• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
The Cozy Plum
  • Home
  • Recipes
    • Baking Basics
    • Bars & Brownies
    • Breads & Breakfasts
    • Cakes & Cupcakes
    • Cookies
    • Donuts & Muffins
    • Pies & Tarts
    • Savory
    • Miscellaneous
  • Newsletter
  • About
  • Contact
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Newsletter
  • About
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Newsletter
    • About
    • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×
    The Cozy Plum » Recipes » Appetizers

    Caramelized Onion and Goat Cheese Tart

    Published: Apr 26, 2023 by Callan Wenner · This post may contain affiliate links · 5 Comments

    206 shares
    • Facebook
    • Yummly
    Jump to Recipe
    Slice of onion and cheese tart with fig jam.

    This Caramelized Onion and Goat Cheese Tart is savory, sweet, and incredibly easy to make! It starts with store-bought puff pastry that gets topped with a caramelized onion and whipped goat cheese mixture, a layer of fig jam, and more caramelized onions on top. It's crispy, tangy, creamy, and sweet, all in one bite!

    Puff pastry tarts are really simple to make, and this version is so delicious and versatile. You can serve this onion and cheese tart warm or at room temperature, making it perfect for a brunch buffet. It would also be a great appetizer, cut up and served on a charcuterie board, or eaten warm with a bright side salad for dinner.

    Goat cheese tart on other pieces with a bite removed.

    Caramelized onion dip is always a crowd pleaser, and this onion and goat cheese tart is like an elevated version of that classic. The filling for the tart is made without cream cheese and uses goat cheese in its place for a slightly earthier flavor.

    The addition of fig jam adds an amazing sweetness to offset the salty tang of the cheese and complements the sweet caramelized onions. And the puff pastry acts like a built-in chip, so no need to dip. You can eat this sophisticated take on onion dip all in one composed bite.

    For more puff pastry-inspired bites, try these Spinach and Feta Pinwheels, Puff Pastry Tomato Tart with Ricotta and Feta Cheese, Puff Pastry Ham and Cheese Turnovers, Prosciutto Asparagus Puff Pastry Bundles, or Baked Brie with Fig Jam.

    Jump to:
    • Why You'll Love This Recipe
    • Ingredients
    • Substitutions and Variations
    • How to Make This Recipe
    • Expert Tips
    • Recipe FAQs
    • Storage
    • More Cheesy Appetizer Recipes You'll Love
    • 📖Recipe
    • Come Bake With Us!

    Why You'll Love This Recipe

    Simple - This recipe uses store-bought puff pastry, making it as simple as opening the package to create a beautiful French pastry! This quick hack helps the whole dish come together quickly so you won't have to work away in the kitchen. If you're excited about this short cut, try out my Puff Pastry Tomato Tart with Ricotta and Feta Cheese!

    Sweet and salty - I love the combination of sweet and salty flavors, and this tart is a great combination of both. Creamy and salty goat cheese pairs with sweet caramelized onions and fig jam for the perfect balance of flavors.

    Crispy and creamy - This onion tart has delicious contrasting textures from the crispy and flaky puff pastry and the creamy goat cheese and caramelized onion filling.

    Ingredients

    Ingredients for caramelized onion goat cheese tart.
    • Goat cheese. Use a log of plain goat cheese, not goat cheese crumbles.
    • Onions. Four large yellow onions will produce enough caramelized onions.
    • Fig jam. Any type of fig jam or preserves will work!
    • Puff pastry. Frozen and thawed store-bought puff pastry, or try your hand at making your own rough puff pastry.
    • Thyme. Fresh thyme should be used, not dried.
    • Heavy whipping cream. A few tablespoons of this are used to help the goat cheese whip up nicely.

    See recipe card for full ingredients list and quantities.

    Substitutions and Variations

    • Turn this tart into bite sized pieces by using a muffin tin to make individual tartlets.
    • Swap out pizza dough for the puff pastry for a flatbread version.
    • Use yellow or red onions to make the caramelized onions.
    • Add cherry tomatoes or cooked mushrooms over the top of the tart.
    • Drizzle balsamic reduction over the finished tart for extra tang and sweetness.
    • Use parmesan, feta, gruyere, brie, or blue cheese in place of or in combination with the goat cheese.
    • Add thinly sliced apples to the top of the tart for added freshness.
    • Top the tart with cooked sweet potato chunks for a heartier variation.

    How to Make This Recipe

    Caramelized onions in a pan.

    One: Caramelize the sliced onions until golden brown and jammy. Cool.

    A hand mixer whips goat cheese in a bowl.

    Two: Whip the goat cheese, heavy cream, and salt until light and fluffy.

    Goat cheese and caramelized onions being mixed in a bowl.

    Three: Fold together the goat cheese and half of the caramelized onions.

    A knife scores a border into puff pastry.

    Four: Lightly roll out puff pastry into more of a rectangle. Lightly score a 1" border, then dock the insides all over with a fork.

