Goat Cheese and Fig Jam Puff Pastry Bites are surprisingly easy to make! They look super fancy, but take almost no time! Flaky puff pastry, creamy goat cheese, sweet fig jam and savory prosciutto are the base. Top with chopped walnuts, arugula and a drizzle of balsamic glaze. The flavor combination is out of this world and they’re as beautiful as they are delicious!
If you want to wow your guests with an appetizer that is beautiful as well as incredibly delicious, THIS is the recipe you’ve been looking for! It’s almost like the best components of a charcuterie board all in one bite! Sweet and savory, creamy and crunchy, peppery and tangy. I mean, it has everything! Even my kids devoured these! The best part is that they are shockingly easy to make, which makes them perfect for holiday parties, brunch or even last-minute guests. With only ten minutes of prep, this is one party food you won’t have to stress over.
Why I LOVE this recipe!
- Surprisingly easy! – No complicated steps. Just a bit of this and a bit of that put in all together.
- Perfect for holiday parties – This appetizer is sure to impress at your next party, gathering or event. It’s the perfect bite-size finger food your guests can easily grab and enjoy!
- Ready in minutes – This is a fast appetizer to put together! Only 10 minutes of prep.
- Sweet & savory – This bite has the best flavor combination! I love a sweet and savory combo all wrapped up into one bite.
What is a pastry bite?
A pastry bite is just a small, bite-sized appetizer made with pastry dough- most often puff pastry- that’s filled or topped with sweet or savory ingredients. Think of it as a mini-two bite snack that’s easy to grab and eat, especially at gatherings and parties.
Recipe Notes
This goat cheese and fig jam pastry bite recipe is as simple as promised! Just a a handful of simple ingredients for a beautiful and delicious bite-sized appetizer.
In this section I am going to go through a few tips and tricks I use for how to make these easy puff pastry bites to get the absolute best and most delicious results.
Make sure to scroll to the bottom for the FULL recipe card.
Ingredients + Substitutions
- Puff pastry – You’ll use just one sheet from the box
- Goat cheese – If you’re not a fan of goat cheese, brie would be another great creamy option that pairs well with these flavors. Cream cheese would be another alternative.
- Fig jam – Or fig preserves. Choose any brand you like! You could also use apricot jam as an alternative to fig.
- Prosciutto – Use your favorite. It has the best salty flavor to balance out the sweet jam and creamy cheese.
- Chopped walnuts – These will add a bit of a crunch to your appetizer, as well as a nice warm, nutty flavor.
- Arugula – Arugula is a peppery little green. You can use full grown or baby arugula, since you’ll be chopping up up a bit.
- Balsamic glaze – This is a thick, sweet and tangy syrup. A little bit goes a long way, but the dish isn’t the same without it.
Make sure to see the recipe card at the bottom of this post for the full quantities and ingredients list.
Recipe Variations
If you love this recipe as much as we do and want some quick ways to change it up for variety, these little tips will do the trick!
- Fig Jam Variation– Fig jam variations range from sweet to savory. Popular variations include honey fig jam, bourbon fig jam, and spicy hot pepper fig jam. This is definitely a recipe you’ll be making more than once, so change it up a bit each time and try different jams!
- Hot Honey Puff Pastry – If figs aren’t your thing, consider substituting the jam for hot honey. It will keep that sweet element, as well as kick up the flavor a notch by adding some spice!
- Cheese, Jam and Pecan Bites – If you’d prefer a different nut, pecans would give a bit more of a sweet and buttery flavor to the pastry bites.
Recipe Step by Step
I am going to highlight a few key steps in the recipe here, but make sure to jump down to the recipe card for comprehensive instructions on how to make Goat Cheese and Fig Jam Puff Pastry Bites.
Unfold the buttery puff pastry and cut into 24 rectangles.
Place 1 piece of puff pastry into each mini muffin tin. Add a dollop of goat cheese, fig jam, prosciutto, and top with a few pieces of walnuts.
Bake for 15-18 minutes and immediately remove the pastries from the muffin tin.
Sprinkle the tops of the pastries with chopped arugula and drizzle with balsamic glaze.
