Best Cheese Tarts Recipes

TOMATO AND GOAT CHEESE TARTS

Steps:

• Unfold a sheet of puff pastry on a lightly floured surface and roll it lightly to an 11 by 11-inch square. Using a 6-inch wide saucer or other round object as a guide, cut 2 circles from the sheet of puff pastry, discarding the scraps. Repeat with the second pastry sheet to make 4 circles in all. Place the pastry circles on 2 sheet pans lined with parchment paper and refrigerate until ready to use.
• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium to low heat and add the onions and garlic. Saute for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring frequently, until the onions are limp and there is almost no moisture remaining in the skillet. Add 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, the wine, and thyme and continue to cook for another 10 minutes, until the onions are lightly browned. Remove from the heat.
• Using a sharp paring knife, score a 1/4-inch-wide border around each pastry circle. Prick the pastry inside the score lines with the tines of a fork and sprinkle a tablespoon of grated Parmesan on each round, staying inside the scored border.
• Place 1/4 of the onion mixture on each circle, again staying within the scored edge. Crumble 1 ounce of goat cheese on top of the onions. Place a slice of tomato in the center of each tart. Brush the tomato lightly with olive oil and sprinkle with basil, salt, and pepper. Finally, scatter 4 or 5 shards of Parmesan on each tart.
• Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until the pastry is golden brown. The bottom sheet pan may need an extra few minutes in the oven. Serve hot or warm.

GOAT CHEESE AND CARAMELIZED ONION TARTS

Steps:

• Cut thawed puff pastry into six 3- to 4-inch rounds using a cookie cutter. Roll edges of each pastry slightly to form 6 small tarts. Set aside.
• Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat; stir in sweet onion. Cook and stir until onion has softened and turned translucent, about 5 minutes. Reduce heat to low and continue cooking and stirring until onion is very tender and dark brown, about 40 minutes more. Remove from heat and set aside.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Bring 1/3 cup balsamic vinegar to a boil in a saucepan. Reduce heat and let simmer until thickened, 5 to 10 minutes. Stir in 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar and brown sugar. Remove from heat and set aside.
• Divide cooked onions between the 6 tart shells and place on a baking sheet. Sprinkle goat cheese evenly on top of each tart.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 7 minutes. Remove from the oven and drizzle each with balsamic vinegar reduction.
• Return tarts to the oven and continue to bake until cheese is bubbly and tarts are golden brown, about 8 minutes more.

CREAM CHEESE TARTS (PAULA DEEN)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Place a paper cupcake liner in each cup (12 total) of muffin pan.
• Beat cream cheese with electric mixer until fluffy. Add sugar and vanilla, beating well. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each.
• Place a vanilla wafer FLAT side down, in each muffin cup. Spoon cream cheese mixture over wafers filling each to about 1/4 inch from top of paper.
• Bake for 20 minutes.
• Allow tarts to cool completely before filling. When you remove the tarts from the oven, they will be puffed up, but as they cool, the center will sink, creating the perfect well to fill with a couple of spoonfuls of your favorite filling.
• Chill thoroughly before serving.

CHERRY CREAM CHEESE TARTS

Steps:

• In a small bowl, beat the cream cheese, sugar and extract until smooth. Spoon into shells. Top with pie filling. Refrigerate until serving.

CARAMELIZED ONION AND GOAT CHEESE TARTS

Steps:

• In a large heavy-bottomed skillet over medium heat, add the oil and butter. When the butter is melted, add the onions, sugar, and salt, to taste. Cook until the onions begin to brown. Adjust the heat to low and cook slowly, turning often, until the onions are golden brown and caramelized, about 10 to 15 minutes. Remove the onions from the heat and set aside to cool.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• In a bowl combine the goat cheese, egg, cream, and thyme. Pour the mixture into a small resealable plastic food storage bag. Snip off a corner of the bag to use it for piping.
• Lay the pie crusts out flat on a clean surface and with a 2 1/2-inch round cutter cut out 12 circles from each crust. Press them into the cups of the mini-muffin tin. Fill each cup 1/2 way with the cooled onions. Pipe the cheese mixture on top of the onions, filling the cups. Bake the tarts until the filling is set, about 15 to 20 minutes. Let the tarts cool slightly, and then remove them from the muffin tin and serve.

ONION & GOAT'S CHEESE TARTS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 220C/fan 200C/gas 7. Cut the pastry into 4 rectangles and place on a baking sheet. Mark a border 1cm in from the edge of the pastry with a sharp knife. Spoon the onions into the middle, smooth then top with the cheese and thyme. Drizzle with oil and bake for 15-20 mins, until the cheese has melted and the pastry has risen and is golden brown.
• For the onions: Makes 600g, which is 3 batches. Prep time 5 mins, cook time 30 mins. Melt the butter in a large, deep frying pan and stir through the onions. Cover with a lid and cook gently for about 10 mins, until softened. Remove lid, add sugar, then cook 15-20 mins, stirring, until all of the liquid has evaporated and onions have turned golden. Divide into 3 batches to make the recipes, right. Will keep in the fridge for up to 5 days, or freeze for up to 1 month.

