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These effortless Cranberry Goat Cheese Puff Pastry Swirls are my favorite easy appetizer this holiday season. Simple and quick, but most importantly, everyone LOVES them. Flaky puff pastry, creamy, tangy goat cheese, dried cranberries, and a touch of sweet cinnamon sugar (promise it works). All rolled together, then baked to create the most delicious cheesy pastry swirls. These are the perfect festive, sweet, and savory appetizers. They’re just what we need for our holiday entertaining.
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Ingredients
- frozen puff pastry, thawed
- salted butter
- goat cheese
- dried cranberries
- cinnamon sugar
- salt
What you will need in the kitchen
- Baking sheet
- parchment paper
- sharp knife
- serving plate
After spending so much time in New York this December, I realize now more than ever how busy we all are this month. Everyone seems to be hustling and bustling.
The number one request I’m receiving right now is for effortless recipes. Minimal ingredients, minimal prep, and all-around simple to create – yet still delicious! It’s not the easiest to achieve a yummy recipe with only a few ingredients. But after spending some time brainstorming new holiday recipes, I came up with these delicious pastry swirls.
The inspiration for these swirls came from Trader Joe’s. So many people have raved to me about their Cranberry Goat Cheese log. The flavor combination sounds so yummy!
I really wanted to create something with a similar flavor profile but make more of a more complete appetizer. I used one of my favorite ingredients for this time of year, puff pastry, and added a light sprinkling of cinnamon sugar. It sounds like it could be too sweet, but it’s the most wonderful and special combination.
You have to take my word here. I know you’ll love these easy goat cheese swirls!
Onto the details
Step 1: gather up your ingredients
Store-bought puff pastry. One of my best holiday tips is to always keep puff pastry in the freezer, especially during December. I have so many appetizer recipes that use puff pastry!
Salted butter – just a little, but it goes a long way.
Cinnamon sugar – I mix brown sugar and cinnamon for a more flavorful combination. Again, you only need a little, but I think this makes the tangy goat cheese even more delicious. And maybe a little more appealing to those who might not love goat cheese.
Goat cheese – of course! And if you don’t enjoy goat cheese, cream cheese is a great alternative. Or try this recipe for Brie pastry swirls.
Dried cranberries – a pantry staple that never gets enough love in my opinion. I use these in my holiday recipes and cocktails, and on all of my cheese boards this time of year. I love them!
Step 2: assemble
Take your thawed-out sheet of pastry and brush over some melted butter. Now, sprinkle with some cinnamon sugar. Next, spread the crumbled goat cheese over the pastry dough and sprinkle the cranberries on top.
Now, all you need to do is roll the pastry up, just like you would a cinnamon roll, into a log. Cut swirls using a sharp knife, then arrange them on a baking sheet.
Step 3: bake
When you have the swirls rolled out you can do two things. Chill the swirls until you’re ready to serve your guests, or bake them right away and enjoy.
These are a great make-ahead appetizer!
The sweet cinnamon, in combination with the tart cranberries, goat cheese, and pastry, is what makes these swirls sparkle.
Whenever I’m working with cranberries I always find they need to be paired with something sweet to break up their tartness and highlight just how delicious they really are. I love playing with sweet and savory flavor combinations. The cinnamon adds a nice warmth that pairs perfectly with the tangy goat cheese and balances out the tart cranberries.
It feels especially fitting for this time of year.
They’re bite-sized and great for prepping in advance and then popping in the oven just as guests arrive.
These take only a few minutes to bake. Bake until golden brown. They’ll come out of the oven just as everyone settles in and begins to look for apps (or desserts!). These are best to eat within a few hours after they’re served, but can be stored at room temperature for two to three days.
My biggest tip? Double the recipe. This recipe makes about sixteen pastry swirls, but everyone eats at least two, sometimes more. Also, these are delicious with a dollop of honey or jam (my preference would be fig jam!). The perfect appetizers for holiday hosting!
Looking for other easy brie recipes?? Here are my favorites:
5 Ingredient Cranberry Brie Cinnamon Puff Pastry Swirls
Cranberry Brie Pull Apart Bread
Mini Pastry Wrapped Cranberry Baked Brie Bites
Lastly, if you make these puff pastry bites, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
According to MasterClass, phyllo dough and puff pastry dough are indeed different. They’re both thin pastry crusts, but bakers typically make puff pastry with butter or shortening and use oil to make phyllo dough. Puff Pastry gets its airy puff from layers of butter, while phyllo dough is comparatively low-fat.
Frozen puff pastry dough from the grocery store can last up to 12 months. Be sure to check the “use-by” date on the packaging. Once you thaw, frozen puff pastry, it’s best consumed within a few hours, though it can probably last up to two or three days.
