These Easy Cranberry Goat Cheese Puff Pastry Swirls are the easiest holiday appetizer!
You only need 6 ingredients to make this delicious recipe for guests during the holiday season.
Orange zest and cranberry goat cheese combine for the most flavourful filling in these puff pastry swirls. These puff pastry cranberry goat cheese swirls are just like puff pastry pinwheels but with a slightly different twist!
I love to make easy appetizer recipes during holidays like these apricot jam & gruyere puff pastry bites and pesto puff pastry pinwheels because they’re so easy to make for a crowd. But these puff pastry swirls are a newer way to make a puff pastry appetizer for the holidays!
Why you’ll love these puff pastry swirls
- Easy: While these look fancy, these puff pastry swirls only need 6 simple ingredients so they’re the perfect party appetizer!
- Make-Ahead: You can make these a few hours ahead of time then warm in the oven before putting out for guests (see tips below!)
- Enjoy anytime: These puff pastry swirls are easy appetizers to serve for a holiday brunch or party.
Ingredients needed for this recipe
Puff pastry: you’ll need one sheet of puff pastry dough; most store-bought puff pastry sheets are sold frozen so make sure to thaw it out before making this recipe
Cranberry goat cheese: you’ll need cranberry goat cheese which can be found at grocery stores during the holiday season; for best results make sure the goat cheese is softened / room temperature before spreading on to the puff pastry
Orange: I love to add the zest of one small navel orange to the cranberry goat cheese; cranberry and orange goes so well together!
Egg: make an egg wash by whisking together one egg with 1 tablespoon water or milk; brush this on the puff pastry before baking for a golden shine when done
Honey: I love to drizzle honey on these goat cheese pinwheels as a nice finishing touch
Fresh herbs: fresh minced rosemary or fresh thyme leaves are the perfect garnish
How to make puff pastry swirls with cranberry goat cheese
- Preheat the oven to 375F and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Lay the thawed puff pastry sheet onto a lightly floured work surface (like a cutting board) vertically. Use an offset spatula or the back of a spoon to spread the softened cranberry goat cheese over the top half of the surface of the puff pastry. Then, sprinkle the zest of one navel orange over top of the cranberry goat cheese.
- Fold the bottom half of the pastry over the top half so you’ll have a smaller rectangle. Use a sharp knife or pizza cutter to cut into 10-12 even strips. Grab both ends of one strip and gently twist in opposite directions to create a spiral. Then, swirl it into a round pastry, pinching/pressing the end of the roll to seal it. Transfer each swirl to the lined baking sheet.
- Place the baking sheet in the fridge for 10 minutes – this helps the puff pastry cook better in the oven. After 10 minutes, remove the baking sheet from the fridge and using a pastry brush, brush each puff pastry cheese twist with an egg wash (1 egg whisked with 1 tbsp milk or water).
- Bake for 25-30 minutes or until dark golden brown. Let cool for 5-10 minutes. Place the finished puff pastry swirls on a serving platter and drizzle with honey and garnish with fresh minced rosemary or fresh thyme leaves.
Tips & Tricks
- If you can’t find cranberry goat cheese, buy plain goat cheese. Once the plain goat cheese if softened, mix in 3 tbsp cranberry jam or cranberry sauce until fully combined.
- While I love to serve these in the Fall and Winter months, they are a perfect appetizer any time of year! You can swap for another type of goat cheese like blueberry.
- Remember to defrost the frozen puff pastry, according to package directions, before using in this recipe! I like to put the frozen puff pastry in the fridge the day before I’m going to use it. The puff pastry it will defrost overnight and you’ll have a defrosted puff pastry sheet ready to go.
- Easily double this recipe to make for a larger crowd!
Common questions
If you can’t find cranberry goat cheese, buy plain goat cheese. Once the plain goat cheese if softened, mix in 3 tbsp cranberry jam or cranberry sauce until fully combined.
These flaky puff pastry swirls are best enjoyed fresh from the oven! You could make them an hour or two in advance, then warm them up in the oven at 300F for 5 minutes. They’re also delicious at room temperature!
I have not tested this recipe using crescent dough. As well, crescent dough can be thicker so I don’t recommend using it for this recipe.
How to store
These pinwheels are best served fresh from the oven! They are good at room temperature for 2-3 hours. If you do have leftovers, store in an airtight container for 1 day and reheat gently at 325F until warmed through again.
more puff pastry appetizers to love from the blog
- Prosciutto, Sage & Gruyere Puff Pastry Pinwheels
- Puff Pastry Baked Brie with Fig Jam Appetizer Recipe
- 5-Ingredient Puff Pastry Cheese Twists with Gruyère
Easy Cranberry Goat Cheese Puff Pastry Swirls
Ingredients
- 1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed
- 1 small navel orange
- 8 oz / 225 grams softened cranberry goat cheese
- 1 egg
- liquid honey
- fresh minced rosemary or fresh thyme leaves
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375F and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Lay the thawed puff pastry sheet onto a lightly floured surface (like a cutting board) vertically. Use an offset spatula or the back of a spoon to spread the softened cranberry goat cheese over the top half of the surface of the puff pastry. Then, sprinkle the zest of one navel orange evenly over top of the cranberry goat cheese.
- Fold the bottom half of the pastry over the top half so you'll have a smaller rectangle. Use a sharp knife or pizza cutter to cut into 10-12 even strips.
- Grab both ends of one strip and gently twist in opposite directions to create a spiral. Then, swirl it into a round pastry, pinching/pressing the end of the roll to seal it. Transfer each swirl to the lined baking sheet.
- Place the baking sheet in the fridge for 10 minutes – this helps the puff pastry cook better in the oven. After 10 minutes, remove the baking sheet from the fridge and using a pastry brush, brush each puff pastry cheese twist with an egg wash (1 egg whisked with 1 tbsp milk or water).
- Bake for 25-30 minutes or until dark golden brown. Let cool for 5-10 minutes. Place the finished puff pastry swirls on a serving platter and drizzle with honey and garnish with fresh minced rosemary or fresh thyme leaves.
Notes
- If you can’t find cranberry goat cheese, buy plain goat cheese. Once the plain goat cheese if softened, mix in 3 tbsp cranberry jam or cranberry sauce until fully combined.
- These flaky puff pastry swirls are best enjoyed fresh from the oven! You could make them an hour or two in advance, then warm them up in the oven at 300F for 5 minutes. They’re also delicious at room temperature!
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