    Hot tip! Use the tip of the knife to gently make the score, just into the very top of the pastry. Do not puncture through the whole way.

    A spatula spreads goat cheese and caramelized onions on puff pastry.

    Five: Spread the goat cheese and caramelized onions inside the border.

    A spatula spreads fig jam on top of goat cheese and onions.

    Six: Spread the fig jam evenly on top of the cheese and onions.

    A fork adds caramelized onions to the top of the tart.

    Seven: Add the remixing caramelized onions on top.

    A pastry brush adds egg wash to the border of the tart.

    Eight: Brush the edges of the puff pastry with egg wash, then bake until the pastry is golden and puffed.

    Expert Tips

    • Take your time when caramelizing the onions, and keep the heat low so they don't burn. You want the onions to become jammy, and a deep golden color.
    • Score the border of the puff pastry lightly, making sure not to cut through the dough.
    • Cut off the very edges of the pastry before baking for the best flaky rise.
    • Move the pan to the bottom rack for the final 5 minutes of baking to prevent a soggy bottom.

    Recipe FAQs

    What should I serve with a goat cheese tart?

    Salad with a bright vinaigrette is a great option to cut the richness and sweetness of the tart, but it can also be served as a stand-alone appetizer.

    What goes well with caramelized onions?

    Any soft cheeses such as goat cheese, brie, or blue cheese pair really well with caramelized onions, and they are also great with fatty meats like hamburgers and cheesesteaks.

    Can this be made ahead of time?

    The tart can be assembled ahead of time and stored in the fridge before baking, however, it should be baked off shortly before serving for best results.

    Storage

    The caramelized onion goat cheese tart is best enjoyed the day it is made. If needed, store covered in the fridge for one day. Reheat in a 375℉ oven for 5-10 minutes to re-crisp.

    Slice of caramelized onion tart cut in half.
    Slice of onion and cheese tart with fig jam.

    More Cheesy Appetizer Recipes You'll Love

    • Phyllo fried feta cut open on a plate with a honey stick next to it.
      Phyllo Fried Feta with Hot Honey
    • An arrangement of whipped ricotta crostini on a board with fixings.
      Whipped Ricotta Crostini
    • Mound of cheese filled pretzels with one broken in half.
      Pimento Cheese Filled Pretzels
    • Close up of baked brie with fig jam and a scrip being removed.
      Baked Brie with Fig Jam

    Did you make this recipe? Share it with us! Tag @thecozyplum on Instagram & Facebook and leave a star rating ⭐️ below!

    📖Recipe

    Slice of onion and cheese tart with fig jam.

    Caramelized Onion and Goat Cheese Tart

    Callan Wenner
    This Caramelized Onion and Goat Cheese Tart is savory and sweet and incredibly easy to make! It starts with store-bought puff pastry that gets topped with a caramelized onion and whipped goat cheese mixture, a layer of fig jam, and more caramelized onions on top. It's crispy, tangy, creamy, and sweet, all in one bite!
    5 from 7 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 1 hour hr
    Cook Time 30 minutes mins
    Total Time 1 hour hr 30 minutes mins
    Course Appetizer, Side Dish, Snack
    Cuisine American, French
    Servings 12
    Calories 220 kcal

    Equipment

    • Large frying pan
    • Rolling Pin
    • Large sheet pan
    • Parchment paper
    U.S. Cups vs MetricUse the metric toggle to convert the measurements

    Ingredients
      

    • 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
    • 4 large yellow onions peeled and thinly sliced
    • ½ tablespoon fresh thyme minced
    • 4 oz goat cheese room temperature
    • 3 tablespoons heavy whipping cream cold
    • ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
    • 1 sheet puff pastry thawed
    • ⅓ cup fig jam or preserves
    • 1 egg for egg wash
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions
     

    • Heat a large skillet over medium low heat. Add the olive oil and onions and toss to coat. Allow the onions to cook for 5 minutes, toss again, then turn the heat to low.
      3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, 4 large yellow onions
    • Continue cooking the onions for 30-40 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes or so, until the onions are golden brown and turn almost jammy looking. Add the thyme at the halfway mark, once the onions start to become golden in color. Once cooked, remove from the heat to cool completely.
      ½ tablespoon fresh thyme
    • Note: If the onions are burning at any point, reduce the heat. I also like to add ¼ cup of water halfway through the cooking time to loosen any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. The water will evaporate during the remaining cooking process.
    • Preheat the oven to 400℉ and add a piece of parchment paper to a large sheet pan.
    • With a hand mixer, stand mixer, or food processor, whip the goat cheese, heavy cream and salt until light and fluffy (about one minute).
      4 oz goat cheese, 3 tablespoons heavy whipping cream, ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
    • Roll out the puff pastry on a very lightly floured surface until it’s about ⅛” thick (then brush off any excess flour). Transfer to the sheet pan. Score a 1-inch border along the inside of the puff pastry (lightly on top, not the whole way through), then dock inside the scored area all over with a fork.
      1 sheet puff pastry
    • Mix ⅓ of the cooled onions into the goat cheese, then spread inside the border of the puff pastry. Swirl the fig jam on top of the goat cheese, then top evenly with the remaining caramelized onions.
      ⅓ cup fig jam or preserves
    • Whisk together the egg with 1 teaspoon of water and brush all over the exposed pieces of puff pastry.
      1 egg
    • Bake for 25-30 minutes until the pastry is very golden brown. Move the pan to the bottom rack of the oven for the final 5 minutes of baking.
    • Top with additional thyme leaves. Allow the tart to cool for 5 minutes, then use a very sharp knife to slice into sections and serve.

