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Dash of Jazz » Recipes » Appetizers

Puff Pastry Appetizer with Goat Cheese and Cherry Compote

Published: Jun 30, 2023 · Last Modified: Aug 25, 2023 by Jazzmine Woodard · This post may contain affiliate links · 16 Comments

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Turn up your next gathering with this easy yet elegant goat cheese and cherry puff pastry appetizer made with just five simple ingredients! Originally published August 2018. Last updated June 2023.

If you're here looking for a unique summer appetizer recipe, you're in the right spot. Cherries are peaking right now and these cute little bites are the perfect way to use them. Let's get into the recipe and my top tips to make it easy as can be!

And if you enjoy this recipe, you'll also love my sweet cherry jam and eclectic beginner's cheese board.

puff pastry appetizers topped with goat cheese and juicy cherry thyme compote.

What does it taste like?

These one-bite morsels are sweet, savory, tart, creamy, and a little buttery all at once! You'll taste juicy, candied fruit complemented by an earthy herbal note. Of course, tanginess comes from the creamy goat cheese and butteriness from the puff pastry base.

golden brown puff pastry appetizer on cheese board.

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Chai Spiced Popcorn

Deviled Egg Dip

Praline Baked Brie

Red, White & Blue Cheese Board

log of goat cheese, sea salt, frozen puff pastry, sugar, fresh thyme, and fresh cherries on granite counter top.

What You'll Need for this Recipe

Cherries are the star of this easy elegant fruit appetizer. And the great thing is that frozen cherries work just as well as fresh here so you can make it year-round even when cherries aren't in season!

Goat Cheese makes this a truly sweet and savory appetizer idea. I use plain goat cheese in this recipe but an herbed goat cheese also works well.

Puff Pastry comes straight from the refrigerated section of your grocer so this recipe is very easy. If you want to make your puff pastry from scratch, check out this great homemade puff pastry dough recipe!

Thyme adds complexity to the herbed cherry compote. Use fresh thyme for the best flavor or dried thyme if you don't have access to fresh.

Sugar combines with the cherries and thyme to cook down into a sweet and savory kind of syrup. This recipe is written with granulated sugar but brown sugar, coconut sugar, honey, or maple syrup also work if you want to adjust the level of sweetness or glycemic index. Just note the color will be slightly different.

Check out the recipe card below for full ingredients, measurements, and step-by-step instructions.

fresh cherries and thyme in small saucepan.
squares of puff pastry topped with goat cheese on sheet pan before baking.

Tips & Tools

Grab a small saucepan to cook down the cherry thyme compote. You'll also need a sharp knife and a sheet pan to prep and bake the puff pastry and goat cheese.

Can I make these goat cheese appetizers in advance? I recommend making this recipe shortly before serving as it is best enjoyed warm. You can, however make the cherry filling ahead of thyme and reheat it when needed.

How to store extra? Place any leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate. They will keep for up to five days this way.

bite size baked puff pastry topped with cherry herb compote and warm goat cheese.

How to Serve

Although my cherry goat cheese appetizer on puff pastry is simple to make, the result looks very sophisticated. I recommend serving these bites on a slate cheese board or platter with some extra sprigs of fresh thyme in the mix for presentation points.

goat cheese cherry appetizer bites on slate cheese board next to the words "goat cheese cherry bites" written in chalk.

More Favorite Cherry Recipes

Cherry Gin Smash

Homemade Cherry Pop Tarts

Lemon Ginger Cherry Pie

Slow Cooker Cherry Apple Crisp

I just know you and your party guests will love my savory sweet puff pastry bites. And sharing is caring so be sure to pin this recipe for later and follow me over on Pinterest. Thanks for reading!

Sweet and Savory Puff Pastry Appetizer Recipe

Goat Cheese Cherry Appetizer Bites

Jazzmine Woodard
A simple, sweet and savory appetizer made with goat cheese, fresh cherries, thyme, and puff pastry
4.89 from 18 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 28 minutes mins
Total Time 38 minutes mins
Course Appetizer, Snack
Cuisine American
Servings 40 bites
Calories 127 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 knife
  • 1 Baking Sheet
  • 1 small saucepan
  • 1 kitchen spoon
  • 1 Cherry pitter

Ingredients
  

  • 1 sheet puff pastry thawed
  • 8 ounces goat cheese
  • 3 cups cherries pitted
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • 3 sprigs fresh thyme
  • ½ teaspoon sea salt

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper and set aside.
  • Cut puff pastry into one-inch squares and place on a prepared baking sheet. Press the center of each square with your thumb or a teaspoon to make an indentation.
  • Divide goat cheese into the oven 40 pieces (about ½ teaspoon each). Place a piece of goat cheese into the indentation of each piece of puff pastry.
  • Transfer pan to oven and bake for about 15 minutes or until pastry is golden brown and puffed up.
  • While the pastry and goat cheese bake, add cherries, thyme, sugar, and sea salt to a small saucepan over medium heat. Cook until cherries begin to break down and release their juices (about 2 minutes).
  • Stir ingredients vigorously to dissolve sugar and sea salt in the liquid then cook until bubbling (about 3 minutes).
  • Reduce heat to medium low and let mixture simmer and thicken (about 10 minutes), stirring and pressing occasionally to break down cherries.
  • Spoon about ½ teaspoon of cherry mixture over each piece of baked puff pastry with goat cheese. Serve immediately while warm.

