This goat cheese puff pastry appetizer with sundried tomatoes is an easy 3-ingredient appetizer that is done in less than 30 minutes. This quick appetizer is great for the holidays, a cocktail party or a family get together.
This post was originally published in December 2020 and has been updated for content.
When I'm hosting a party or family for the holidays, I always try to include a few easy appetizers or dishes to make things easier on myself. Adding easy appetizers such as these or roasted grapes and olives and bacon wrapped dates, helps to make sure you don't get stuck in the kitchen all day.
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🍅 Ingredient notes
- Puff pastry - Store bought frozen puff pastry sheets make this recipe easy, however, if you want, homemade puff pastry can be used instead.
- Sundried tomatoes - Using sundried tomatoes that have been packed in oil give the filling a little bit more of a creamy texture. For less oil, plain sundried tomatoes can be used instead.
- Goat cheese - A log of goat cheese will make a creamier filling, however in a pinch, pre-crumbled goat cheese can be used instead.
📋 Substitutions and variations
- Vegetables - Substitute the sundried tomatoes for roasted red peppers, pepperoncini peppers, minced olives, or chopped roasted vegetables.
- Cheese - Substitute the goat cheese for cream cheese, blue cheese, or Boursin cheese.
- Spicy - Add ½ teaspoon of crushed red pepper flakes to the mixture for a more zesty appetizer.
- Mini - Cut the puff pastry into smaller squares for mini puff pastry bites.
🔪 Step by step instructions
First, mix together the goat cheese and sundried tomatoes in a mixing bowl using either a hand mixer or a whisk. Gently roll the thawed puff pastry dough sheets slightly to make sure they are even thickness and cut each sheet into 9 squares or 18 total pieces.
Place the squares onto a sheet pan lined with parchment paper. Drop a tablespoon of the goat cheese mixture into the middle of each square and bake the puff pastry at 400˚ for about 12-14 minutes until the puff pastry is golden brown and puffed up.
If you ever don't recognize a tool or skill that I mention, be sure to look it up in the Glossary of Cooking Terms and Definitions for more information.
⭐ Expert tips
- Make sure to completely thaw the frozen puff pastry sheets before using them. If they are a little bit frozen or too cold, they have a tendency to crack.
- Roll the puff pastry out after its thawed, just slightly, so it's even in thickness and size.
- To easily mix the filling together, use a hand mixer, instead of mixing by hand.
- Rotate the sheet pans in the oven to help all of the squares cook evenly.
- Bake the puff pastry squares until they are puffed up and just start to turn golden brown.
⏲️ Make ahead instructions
To make this puff pastry appetizer ahead of time, prepare the filling and place it on the cut puff pastry squares on the prepared sheet pans. Cover the sheet pans tightly in plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator for up the 24 hours ahead of time. Bake as directed.
🥡 Storage suggestions
Leftovers will keep in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 3 days. They can be crisped up under the broiler in the oven or served at room temperature.
For a quick overview of this recipe, check out my web story for this easy puff pastry appetizer.
🧀 More Easy Appetizer Recipes
If you loved this goat cheese puff pastry appetizer, check out these other easy appetizers that I know you will love too!
- Baked Brie with Jam
- Pepperoncini Dip with Bagel Chips
- How to Assemble a Charcuterie Board
- Whipped Ricotta with Lemon
📖 Recipe
Goat Cheese Puff Pastry Appetizer with Sundried Tomatoes
Ingredients
- 8 ounces plain goat cheese
- 4 ounces julienned sundried tomatoes packed in oil
- 2 sheets frozen puff pastry dough thawed completely
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400° and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a mixing bowl, combine goat cheese and sundried tomatoes with oil. Mix thoroughly with a hand mixer or whisk until the ingredients are well combined.
- Gently roll out each sheet of thawed puff pastry dough just enough to make sure it is an even thickness.
- Next, using a sharp knife, cut each sheet into 9 equal squares or 18 total pieces. Place cut squares onto prepared baking sheets.
- Using a spoon, drop approximately 1 Tablespoon of the goat cheese mixture into the center of each square.
- Bake filled puff pastry squares in the preheated oven for approximately 12-14 minutes or until they are puffed up and golden brown.
Notes
- Make sure to thaw the puff pastry sheets completely before rolling them out to prevent cracking and ensure even thickness. Homemade puff pastry may also be used.
- Roll the puff pastry out gently after its thawed so it's even in thickness and size.
- Use sundried tomatoes that are packed in oil to ensure they mix well with the goat cheese to make a creamier filling.
- Either a whole log of goat cheese can be used or goat cheese crumbles, however, crumbles are sometimes harder to get to mix together and may not be as creamy.
- To easily mix the filling together, use a hand mixer, instead of mixing by hand.
- Rotate the sheet pans in the oven to help all of the squares cook evenly.
- Bake the puff pastry until they are puffed up and just start to turn golden brown.
Substitutions and Variations
- Vegetables - Substitute the sundried tomatoes for roasted red peppers, pepperoncini peppers, minced olives, or chopped roasted vegetables.
- Cheese - Substitute the goat cheese for cream cheese, blue cheese, or Boursin cheese.
- Spicy - Add ½ teaspoon of crushed red pepper flakes to the mixture for a more zesty appetizer.
- Mini - Cut the puff pastry into smaller squares for mini puff pastry bites.
Susan
This looks amazing and so simple! How many inches are the squares? My puff pastry is a rectangle.
Amanda
Thanks! The ones I use are rectangle that is 10" x 15" so I roll it out a bit thinner and cut approximately 4" squares. Enjoy!