Cranberry Goat Cheese Puff Pastry Swirls
Ingredients
- 1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed
- 3 tablespoons salted butter, melted
- 8 ounces goat cheese
- 1 cup dried cranberries
- 2 tablespoons cinnamon sugar
Instructions
- 1. Preheat oven to 375° F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.2. Unroll the puff pastry and brush the pastry with 1 tablespoon melted butter. Sprinkle with 1-2 tablespoons of cinnamon sugar. Crumble the goat cheese evenly over the pastry, then sprinkle over the cranberries.3. Starting at the long end, roll the pastry up as tightly as possible (like a cinnamon roll). Brush the roll with the remaining melted butter. Then sprinkle the roll with cinnamon sugar to coat. Using a sharp knife, cut into 16 swirls.4. Place the swirls on the prepared baking sheet and bake for 15-20 minutes or until the pastry is golden. Allow to sit on the pan for about two minutes before transferring to a serving plate. Serve warm.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Did you make this recipe? Please rate & comment below.
These were a HUGE hit with my guests and family. I’m using up the other goat cheese from costco with more today. Thank you so much!
Thank you so much Carrie! Love to hear that! xT
I normally love your recipes but this one was just okay, sort of bland. I think it needed something more – maybe some cranberry jelly spread over the pastry before sprinkling on the goat cheese.
Hey Diana! Thank you for the feedback on this recipe, I appreciate it! xT
Made these…they were ok but not great. Changed up the recipe a bit for a second batch…used canned cranberries (not something I normally buy but had it on hand!)…spread a thin layer, then added the dried cranberries….then sprinkled a little bit of fresh chopped rosemary. Think it turned out great! Thanks as always for your recipes & inspiration.
Hi Susan! Thank you so much for giving the recipe a try! Hope you have a wonderful New Year! 🙂 xT
I’d like to make these for an out-of-town party but need to prep, including baking them, then travel so they won’t be eaten for several hours after baking. Do you think that’ll work, or might they go soggy etc? Thanks!
Hi Katie! I think that should work just fine! 🙂 xT
These are amazing!! Made them as an app for Christmas and everyone went nuts over them. This will definitely be made again over and over again. Thank you!
Hi! Thank you so much for giving the recipe a try! Hope you have a wonderful New Year! 🙂 xT
These are truly fantastic
Thank you so much Mary! xT
These are simple & delicious. Truly a perfect flavor combo. Thanks so much! Merry Christmas 🎄
Hi Shannon! Thank you so much for giving the recipe a try! Hope you have an amazing Christmas! xT
I don’t have pre-mixed cinnamon sugar.. what’s the ratio?
Hi Angie! I usually use about a 1/4 cup sugar and 1 tablespoon of cinnamon! xT
Can crescent roll sheets be used in place of frozen puff pastry sheets?
Hi Alyssa! I haven’t ever tried that before but that should work fine! 🙂 xT
Hi just checking, the method says sprinkle cinnamon sugar on pastry then top with cheese etc then roll up and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar before slicing up. Does this mean cinnamon sugar inside and on the outside. Sounds a lot, but I’ll try if it’s the way it goes. I just thought it was only meant for the outside. Thks
The cinnamon sugar sounds good but the flavor was just off. Not sure that part is necessary. These were also pretty greasy, which I assume came from adding butter to puff pastry, which is already half butter.
Hi Darleen! So sorry you didn’t enjoy this recipe! Let me know if there’s anything else I can do to help! xT
I haven’t made these yet, but I’m thinking of substituting the cinnamon with cardamom and omitting the butter. What do you think?
I’m planning to make these for Christmas Eve Lunch time as a side. My husband is allergic to cinnamon. Would these still be nice if I made some without the cinnamon sugar? Thanks.
Yes, they would still be yummy! 🙂 xT
Hey!!! Quick question – would you recommend bringing these to a party (already baked)? Worried they not be great cooled! If not – any other app recipes you recommend?
Hi there! They will still be super yummy even at room temp! 🙂 xT
Can we use thawed frozen blueberries instead?
Hey Anne! I personally haven’t tried that, and I worry that the blueberries will maybe get too juicy in the pastry? Let me know if you give it a try! xT
I would like to make these for a party, but would need several recipes. Can I freeze them?
Yes, these should freeze well! 🙂 xT
Freeze unbaked or bake then freeze?
Just made a test batch and will definitely make again but knowing how to freeze will be helpful.
I would freeze unbaked:)
Might make thse. Will fresh cranberries work also?
I also was wondering if fresh cranberries work
The fresh cranberries would be too much liquid in the roll up but a fresh cranberry “jam” could be spread over pastry before adding the cheese. Do not change other ingredients.
Cranberry jam : 10 oz fresh cranberries, 1 GrannieSmith apple pealed, cored, and chopped, juice and zest of a lemon, sugar as you like.
Cook until mixture thickens.
.