    Notes

    Store the tart lightly covered in the fridge for up to four days. Re-crisp in a hot oven, air fryer, or toaster oven.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 220kcalCarbohydrates: 17gProtein: 4gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0.002gCholesterol: 22mgSodium: 241mgPotassium: 102mgFiber: 1gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 188IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 34mgIron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    Come Bake With Us!

    Recieve updates on new recipes, tips and tricks used in the TCP Kitchen, seasonal suggestions, and recipe sneak peeks!

      We won't send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time.

      Built with ConvertKit
      « Broccoli Bacon Quiche
      Imitation Crab Dip »
      206 shares
      • Facebook
      • Yummly

      Reader Interactions

      Comments

      1. Stacey

        November 08, 2023 at 1:40 am

        This was so delicious. I only had 3 onions but it was plenty. It came together very quickly and the instructions and photos were so helpful. Everyone in the family gave it a big thumbs up.

        Reply
        • Callan Wenner

          November 10, 2023 at 5:35 pm

          Ahh so glad to hear this! Thanks for making it and reporting back!

          Reply
      2. Stef

        May 15, 2023 at 2:01 pm

        5 stars
        This recipe was the star of the show at a lunch I hosted. It was very easy to make and definitely this first thing everyone reached for when they were filling their plates. I will say I only had three large onions on hand and I still felt like it was plenty. So, if you only have three it could totally work 🙂 Already figuring out when I can make this again..

        Reply
        • Connie

          June 28, 2023 at 10:21 pm

          5 stars
          I went to a Rhone River wine tasting class with a friend at Total Wine. The man who educated us on the wines we tasted said they would go well with a goat cheese tart. He wasn't kidding! I made this tart for my friend and me and bought a bottle of red wine that we tasted. The tart was absolutely delicious and very easy to make. The most difficult part was finding puff pastry. Trader Joes and Sprouts told me it was a seasonal item. I found it at Fry's.

          Reply
          • Callan Wenner

            June 29, 2023 at 2:05 am

            So great to hear the pairing was spot on! I've never heard any stores say that puff pastry is seasonal, wow, good to know. Glad you were able to find some to try this, and thanks for reporting back!

            Reply

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




      Primary Sidebar

      Holding a coffee cup at a table.

      About Callan

      I'm Callan, and welcome to The Cozy Plum! A photographer and recipe developer of all things sweet, savory, and delicious, I help cooks and bakers of any level gain the confidence to create restaurant-quality recipes in their own kitchen!

      About Callan →

      Christmas Cookies

      • Two cookie butter cookies split in half being held by a hand.
        Cookie Butter Cookies
      • A handful of cookies leaning against a cup of tea
        Ginger Molasses Lace Cookies
      • Overhead close up of a warm gooey cookie
        Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
      • Classic Chewy Snickerdoodle Recipe

      More Cookie Recipes →

      Christmas Recipes

      • Apple crumble tart on a plate with a scoot of ice cream on top.
        Apple Crumble Tart
      • A slice of Baileys cheesecake pulling out of the cake.
        No Bake Baileys Irish Cream Cheesecake
      • Broken open Ferrero rocher brownie laying on top of cut brownies.
        Ferrero Rocher Brownies
      • A hand holds a piece of apple cheesecake on a pie server.
        Apple Crumble Cheesecake

      More Fall Recipes →

      The Cozy Plum Favorites

      • Loaf cake partially sliced.
        Coconut Almond Loaf Cake
      • Brioche cinnamon roll on a plate with bites removed from a fork.
        Brioche Cinnamon Rolls
      • Mound of cheese filled pretzels with one broken in half.
        Pimento Cheese Filled Pretzels
      • Fluffernutter cookie layered on other cookies with the crack exposed.
        Fluffernutter Cookies

      Share your bakes with me!

      Did you try one of my recipes? I can't wait to see it!
      Tag @TheCozyPlum and #TheCozyPlum on Instagram!


      web stories

      Let's Connect!

      • Email
      • Facebook
      • Instagram
      • Pinterest
      • TikTok
      • YouTube

      Footer

      ↑ back to top

      About

      • About Me
      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms & Conditions
      • Accessibility Policy

      Newsletter

      • Sign up for emails and updates

      Contact

      • Contact Page

      As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

      Copyright © 2023 The Cozy Plum, LLC