BLANCA'S CHERRY CHEESE TARTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Place cup cake liners into muffin tins.
• To Make Filling: In a medium bowl, combine cream cheese and 1/2 cup sugar. Stir in eggs, vanilla and lemon juice. Mix thoroughly.
• To Make Crust: Combine crumbs, 2 tablespoons sugar and cinnamon. Cut in butter until crust forms small crumbs. Put one spoonful of crust into each cup cake liner and pat it down. Spoon a layer of filling on top of crusts.
• Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes. When tarts are fresh from oven, spoon cherry pie filling over top of each. Let tarts chill in refrigerator for 30 minutes to an hour.

CARAMELIZED ONION AND GOAT CHEESE TARTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450°F. and butter a baking sheet. Cut onion into very thin slices. In a heavy skillet heat butter over moderately high heat until foam subsides and sauté onion, stirring occasionally, until golden. Add water and deglaze skillet, scraping up any brown bits and cooking until water is evaporated. Stir in thyme and cook mixture until onion is deep golden.
• While onion is cooking, cutting lengthwise along a fold line, cut off one third of pastry sheet, about 10 by 3 inches, and reserve remaining pastry for another use. Halve pastry strip crosswise and transfer pieces to baking sheet. Prick pastry all over with a fork and bake in middle of oven until deep golden, about 12 minutes. Transfer a pastry piece with a spatula to each of 2 plates and immediately press down centers to form an indentation for goat cheese and onion. Spread goat cheese in middle of pastry pieces and top with caramelized onion.
• Garnish tarts with fresh thyme sprigs and serve immediately.

CREAM CHEESE TARTS

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Place a paper cupcake liner in each cup (12 total) of muffin pan.
• 2. Beat cream cheese with electric mixer until fluffy. Add sugar and vanilla, beating well. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each.
• 3. Place a vanilla wafer FLAT side down, in each muffin cup. Spoon cream cheese mixture over wafers filling each to about 1/4 inch from top of paper.
• 4. Bake for 20 minutes.
• 5. Allow tarts to cool completely before filling. When you remove the tarts from the oven, they will be puffed up, but as they cool, the center will sink, creating the perfect well to fill with a couple of spoonfuls of your favorite filling.
• 6. Chill thoroughly before serving.

STRAWBERRY-RHUBARB CREAM CHEESE TARTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. In a small bowl, mix flour and salt; cut in butter and shortening until crumbly. Gradually add ice water, tossing with a fork until dough holds together when pressed. Divide into five portions. Press dough onto bottom and up sides of five ungreased 4-in. fluted tart pans with removable bottoms; place on a baking sheet., For cream cheese filling, in a small bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Beat in vanilla. Add egg; beat on low speed just until blended. Divide evenly among pastries., For strawberry-rhubarb filling, in a large saucepan, mix sugar and cornstarch. Stir in strawberries and rhubarb; bring to a boil. Cook and stir 2 minutes or until thickened; spoon over cream cheese mixture. Bake 25-30 minutes or until filling is set. Cool on a wire rack 1 hour., For drizzle, in a small saucepan, mix sugar and cornstarch. Whisk in cream. Cook and stir over medium heat until thickened and bubbly. Reduce heat to low; cook and stir 2 minutes longer. Remove from heat and transfer to a small bowl; stir in rum. Press waxed paper onto surface of cream mixture. Cool to room temperature., Sprinkle almonds over tarts; drizzle with cream mixture. Refrigerate at least 1 hour before serving.

GOAT CHEESE AND ONION TARTS

Steps:

