• 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

    Cheese Tartlets

    Published: Sep 5, 2023 by Callan Wenner · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

    15 shares
    • Facebook
    • Yummly
    Jump to Recipe
    A stack of cheese puffs on a wooden board.

    These mini cheese tartlets are an elegant yet simple baked snack that are perfect bite-sized party appetizers and great for entertaining. They are made with puff pastry and a combination of cheeses, wine, and heavy cream, creating buttery, crispy, cheesy bites that are so easy to make.

    A stack of cheese puffs on a wooden board.

    While these savory cheese tarts look and taste fancy, they are actually a great way to use up leftover cheese hunks you have in the back of your fridge! You can use all different kinds and combinations of cheese in these cheese tart puff pastries.

    They are also perfect for entertaining because they freeze and reheat really well, so you can prepare and bake them in advance, not adding to the stress of hosting.

    For more puff pastry appetizers, try:

    • Puff Pastry Tomato Tart with Ricotta and Feta Cheese
    • Caramelized Onion and Goat Cheese Tart
    • Spinach and Feta Pinwheels
    • Baked Brie with Fig Jam
    • Puff Pastry Ham and Cheese Turnovers
    • Reuben Hand Pies
    Jump to:
    • Why You'll Love This Recipe
    • Ingredients
    • Substitutions and Variations
    • How to Make This Recipe
    • Expert Tips
    • Recipe FAQs
    • Storage
    • More Cheesy Appetizers You'll Love
    • 📖Recipe
    • Come Bake With Us!

    Why You'll Love This Recipe

    Texture - These mini cheese tarts have a light a fluffy cheese filling inside of a super crisp pastry shell. The crispy, creamy combination is perfect for a one-bite appetizer.

    Surprisingly light - Despite the filling being made with cheese and cream, it is not heavy at all. It is actually very light and airy because the filling puffs up and doesn't settle or get dense.

    Customizable - These tarts are begging to be made your own. Use any combination of cheese you like or have on hand. Add a layer of something extra like caramelized onions or bacon. Swap out the thyme for your favorite herbs. The variations are endless!

    Ingredients

    Ingredients for cheese tartlets.
    • Puff pastry. Two sheets of thawed puff pastry will get rolled out thin, and cut into rounds. Homemade rough puff pastry can also be used.
    • Cheese. A mixture of aged cheddar cheese and gruyere cheese make the perfect flavor combination.
    • Egg. One egg helps to make the mixture ultra light and fluffy, and helps it puff up during bake time.
    • White wine. A dry white wine really brings together the flavor profile. I don't suggest skipping this ingredient, though it can be omitted if necessary.
    • Thyme. Fresh thyme (not dried) should be used in this recipe for an added layer of flavor.

    See recipe card for full ingredients list and quantities.

    Substitutions and Variations

    • Serve with fig jam to top the tarts. The combination of savory cheese with sweet jam is delicious!
    • Add caramelized onions or sautéed leeks to the filling.
    • Use any type of cheese such as goat cheese, blue cheese, brie, gouda, etc.
    • Leave out the white wine if desired, however, the wine does add a great hint of flavor.
    • Make larger tarts using a regular sized muffin tin, cutting pastry circles to fit.
    • If you don't have a food processor, shred the cheese and chop the shreds with the thyme until very fine. Then mix together with the liquid and egg.

    How to Make This Recipe

    Cheese tartlet filling ingredients in a food processor.

    One: Add the cheeses, heavy cream, egg, wine, and thyme to a food processor.

    Pulverized cheese filling in a bowl.

    Two: Pulse until broken down and creamy, still leaving some small shreds of cheese for texture.

    A rolling pins rolls out puff pastry.

    Three: Roll out both sheets of puff pastry to ⅛" into a rectangle.

    A biscuit cutter cuts out rounds of puff pastry.

    Four: Use a 3" biscuit cutter to cut 12 rounds out of each sheet.

    Puff pastry rounds pressed into a mini muffin tin.

    Five: Add the rounds to a mini muffin tin, pressing down into the bottom and sides.

    A spoon adds cheese filling into puff pastry shells in a mini muffin tin.

    Six: Fill each pastry evenly with the cheese mixture, then tap the bottom on the counter a few times.

    Hot tip! Dip the bottom of a shot glass in flour and press the pastry into the muffin cups for easy assembly.

    Puffed up, baked cheese tartlets in a muffin tin.

    Seven: Bake until golden and puffy. Cool for five minutes.

    Tongs reach in to a platter of cheese tartlets. Wine and thyme sit on the site.

    Eight: Remove the cheese tartlets from the pan and transfer to a platter. Serve hot, warm, or at room temperature.

    Expert Tips

    • Press the pastry into the bottom and sides of the tin very well to create enough space for the filling.
    • Use a tablespoon measure to add equal amounts of the filling to each tart.
    • Use an offset spatula to easily remove the tartlets from the pan.
    • Serve on a platter or board alongside sliced pears or fig jam for a hint of sweetness.

    Recipe FAQs

    Should cheese tarts be warm or cold?

    Cheese tarts should be served warm or at room temperature. While they can still be enjoyed cold, the pastry loses its crisp texture, so it is best to reheat.

