With holidays coming up, I decided to put together three easy and cheesy bites, including this goat cheese and apple tartlet, to help alleviate the stress and prep of holiday entertaining. Click the pic to check ’em out.
Goat Cheese & Apple Tartlets
These are a light and flaky treat that will delight your guests, and leave you with plenty of time to enjoy happy hour.
Ingredients:
2 tart apples (I used granny smith)
1 1/2 oz. chevre goat cheese
1 lb. (1 package) puff pastry dough at room temperature
Honey (optional)
1 egg
1 tbsp milk
Makes approximately 24 tartlets
Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 400°
- Roll out the room temperature puff pastry dough
- Cut the dough into squares (or triangles)
- Crack the egg into a separate bowl, add the milk, and mix well
- Spread the egg mixture on the top of the puff pastry dough
- Bake for about 10 minutes on the top rack, until they golden brown
- While baking, cut the apples into thin slices
- Spread the goat cheese onto the puff pastry
- Add the apple slices
- Bake for approximately 3 minutes (until cheese is melted and pastry dough is golden brown)
- Add just a touch of honey (optional)
- Serve and enjoy!
Goat Cheese & Fig Jam Crostini
I love this bite; it is a great contrast of sweet, salty, crunchy, and even creamy components. I think it’s the best way to start a meal, and a great bite to make before guests start arriving.
Ingredients:
1 French baguette (frozen)
4.5 oz. of Purple Haze goat cheese
4-6 tablespoons of fig & orange spread
8 slices of prosciutto cut in half
Serves approximately 24
Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees
- Bake the bread for about 20 minutes
- Cut the bread in ½-inch pieces
- Liberally spread the goat cheese on the crostini
- Spread the fig jam onto the crostini
- Place the cut prosciutto on top of the crostini
- Serve and enjoy!
Time-Saving Tip: You can also use goat cheese that is already combined with jam, such as Coach Farm goat cheese.
Mini Brie en Croute 
Last year I experimented with baked brie, and it was a hit! Friends requested that I repeat it this year and even asked for the recipe. So instead of doing the exact same thing, I tweaked my recipe and decided to share it with you.
Ingredients:
1 package (1 lb.) frozen puff pastry dough, thawed
1/2 lb. of brie cheese
Dried cranberries
4 tablespoons of honey
1 egg
1 tablespoon of milk
Serves approximately 24
Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees
- Roll out the puff pastry dough
- Cut the dough into squares (or triangles)
- Cut the brie into small pieces (enough to not leak out of the dough)
- Placed the brie in the middle of the puff pastry and add dried cranberries
- Lightly drizzle honey onto the cranberry & brie
- Crack the egg into a separate bowl, add the milk
- Lightly spread the egg mixture onto the edges of the puff pastry dough
- Fold the dough over the brie to create little packets
- Lightly spread the egg mixture over the top of the “packets”
- Bake in the oven for about 15 minutes, until golden brown
- Serve and enjoy!