• Make dough:
• Cut butter into bits and in a bowl with a pastry blender or in a food processor blend or pulse together with flour and salt until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add 2 tablespoons ice water and toss with a fork or pulse until incorporated. Add enough remaining ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time, tossing with fork or pulsing to incorporate, to form a dough. On a work surface smear dough with heel of hand in 3 or 4 forward motions to make dough easier to work with. Divide dough in half and pat each half into a rectangle, about 6 by 3 inches. Chill rectangles, wrapped separately in plastic wrap, at least 1 hour and up to 1 week.
• Thinly slice onions and in a large skillet cook with salt to taste in oil, covered, over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, 10 minutes, or until softened. Cook onions, uncovered, stirring, until golden and any liquid in skillet is evaporated.
• Preheat oven to 375°F.
• On a lightly floured surface roll out 1 dough rectangle into a 16 x 6-inch rectangle and fit it into a 13 1/2 x 4 x 1-inch tart pan with a removable fluted rim. Roll a rolling pin over pastry to trim it flush with top of rim and prick bottom of shell in several places with a fork. Make 1 more tart shell in another tart pan in same manner.
• Line shells with foil and fill with pie weights or raw rice. Bake shells in middle of oven 10 minutes. Carefully remove foil and weights or rice and bake shells until pale golden, about 5 minutes more.
• While shells are baking, whisk together goat cheese, butter, and sour cream until smooth and whisk in eggs until combined well. Season custard with salt and pepper.
• Spread onions evenly in shells and pour custard over onions. Sprinkle thyme over custard and bake tarts in middle of oven 20 minutes, or until puffed and golden. Cool tarts in pans on racks (filling will deflate). Tarts may be made 2 days ahead, cooled completely in pans, and chilled, covered, in pans. Reheat tarts in pans, uncovered, in a 350°F. oven about 15 minutes to crisp crusts. Remove rims from pans.
• Cut tarts crosswise into 3/4-inch-wide slices to make about 32 hors d'oeuvres and, if desired, halve slices crosswise to make about 64 hors d'oeuvres. Serve tarts warm or at room temperature.

MINI MUSHROOM AND GOAT CHEESE TARTS

Steps:

• Preheat an oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Lightly grease a baking tray.
• Lay puff pastry out on a lightly floured surface and cut into 8 squares. Prick the squares in several places with a fork. Place the puff pastry squares on prepared baking sheet.
• Bake the puff pastry squares for 7 minutes. Remove tray from the oven, flatten the squares using the backside of a spatula. Return puff pastry to the oven to bake until golden brown, 5 to 8 minutes. Remove from oven.
• Meanwhile, melt butter in a skillet over high heat. Cook and stir the mushrooms and garlic in the butter until mushrooms are tender, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Top the baked puff pastry squares evenly with the mushroom mixture. Crumble goat cheese over mushrooms and sprinkle with parsley.

BACON AND TOMATO CREAM CHEESE TARTS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375°F. Line large cookie sheet with cooking parchment paper.
• Unroll crescent dough into 12x7-inch rectangle. If using crescent rolls, press seams to seal. Cut into 6 rows by 4 rows. Place dough pieces on cookie sheet, spacing slightly apart. Bake 10 to 13 minutes or until golden brown; cool 10 minutes.
• In medium bowl, mix cream cheese, 3 tablespoons of the green onions, 2 teaspoons of the thyme and the cream; beat with electric mixer on medium until well mixed. Spread 2 teaspoons cream cheese mixture on top of each baked crescent square.
• Top with bacon, tomatoes and remaining green onions and thyme. Serve immediately, or loosely cover and refrigerate up to 2 hours before serving.

BLUEBERRY CREAM CHEESE TARTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Place a paper cupcake liner in each cup of a muffin pan.
• Beat cream cheese with a handheld electric mixer until fluffy. Add sugar and vanilla, beating well. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition.
• Place a vanilla wafer, flat side down, in each muffin cup. Spoon cream cheese mixture over wafers.
• Bake for 20 minutes. Allow tarts to cool completely. Serve with blueberry filling on top, or pie filling of your choice.

QUEIJADAS DE SINTRA (PORTUGUESE CHEESE TARTS WITH CINNAMON)

Steps:

• For the pastry: Combine the flour and salt in a large bowl.
• With a pastry blender, cut in the shortening until the texture of fine meal.
• Forking briskly, drizzle just enough ice water over the mixture to make it hold together.
• Shape into a ball, wrap in wax paper, and refrigerate several hours.
• Meanwhile, prepare the filling: In a food processor fitted with the metal chopping blade (or in a blender or electric mixer set at highest speed), process the mozzarella, butter, sugar, and cinnamon about 60 seconds nonstop until smooth and creamy.
• Scrape down the work bowl sides with a rubber spatula and beat 60 seconds longer.
• Note: It will take longer for the electric mixer to reduce the mixture to creaminess, perhaps 3 to 4 minutes of steady beating.
• Add the egg yolks, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
• Add the flour and pulse the motor on once or twice to blend.
• Transfer the mixture to a small bowl; cover and chill several hours.
• When ready to bake the queijadas, preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Divide the pastry in half and roll, first one half, then the other, as thin as paper, on a lightly floured pastry cloth with a lightly floured, stockinette-covered rolling pin.
• Cut into rounds with a 3 1/2 inch cutter.
• Also re-roll and cut the scraps.
• Fit the pastry into plain or fluted tart tins measuring 2 1/2 inches across the top.
• Set the tins on baking sheets, then half-fill each tart shell with the cheese mixture.
• Bake uncovered for 18 to 20 minutes, just until the filling is puffy and a rich amber brown.
• Remove the tarts from the oven, cool until easy to handle; then using a small pointed knife, gently pry the tarts from the tins.
• Serve at room temperature.

