out the puff pastry dough. If it’s too thick, it will puff up pretty high and push the filling out.
- Use roasted and salted pecans (instead of raw) to add extra flavor.
- Top the finished puffs with a drizzle of balsamic glaze and fresh parsley. It adds flavor and makes them look nice!
Balsamic Onion and Goat Cheese Puff Pastry Bite Recipe Ingredients + Substitutions
- Puff Pastry – I used one sheet of Pepperidge Farm puff pastry, which is a popular brand that you should be able to find at most grocery stores. This brand of puff pastry is vegan and kosher. Trader Joe’s sells a nice puff pastry made with real butter.
- Onion – I used red onion because it becomes sweet once cooked down, and I like its deep purple color. Any kind of onion, even a shallot, works.
- Balsamic – I add balsamic vinegar to the onions while cooking and then some balsamic glaze to the finished puffs.
- Goat Cheese – I used a small log of plain goat cheese that I crumbled up. You can use flavored goat cheese if you like and can substitute brie or crumbled feta if you can’t find goat cheese.
- Dried Cranberries – Dried cranberries have a lovely chewy texture and sweet taste. They go well with walnuts and goat cheese, making these pastry puffs extra festive.
- Pecans – I like to use roasted and salted pecans for this recipe. However, any kind of nut can be used. Walnuts are a great option.
- Fresh Herbs – I added fresh parsley, thyme, and rosemary to the filling and sprinkled extra parsley on as garnish. If using dried herbs, halve the amount.
How To Make Easy Goat Cheese Puff Pastry Bites
- Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees F. Heat a large pan over medium heat and add 1 Tablespoon olive oil and the sliced onions. Season with a pinch of salt and cook onions until softened and starting to brown, 10-12 minutes. Give the onions a stir every minute or so.
- Next, add the balsamic vinegar and a pinch of black pepper. Stir the onions well and cook for another 2-3 minutes, until the vinegar has cooked out. Place cooked onions in a medium-sized mixing bowl and allow to cool for a few minutes.
- Once the onions have cooled, add the crumbled goat cheese, walnuts, dried cranberries, parsley, thyme, and rosemary. Mix everything together until the ingredients are evenly distributed. Set the mixture aside until ready to use.
- Spray a mini muffin tin lightly with cooking spray and set aside. Unfold one sheet of puff pastry and place it on a lightly floured surface. Use a rolling pin to roll the puff pastry into a rectangle. I like to use a little circle cookie cutter to cut out 24 circles, but you can also use a knife and cut the pastry sheet into 24 little squares.
- Use your fingers to carefully stretch out each circle (or square) of pastry to make it a bit thinner and larger, and then place it in the bottom of each muffin space. Repeat until all spots have been filled. The dough doesn’t have to reach the top of the tin, just about 3/4 the way up.
- Next, add a heaping teaspoon of the goat cheese filling into each little puff pastry cup. If you have any left over, you can use it to top off any cups that appear less full. Use the back of the spoon to push the filling down a bit. Bake pastry bites until the top starts to brown and the puff pastry is cooked through and lightly browned on the bottom, about 25-30 minutes. Allow puff pastry bites to cool for a few minutes before enjoying.
Recipe Frequently Asked Questions
- Make this recipe vegan by substituting vegan goat or feta cheese. Surprisingly, Pepperidge Farm puff pastry is already vegan! (Trader Joe’s puff pastry is made with real butter.)
- Make this recipe gluten-free by using a gluten-free puff pastry or something similar, like gluten-free pie dough.
- Can these puff pastry bites be made ahead of time? They’re best when eaten warm or at room temperature, but they can be made ahead of time and popped back in the oven for a few minutes just before serving.
- How many bites does this recipe make? This recipe makes 24 puff pastry bites but can be doubled if needed.
- How long do leftovers last? If stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, leftovers should last for 4-5 days. They can be eaten cold or reheated in the microwave or oven if desired.
Have a question I didn’t answer? Ask me in the comment section below, and I will get back to you ASAP.
Looking For More Vegetarian Appetizer Recipes?
Goat Cheese Beet and Balsamic Puff Pastry Bites
Greek Salad Naan Bites with Hummus
Vegetarian Buffalo Chickpea Dip
Black Bean Hummus with Seasoned Pita Chips
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Balsamic Onion and Goat Cheese Puff Pastry Bites
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 24 Bites 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Looking for a fancy looking bite sized appetizer that is actually really simple and easy to make? These Balsamic Onion and Goat Cheese Puff Pastry Bites are just that! The puff pastry becomes golden brown and crispy on the outside and the filling is creamy and packed with flavor. Toasted pecans add a nice crunch and the dried cranberries add sweetness that compliments the balsamic. These vegetarian appetizers are perfect for all your needs this holiday season.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 sheet puff pastry, thawed*
- 1 medium sized red onion, thinly sliced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 5 oz crumbled goat cheese
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans (I like to use roasted and salted pecans)
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley, plus more for garnish
- 1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary
- Salt and black pepper
- Cooking spray
- Balsamic glaze for garnish, if desired
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees F. Heat a large pan over medium heat and add 1 tablespoon olive oil and the sliced onions. Season with a pinch of salt and cook onions until softened and starting to brown, 10-12 minutes. Give the onions a stir every minute or so.
- Next, add in the balsamic vinegar and a pinch of black pepper. Stir onions well and cook for another 2-3 minutes, until the vinegar has cooked out. Place cooked onions in a medium sized mixing bowl and allow to cool for a few minutes.
- Once onions have cooled, add in the crumbled goat cheese, walnuts, dried cranberries, parsley, thyme and rosemary. Mix everything together until you have a good even distribution of the ingredients. Set mixture aside until ready to use.
- Spray a mini muffin tin lightly with cooking spray and set aside. Unfold one sheet of puff pastry and place it on a lightly floured surface. Use a rolling pin to roll puff pastry into a rectangle. I like to use a little circle cookie cutter to cut out 24 circles, but you can also just use a knife and cut the pastry sheet into 24 little squares.
- Use your fingers to carefully stretch out each circle (or square) of pastry, just to make it a little bit thinner and larger and then place in the bottom of each muffin space. Repeat until all spots have been filled. The dough doesn’t have to reach the top of the tin, just about 3/4 the way up is good.
- Next, add a heaping teaspoon of the goat cheese filling into each little puff pastry cup. If you have any leftover, you can use it to top off any that may have less filling. Use the back of the spoon to push the filling down a little bit. Bake puff pastry bites until the top is starting to brown and the puff pastry is cooked through and lightly browned on the bottom, about 25-30 minutes. Allow puff pastry bites to cool for a few minutes before enjoying. Garnish with balsamic glaze and chopped parsley, if desired.
Notes
*This recipe makes 24 bites with just one sheet of puff pastry. You can easily double the filling and use both pieces of the puff pastry that come in the package though.
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 45 mins
- Category: Appetizer, Vegetarian
- Method: Stovetop, Oven
- Cuisine: American
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