    How do I know when cheese tartlets are done?

    The tartlets are done when the filling has puffed up in the oven and the edges of the pastry are golden brown. The filling will fall while the tartlets cool.

    What if my tartlets puff up over the sides?

    That's ok! Some of them go rogue during the rising process. They will fall a bit when they cool. Use an offset spatula, fork, or knife to gently lift off any bits stuck to the pan before removing.

    Storage

    Store the cheese tartlets covered in the fridge for up to one week. Reheat on a sheet pan in a 375℉ oven for 5-10 minutes until warmed through.

    The baked mini cheese tarts can also be frozen in an airtight container for up to two months and reheated in the oven from frozen.

    A stack of cheese puffs on a wooden board with pieces of cheese next to it.

    More Cheesy Appetizers You'll Love

    • A basket of soft pretzels with beer cheese dip.
      Soft Pretzels and Beer Cheese Dip
    • Pepperoni bread sliced on a board with one piece split with melty cheese.
      Homemade Pepperoni Bread
    • Jalapeno corn dip in a skillet with a spoon and chips on the side.
      Hot Jalapeño Corn Dip
    • Phyllo fried feta cut open on a plate with a honey stick next to it.
      Phyllo Fried Feta with Hot Honey

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

    📖Recipe

    Tongs hold a cheese tartlet on a platter with a bite removed.

    Cheese Tartlets

    Callan Wenner
    Mini cheese tartlets make elegant party appetizers with a blend of cheeses, wine, and cream, resulting in buttery, crispy bites. They're perfect for using up leftover cheese, offering versatility with various cheese combinations for these puff pastry delights.
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 minutes mins
    Cook Time 20 minutes mins
    Total Time 35 minutes mins
    Course Appetizer, Snack
    Cuisine American, French
    Servings 24
    Calories 152 kcal

    Equipment

    • Food processor or blender
    • Rolling Pin
    • mini muffin tin
    • shot glass optional
    U.S. Cups vs MetricUse the metric toggle to convert the measurements

    Ingredients
     
     

    • ¾ cup aged sharp cheddar cheese shredded
    • ½ cup gruyere cheese shredded
    • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
    • 1 large egg
    • ¼ cup heavy whipping cream
    • ¼ cup dry white wine
    • ½ tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
    • 2 sheets puff pastry thawed, or rough puff pastry
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat the oven to 400℉.
    • Add the cheeses, salt, egg, heavy whipping cream, wine, and thyme to the bowl of a food processor and pulse until combined and smooth, yet slightly textured (like cooked grits).
      ¾ cup aged sharp cheddar cheese, ½ cup gruyere cheese, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, 1 large egg, ¼ cup heavy whipping cream, ¼ cup dry white wine, ½ tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
    • Roll out one sheet of puff pastry to about ⅛” thick. Use a 3 inch cookie cutter to cut out 12 rounds. Press each round of pastry into the opening of a mini muffin tin, pressing the dough firmly into the bottom and sides. Repeat with the second sheet of puff pastry, totaling 24.
      2 sheets puff pastry
    • Note: flour the bottom of a shot glass and press down the pastry into each cup.
    • Fill each pastry with the cheese mixture using a spoon, then tap the pan on the counter a few times to settle the filling in.
    • Bake the tartlets for 15-20 minutes until the edges are golden brown and the center mixture has puffed up. Some may puff over the sides, that’s ok!
    • Cool for 5 minutes, then use an offset spatula or butter knife to remove the tartlets to a platter. Enjoy hot, warm, or at room temperature.

    Notes

    Store the tartlets covered in the fridge for up to one week. Reheat on a sheet pan in a 375℉ oven for 5-10 minutes until warmed through.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 152kcalCarbohydrates: 9gProtein: 3gFat: 11gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0.001gCholesterol: 16mgSodium: 146mgPotassium: 25mgFiber: 0.3gSugar: 0.3gVitamin A: 116IUVitamin C: 0.2mgCalcium: 59mgIron: 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
      « Apple Crumble Cheesecake
      Apple and Blackberry Cake »
      15 shares
      • Facebook
      • Yummly

      Reader Interactions

      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 →

      Fall Recipes

      • A basket of apple fritter donuts next to an apple. One it broken open.
        Bakery Style Apple Fritter Donuts
      • stack of pumpkin pie crumble bars. A bite is removed from the top bar.
        Pumpkin Pie Crumble Bars
      • A hand holds a piece of apple cheesecake on a pie server.
        Apple Crumble Cheesecake
      • Coffee cake cookies. One is cut in half to show the center.
        Cinnamon Coffee Cake Cookies

      More Fall Recipes →

      Game Day Appetizers

      • Pepperoni bread sliced on a board with one piece split with melty cheese.
        Homemade Pepperoni Bread
      • Jalapeno corn dip in a skillet with a spoon and chips on the side.
        Hot Jalapeño Corn Dip
      • Slice of onion and cheese tart with fig jam.
        Caramelized Onion and Goat Cheese Tart
      • A spoonful of hot crab spinach artichoke dip.
        Hot Crab Spinach Artichoke Dip

      More Appetizer 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