CREAM CHEESE TARTS

Steps:

• Mix first five ingredients, beat at high speed.
• Line tart pan with paper liners (small).
• Put vanilla wafers in liners bottom side down.
• Spoon 1 T batter onto wafer.
• Bake 15 minutes at 350 degrees F. Let cool.
• Top with cherry pie filling or any fruit.
• Yields 3 dozen large tarts or 6 dozen small tarts. These can be frozen.

MINI CHERRY CREAM CHEESE TARTS

Steps:

• 1. Fill mini pan wells with liner ... place 1 vanilla wafer in bottom of each liner , pour over wafer 1/2 teaspoon of melted butter . In medium size mixing bowl add room temp cream cheese, sugar, egg, lemon and vanilla. Mix with beater until all ingredients are creamed together. Spoon cream cheese mixture over wafer until 2/3's full. Bake in preheated 325 degree oven for approx.15 minutes or until so slightly brown . Set in refrigerator to cool. Top with favorite topping ( strawberry, cherry , blueberry pie filling or mini chocolate chips) Keep cool until ready to serve.

STRAWBERRY CREAM CHEESE COOKIE TARTS

Steps:

• Make cookie dough as directed on package. Roll dough into 32 (1-inch balls); place in greased muffin cups. Press each ball in bottom and up side of muffin cup. Bake at 350°F for 12 to 15 minutes or until edges just begin to brown. Cool 20 minutes. Remove from pan; cool completely.
• Mix cream cheese, milk and powdered sugar with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Fill each cookie cup with rounded teaspoonful of filling. Top each cookie with decorating icing and sprinkles. Store in refrigerator.

BLUEBERRY CREAM CHEESE TARTS WITH GRAHAM CRACKER CRUST

Steps:

• To prepare the graham cracker shells cream the butter and sugars together until smooth, about 1 minute. Add the honey and beat until well combined.
• Sift together the flours, salt and cinnamon. Add to the butter mixture in two batches, scraping sides of bowl between additions. Mix until well combined. Form into a disk, wrap in plastic wrap, and chill until firm, at least 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 325*F. Roll out the chilled dough on a lightly floured surface to 1/4 inch thick.Using a 3 inch cutter, cut out 16 circles of dough and press them into greased 2 inch tart pans. Prick dough all over with a fork and chill for 20 minutes.
• Bake until golden brown, 18 to 20 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool. (they can be made up to 1 cay ahead and frozen for up to 3 months).
• For the pastry cream, combine 3/4 cup of the milk and 3 TBS of sugar in a medium saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat. Meanwhile, in a large bowl whisk together the egg yolks, cornstarch and the remaining 2 TBS sugar. Whisk the remaining 1/4 cup milk into the egg yolk mixture. Remove the milk mixture from the heat and add a little of the hot mixture to the egg yolk mixture, whisking constantly to keep the egg yolks from cooking. Pour the egg yolk mixture into the hot milk mixture, whisking constantly as you pour.
• Return to the heat and bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Let cook for 1 minute or so until it thickens. Add the cream cheese and vanilla, whisking until smooth. Strain through a cheesecloth lined sieve into a clean bowl. Cover the surface with plastic cling film and chill. Once chilled, whisk until smooth and fold in the whipped cream.
• To make the blueberry compote mix together 1 cup of the blueberries with the sugar in a medium saucepan. cook over low heat until the berries have all popped and broken down. (about 5 minutes) Strain the cookied berries into a bowl, discarding the solids. Add the remaining berries to the syrup and toss to combine.
• To assemble spoon the pastry cream into each tart shell and top with about 2 TBS of the blueberry compote. Serve soon after assembling.
• You can also make two large tarts. (use 9 inch tart pans.) Prick and bake as above increasing time to 25 minutes.

STRAWBERRY CREAM CHEESE TARTS

Steps:

• Combine sugar, thawed strawberries, and any strawberry juice in a heavy pot over medium heat. Stir constantly and bring to a boil, being careful not to burn the sugar. Remove from the heat and let cool to room temperature, 15 to 30 minutes. Place syrup in the refrigerator to chill, about 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease two 24-cup mini muffin tins.
• Cut butter into flour until well mixed and granular. Mix in just enough water (1 tablespoon at a time) to make a dough.
• Roll dough on a floured working surface with a floured rolling pin until very thin and almost transparent. Use a large round cookie cutter to cut out circles of dough. Lightly press circles into the prepared muffin cups.
• Bake in the preheated oven until light brown, 5 to 6 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool.
• Meanwhile, beat powdered sugar, cream cheese, and whipping cream together until well mixed.
• Fill each cooled pastry crust with cream cheese filling, then drizzle with strawberry syrup and garnish with mint leaves.