Mini Pear and Goat Cheese Tarts with Puff Pastry

Name: Mini Pear and Goat Cheese Tarts with Puff Pastry
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 45 min
Ingredients: 8 ounces goat cheese (room temp); small shallot (finely chopped); 2 cloves of garlic (minced); 1 teaspoon chopped thyme; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 1/4 teaspoon pepper; 3 small red pears (sliced 1/4 inch thick); 2 sheets puff pastry (thawed); 2 tablespoons honey; Optional: thyme sprigs and extra pepper to garnish

Grab one of these Mini Pear and Goat Cheese Tarts with Puff Pastry while you can! The layers of creamy goat cheese and sweet pear slices on top of baked puff pastry make this easy fall appetizer impossible to resist. Your party guests will love them!

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Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes

close up of mini puff pastry tarts that have goat cheese, pears, thyme and a honey drizzle on them

Creamy, sweet, and flaky tartlets!

These Mini Pear and Goat Cheese Tarts with Puff Pastry are always gone in a flash when I serve them at parties. A creamy and herbaceous goat cheese mixture is topped on a piece of buttery puff pastry and finished with gorgeous slices of red bartlett pears. Finish it off with a drizzle of honey and fresh thyme, and you have a to-die-for festive holiday or fall snack!

Listen - I love the herby and punchy goat cheese spread and the sweetness from the pear slices on these goat cheese tartlets, but what really makes them special is the puff pastry. This buttery frozen pastry melts in your mouth once it’s baked and is always my go-to when I want to take mini tarts, pigs in a blanket, or cheddar pinwheels up a notch!

Pear and goat cheese tart ingredients

All you need to make these puff pastry appetizers are a handful of simple ingredients. Try to use the high quality, fresh stuff for the absolute best flavors!

Goat cheese and flavor boosters

Goat cheese (also known as chèvre) is a soft and spreadable goat’s milk cheese. Its distinct earthy and tangy flavors make it the perfect partner for bright mix-ins, like lemon juice in this Mushroom and Goat Cheese Crostini. It’s also delicious paired with crackers and meat on a Fall Meat and Cheese Board.

For this goat cheese appetizer, the creamy cheese is stirred together with raw shallots, garlic cloves, fresh thyme, and salt and pepper. Let the cheese come down to room temperature before you start mixing so it’s easy to work with.

There aren’t many options if you’re thinking of replacing the goat cheese. Unlike other creamy cheeses, like ricotta or cream cheese, goat cheese doesn’t melt all over the place and stays on the puff pastry. If you’re worried about the flavor, experiment with different brands or flavor varieties.

Pears

The sweetness from pears is so delightful on these mini goat cheese tarts! Slice ‘em up thin and add 1 or 2 to each tartlet. I chose red bartlett pears because their red skin is so festive and helps these appetizers stand out compared to green or brown pears.

You can really use any pear you love but if you want the prettiest bites, go with red!

a platter of mini pear and goat cheese tarts with some missing and crumbs in their place. There are two plates with half eaten tarts on them and two glasses filled with a drink and orange twists

Puff pastry

Puff pastry dough just brings me so much joy and is a fantastic base for these mini tarts. It’s a magical buttery pastry you can find in the frozen aisle at most grocery stores and is a foolproof alternative to traditional tart dough. All you have to do is defrost the frozen puff pastry and you’re good to assemble your tartlets!

The savory puff pastry appetizer tarts should be assembled while the pastry is still cold. Thaw the dough in the fridge but keep it in there until you’re ready to assemble. If it’s warm, the tarts won’t puff as well!

Honey

Drizzled on top of the tartlets for a sweet finish!

How to make mini pear and goat cheese tarts

These step by step instructions will show you how to easily put these creamy goat cheese tartlets together:

bowl of goat cheese and shallots with a cutting board next to it with chopped garlic and a thyme plant

Step 1: Add the goat cheese, chopped garlic, shallot, and thyme to a bowl and mix.

red pears on a cutting board being sliced crosswise with a bowl of gat cheese filling in the bottom corner of the image

Step 2: Chop the pears into thin slices.

a sheet of puff pastry on a wooden cutting board cut into sixteen rectangles with a wooden handled pairing knife next to it.

Step 3: Take the puff pastry out of the fridge and slice each sheet into 16 pieces.

puff pastry rectangles being assembled with teaspoons goat cheese, and slices of pears

Step 4: Use a fork to dock the puff slices, then place a scoop of the goat cheese mixture on top.

Finish with 1 or 2 pear slices.

Baked mini pear and goat cheese tarts on a parchment lined baking sheet

Step 5: Bake until the puff pastry is golden brown and crispy.

Let the tarts cool for a few minutes on the baking sheet, then drizzle the tops with honey, fresh thyme, and pepper.

Serve to all of your party guests and enjoy!

Mix up the flavors!

Make these mini pear and goat cheese tarts your own with a few substitutions or added flavors. It’s fun to mix things up in these delicious appetizers:

Either swap the pear slices for apple slices or mix and match.
Top with fresh rosemary instead of thyme.
For a festive look, sprinkle a few dried cranberries or pomegranate seeds on top.
Replace the goat cheese mixture with a small slice of brie.
Add some crispy bacon or prosciutto on top for more saltiness.
Swap the honey for maple syrup.
Add lemon juice to brighten up the cheesy spread.

a marble platter filled with mini puff pastry tarts topped with goat cheese, sliced pears, honey and thyme. There is a small cup of honey next to the platter and honey dripping off the platter

Frequently asked questions

What do you serve with pear and goat cheese tartlets?

This fancy party snack is best washed down with a Pear and Gin Prosecco Cocktail or a French 77. The fun doesn’t stop there! Whip up some Cranberry Brie Crostinis and a Winter Meat and Cheese Board so there’s plenty to eat at your winter-themed party.

Can you make them ahead of time?

While these tarts are best served hot and fresh, you could assemble them without the pear slices or make the goat cheese mixture and keep it covered in the fridge for 1 day. Right before the party, top each goat cheese tart with some pear slices and bake.

How do you store the leftovers?

Store the cooled leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 1 or 2 days. To reheat, let the chilled tarts come to room temperature first, then place them on a baking tray and heat in a 350ºF oven until warmed through. They won’t be as flaky and crisp as before, but will still taste delicious.