Save to Pinterest These Savory Tartlets, styled as Mini Tart Wreath Appetizers, offer a delightful bite-sized treat that combines a crisp, buttery crust with festive, colorful fillings. Perfect for holiday gatherings or elegant entertaining, these tartlets bring charm and a burst of fresh flavors to your table while keeping preparation easy and approachable.
Save to Pinterest The crisp pastry rings baked to golden perfection provide a wonderful base for the creamy and flavorful cheese filling. Decorated with vibrant diced peppers, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, and a sprinkle of pomegranate seeds or microgreens, these tartlets look as joyful as they taste—making them an ideal starter or party snack that invites sharing.
Ingredients
- Tartlet Shells
1 sheet (about 250 g) ready-made puff pastry or shortcrust pastry
1 egg, beaten (for egg wash) - Cheese & Herb Filling
150 g cream cheese, softened
80 g grated Gruyère or mature cheddar
1 tbsp fresh chives, finely chopped
1 tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped
1/2 tsp lemon zest
Salt and pepper, to taste - Vegetable Garnish
1/2 red bell pepper, finely diced
1/2 yellow bell pepper, finely diced
6 cherry tomatoes, quartered
1 small cucumber, diced
2 tbsp pomegranate seeds (optional)
Microgreens or fresh dill, to garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven
- Preheat oven to 200°C (400°F). Line a baking tray with parchment paper.
- Prepare pastry
- Roll out the pastry on a lightly floured surface to about 3 mm thickness. Using a 6 cm round cutter, cut out 24 circles. Use a smaller cutter (about 2.5 cm) to punch out the centers, forming wreath shapes.
- Arrange and brush
- Arrange the pastry rings on the prepared tray. Brush lightly with beaten egg.
- Bake tartlet shells
- Bake for 10–12 minutes, or until golden and crisp. Remove and let cool completely.
- Make filling
- In a medium bowl, combine cream cheese, grated Gruyère, chives, parsley, lemon zest, salt, and pepper. Mix until smooth.
- Pipe filling
- Transfer the cheese mixture to a piping bag fitted with a star tip (optional) and pipe a generous swirl onto each cooled tartlet base.
- Decorate
- Decorate each tartlet with diced peppers, tomatoes, cucumber, pomegranate seeds, and microgreens or dill to resemble a festive wreath.
- Serve
- Serve immediately, or refrigerate until serving (up to 2 hours for best texture).
Zusatztipps für die Zubereitung
To enhance the cheese filling, consider mixing in chopped sun-dried tomatoes or olives for a rich depth of flavor. You can also prepare the tartlet shells a day ahead and simply assemble before serving to save time during your event.
Varianten und Anpassungen
For a non-vegetarian twist, top the prepared tartlets with smoked salmon or prosciutto slices. This recipe is easily adaptable to your preferences, maintaining elegance and deliciousness.
Serviervorschläge
Pair these savory tartlets with a crisp sparkling wine or a light white wine to enhance their fresh and buttery flavors, making your celebration even more special.
Save to Pinterest With their festive appearance and delightful flavors, these Mini Tart Wreath Appetizers are sure to impress guests, adding a touch of European charm and homemade warmth to your appetizer selection.
Common Recipe Questions
- → What type of pastry works best for the tartlet shells?
Either puff pastry or shortcrust pastry delivers a crisp, buttery base that holds its shape well after baking.
- → Can I prepare these tartlets in advance?
Yes, you can bake the pastry shells ahead of time and assemble the filling and garnish just before serving to maintain freshness.
- → How do I create the wreath shape with the pastry?
Cut large circles with a 6 cm cutter, then punch out smaller centers (about 2.5 cm) to form ring shapes resembling wreaths.
- → What cheeses complement the herb filling best?
Gruyère or mature cheddar adds a rich, tangy flavor that blends smoothly with cream cheese and fresh chives and parsley.
- → Are there suggested garnish substitutions for the vegetables?
You can use microgreens, fresh dill, or other colorful diced veggies like radishes or roasted red peppers to decorate the tartlets.
- → How should the tartlets be stored before serving?
Keep assembled tartlets refrigerated for up to 2 hours to preserve texture and flavor; bring them to room temperature before serving.