Notes

Can I make these goat cheese appetizers in advance? I recommend making this recipe shortly before serving as it is best enjoyed warm. You can, however make the cherry filling ahead of thyme and reheat it when needed.
How to store extra? Place any leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate. They will keep for up to five days this way.

Nutrition

Calories: 127kcalCarbohydrates: 12gProtein: 3gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 5mgSodium: 137mgPotassium: 60mgFiber: 1gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 145IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 22mgIron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Camile says

    July 12, 2023 at 4:36 pm

    5 stars
    Omg! Your Puff Pastry Appetizer with Goat Cheese and Cherry Compote recipe is such a flavor explosion! The buttery puff pastry combined with the tangy goat cheese and the sweet, luscious cherry compote created a harmony of flavors that had my taste buds doing a happy dance. I can't wait to impress my guests with it at my next gathering. Keep those amazing recipes coming! xx

    Reply
  2. Jen Sim says

    July 12, 2023 at 10:51 am

    5 stars
    These appetizer bites are so delicious and easy to make. The goat cheese is creamy and tangy, and the cherries are sweet and juicy. The puff pastry is flaky and buttery, and the honey drizzle adds a nice touch of sweetness. They are a real crowd-pleaser!

    Reply
  3. Geo says

    July 11, 2023 at 2:43 pm

    5 stars
    Thank you for this recipe! I had some puff pastry I needed to use but wasn’t sure what to make with it that fit with summer. This recipe was perfect, easy to make and the goat cheese paired so well with the cherry!

    Reply
  4. Kate says

    July 11, 2023 at 1:44 pm

    5 stars
    My goat cheese and cherry appetizer turned out amazing! This has now become one of our favorite appetizers.

    Reply
  5. Kaluhi says

    July 11, 2023 at 6:39 am

    5 stars
    This was so delicious and my friends cleared the tray really fast! I added a splash of rum in the cherry compote and the flavors were even fuller! This is for sure my go-to appetizer form today henceforth!

    Reply
  6. Marcus Avery Christon says

    July 10, 2023 at 8:48 pm

    5 stars
    I'm always a fan of anything savory being cooked with puff pasty and this recipe is no exception. Everyone loved it at my dinner party!

    Reply
  7. Robin says

    July 09, 2023 at 6:18 pm

    5 stars
    I've often enjoyed black cherry fruit spread with brie on toast, so I suspected I would be a fan of this appetizer and I was right. The sprig of thyme added a lovely herbaceous note. I plan to make this again over the holidays.

    Reply
  8. Brittany F says

    July 07, 2023 at 7:24 pm

    5 stars
    This appetizer is luxurious and I’ll be making this again! It was a hit with my guests and lots of friends asked me for the recipe. The cherries and goat cheese together were so delicious!

    Reply
  9. Marta says

    July 06, 2023 at 8:25 am

    5 stars
    I loved the fact that I could create an elegant appetizer for our fourth of July party with only 6 ingredients. Not only were these goat cheese cherry bites beautiful, they were extremely tasty. We didn't have a single bite leftover.

    Reply
  10. Kim says

    July 06, 2023 at 6:48 am

    5 stars
    Such an easy appetizer to make for my ladies brunch. Not one was left they are that good!

    Reply
  11. Aditi says

    August 02, 2018 at 10:46 pm

    5 stars
    How wonderfully delectable. I just love these dishes that I can follow through.

    Reply
  12. Leigh Suznovich says

    August 02, 2018 at 6:25 pm

    Oh my goodness, this looks incredible! So perfect and elegant for a summer party.

    Reply
  13. Rhonda says

    August 02, 2018 at 10:05 am

    Lawd I would probably eat through the whole sheet of these LOL These look amazing.

    Reply
    • Jazz says

      August 02, 2018 at 10:10 am

      Lol my friends saved me from doing that. This recipe makes the perfect amount for a party but it’s dangerous to test when nobody else is home!

      Reply
  14. Tara says

    August 02, 2018 at 10:05 am

    5 stars
    Yum! perfect tasty and classy appetizer for a party

    Reply
  15. Marta Rivera Diaz says

    August 02, 2018 at 9:38 am

    Yes! I'm loving everything about this appetizer! The cherries and the puff pastry seal it for me!

    Reply

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