This Pear and Goat Cheese Tart is sweet and savory with a flaky and buttery puff pastry crust! A mixture of creamy and tangy goat and cream cheeses, sweet pears, fresh thyme and a drizzle of honey makes this the most delicious fall appetizer or dessert!
Serve this tart for a light lunch with this Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Greens Salad with Quince Vinaigrette. Elegant, easy and delicious!
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This tart is beautiful and also quick and easy to make. You can assemble it a day ahead and keep it refrigerated. Right before baking, top it with the pears and bake until golden brown. This makes it a great dish for entertaining!
Working with puff pastry is quite easy. For this tart, I keep things very simple. Roll out the dough, slightly flatten the pastry with a rolling pin – mostly to smooth out the fold lines – fold the edges and crimp with the tines of a fork. Brush with egg wash and you are ready for the next step.
I mix both cheeses, honey and thyme in a medium bowl until well combined. Since both cheeses are room temperature, you really don’t need to get any special equipment out! A spatula is all you need.
This Pear and Goat Cheese Tart is the perfect brunch, appetizer or dessert dish. Yes dessert! This is not overly sweet but with the honey drizzle, it definitely qualifies as dessert. However, you can always add an extra tablespoon of honey to the cheese mixture for some extra sweetness.
Recipe Tips
Check out these delicious appetizer recipes:
- Pea Fritters with Goats Cheese Cream (Sprinkles and Sprouts)
- Roasted Fennel, Salami and Ricotta Crostini (Inside the Rustic Kitchen)
- Easy Cheese Dip (The Gingered Whisk)
- Brie and Cranberries Baked in Puff Pastry
- Puff Pastry Tart with Tomatoes, Asparagus and Herbed Feta
- Apple Roses Recipe (Easy Peasy Creative Ideas)
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Quick and Easy Pear and Goat Cheese Tart
Ingredients
- 1 sheet puff pastry thawed (about 8.6 ounces)
- 1 egg beaten with 1 tablespoon of water, for egg wash
- 4 ounces goat cheese at room temperature, plus more for garnishing
- 4 ounces cream cheese at room temperature
- 1 tablespoon honey, plus more for drizzling
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme, chopped plus more for garnishing
- 2 ripe pears, thinly sliced
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the cream cheese and goat cheese until smooth. Add the honey and thyme and mix well to combine.
- Roll out the sheet of Puff Pastry into a lightly floured board. With a rolling pin, lightly flatten the pastry. This will make the pastry smooth. Fold over the edges and crimp down with a fork.
- Brush the entire pastry, edges included, with egg wash. Spread the cheese mixture evenly all over the pastry but avoiding the borders.
- Refrigerate for 5 -10 minutes. Remove from the refrigerator and arrange the pears over the cheese mixture. Garnish with small pieces of goat cheese. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown.
- Remove from the oven and drizzle with honey. Garnish with fresh thyme (if desired) and serve.
Budgie says
Two of my favorite things combine in one recipe, am I dreaming?
Kathy says
Hahaha! Nope is all there! Enjoy
Donna says
This tart is just gorgeous!! I love ALL the flavors and can’t wait to try it out this weekend – it’s going to be my ‘bring a dish to share’ 🙂
Kathy says
Thank you Donna!! I am sure it will be a huge hit!!
Sarah says
(That comment was supposed to end with “list”!!) lol
Kathy says
LOL Thanks!!!
Sarah says
Oh wow! This is so incredibly gorgeous! I love pears, and I think it’s a shame they aren’t in more recipes. This is totally on my to-make lidt’nn
Julia says
Pears and goat cheese are a wonderful combination. This tart looks fantastic and would be perfect for dessert, as you said, or a snack, brunch, breakfast, lunch, or pretty much any meal of the day. I love how you mixed the goat cheese with the cream cheese. I’ve never tried doing that but I like the idea
Kathy says
Thank you Julia! Yes, my neighbor was telling me she could have this tart at any time of the day!! LOL
Gloria @ Homemade & Yummy says
I am all about rustic looking foods. Goat cheese is in my fridge ALL THE TIME. This is perfect for the weekend brunch, and would also be a great dessert too.
Kathy says
Thank you Gloria!!!