This Pear and Goat Cheese Tart combines sweet and savory flavors on a flaky, buttery puff pastry crust. A creamy blend of tangy goat cheese and smooth cream cheese is brightened with fresh thyme and a touch of honey, while thinly sliced pears provide a delicate sweetness. It’s an elegant, easy recipe that works well as an appetizer, brunch item, light lunch, or even a not-too-sweet dessert.
The tart pairs nicely with a simple salad for a light meal. It’s also ideal for entertaining since much of the work can be done ahead: assemble the cheese filling and keep it chilled, then add the pears right before baking and finish with a drizzle of honey.
Puff pastry is surprisingly easy to work with. For this tart, roll the dough out on a lightly floured surface and smooth it with a rolling pin to remove fold lines. Fold the edges to form a raised border and crimp with the tines of a fork. Brush the entire surface, including the edges, with an egg wash to encourage a glossy, golden finish.
To prepare the filling, simply mix room-temperature goat cheese and cream cheese with honey and chopped fresh thyme until smooth. Because the cheeses are soft at room temperature, no special equipment is necessary — a rubber spatula or wooden spoon will do the job.
After spreading the cheese mixture across the center of the pastry, leaving the edges clear, chill briefly to help the filling set. Arrange thin slices of ripe pear on top, dot with a bit more goat cheese if desired, and bake until the pastry is puffed and golden. Finish with a drizzle of honey and a scattering of fresh thyme for a beautiful presentation and balanced flavor.
This tart is versatile: serve it warm or at room temperature. As an appetizer or brunch item it’s refined yet simple; as a dessert the honey adds enough sweetness to satisfy without being heavy. For extra sweetness, stir an additional tablespoon of honey into the cheese mixture.
Recipe Tips
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Use ripe but firm pears so the slices hold their shape while baking.
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Keep the cheese mixture chilled until you’re ready to top with pears to prevent the tart from becoming soggy.
Check out these delicious appetizer recipes:
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Pea Fritters with Goat Cheese Cream (Sprinkles and Sprouts)
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Roasted Fennel, Salami and Ricotta Crostini (Inside the Rustic Kitchen)
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Easy Cheese Dip (The Gingered Whisk)
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Brie and Cranberries Baked in Puff Pastry
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Puff Pastry Tart with Tomatoes, Asparagus and Herbed Feta
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Apple Roses Recipe (Easy Peasy Creative Ideas)
Quick and Easy Pear and Goat Cheese Tart
Kathy McDaniel
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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
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Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
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In a medium bowl, whisk together the cream cheese and goat cheese until smooth. Stir in the honey and chopped thyme until fully combined.
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Roll the sheet of puff pastry on a lightly floured surface. Lightly flatten with a rolling pin to smooth fold lines. Fold over the edges and crimp with a fork to form a border.
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Brush the pastry, including the edges, with the egg wash. Spread the cheese mixture evenly over the center, avoiding the borders.
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Chill the assembled tart for 5–10 minutes to help set the filling. Remove from the refrigerator and arrange the pear slices over the cheese. Add small pieces of goat cheese on top if desired. Bake for 15–20 minutes or until the pastry is puffed and golden brown.
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Remove from the oven, drizzle with additional honey, garnish with fresh thyme if you like, and serve warm or at room temperature.