Recipe Tips
- Don’t thaw too long – If the dough sits at room temperature too long, the butter inside will begin to melt and will cause the dough to be thick and not rise properly.
- Immediately remove! – It is very important that you remove the pastries from the muffin tin immediately, after cooking! They are easy to remove when hot, but get very hard to remove as they cool. Even waiting 5 minutes will make them much harder to remove, so for the best results, remove them right away!
- Just a dollop – You don’t want your pastry cups to be overflowing. A typical pastry bite appetizer is a two-bite finger food.
- Handle the dough quickly – Place the dough in each mini muffin cup and then leave it alone. It will become sticky if you continue to work with it,
Recipe Short Cuts
If you need to make this recipe, but are extra short on time, here are a few ideas that can help make this recipe even faster!
- Cut with pizza cutter – Pizza cutters are very efficient for cutting puff pastry. They will make clean cuts and help you make straighter, more even lines.
- Buy chopped walnuts – You could easily buy a bag of chopped walnuts or walnut pieces, instead of chopping them yourself.
- Prep in advance– You can prep these bites in advance. Place all ingredients into the mini muffin tin, except the arugula and balsamic glaze that finish it off after cooking. After prepping, cover the muffin tin with plastic seal and place it in th fridge until you’re ready to heat it.
Goat Cheese & Fig Jam Pastry Bites Leftovers
If you have leftovers after making this recipe, then it is your lucky day! Most components will save and reheat well. Remove the arugula before freezing, as it will wilt from being in the freezer.
To save leftovers, place in an airtight container and store:
- in the refrigerator for 3-4 days
- in the freezer up to a month
Recipe FAQ’s
Where do I find puff pastry in the grocery store?
Puff pastry is found in the frozen section of most grocery stores. It’s typically near the frozen desserts and pie crusts. It’s sold in boxes as sheets or blocks.
Are goat cheese and feta the same thing?
While both can be made from goat’s milk, feta is often sheep’s milk (or a mix) and aged in brine. Feta is firm and crumbly, with a sharp and salty flavor. Goat cheese is typically soft, creamy and mild to tangy in flavor.
Can I make my own balsamic glaze?
Of course! I’ll never say no to trying something new to you! To make a simple glaze, simmer 1 cup of balsamic vinegar with 1 tbsp of a sweetener (honey or brown sugar work well) in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil then reduce heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes, until reduced by half and coating a spoon. It will continue to thicken as it cools.
More EASY Appetizer Recipes
If you enjoyed this recipe, I really hope you will take a moment to grab a few more easy recipes for another busy night!
You can check out all of my easy appetizer recipes here, or see a few of our readers favorite recipes below.
- Spinach Feta Puff Pastry Spirals
- Marinated Mozzarella Balls
- Honey Whipped Feta Dip– serve with pita bread, pita chips or an assortment of fresh veggies
- Million Dollar Deviled Eggs
- Baked Brie in Pie Crust
- Spinach Artichoke Dip– This is a family favorite and gets devoured every time I make it!
Goat Cheese and Fig Jam Puff Pastry Bites
Ingredients
- 1 sheet puff pastry, (1 sheet from 17.3 ounce box)
- 4 ounces goat cheese
- ¼ cup fig jam
- 3 oz prosciutto
- ¼ cup chopped walnuts
- 2 tablespoons chopped arugula
- 1 tablespoon balsamic glaze
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400˚F.Let the puff pastry sit at room temperature for 20-30 minutes before starting.
- Unfold the puff pastry and cut into 24 rectangles.
- Spray a mini-muffin tin with cooking spray. Place 1 piece of puff pastry in each space. Then add a dollop of goat cheese, a dollop of fig jam, prosciutto, and top with a few pieces of walnuts.
- Bake for 15-18 minutes or until the edges of the pastry are puffed and golden brown.Once you remove from the oven, IMMEDIATELY remove the pastries from the muffins tin using a knife. Be careful as they are still very hot. (See note)
- Sprinkle the tops of the pastry with chopped arugula and drizzle with balsamic glaze. Serve warm or at room temperature.
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