Cranberry Cream Cheese Puff Pastry Tarts
These Cranberry Cream Cheese Puff Pastry Tarts are sure to be your new favorite holiday dessert! They’re quick, easy to make, and, most importantly, taste DELICIOUS. Flaky and buttery puff pastry, sweetened cream cheese, and your favorite cranberry sauce all baked together to create the cutest mini tarts! Finish each tart with a light dusting of powdered sugar, a few fresh cranberries, and a sprig of rosemary for a festive treat that everyone will enjoy.
When you think about a tart, I’m sure the first thing to come to mind is one like our decadent Chocolate Hazelnut Tart or maybe the ever-popular Tarte Au Citron. And, while all the effort that goes into making one of those tarts is so worth it in the end…every once in while, you just need something quick and easy.
I know that’s what we are always looking for during the holidays! That’s why we’re sharing these individual puff pastry tarts! They’re just as flavorful as something from a French patisserie, but ready in half the time. Bonus? They use up any leftover cranberry sauce! 😉
Why You Will Love These Cranberry Cream Cheese Puff Pastry Tarts
- They’re SO simple to make and ready in less than an hour.
- Uses leftover cranberry sauce, so nothing goes to waste!
- Has a layer of sweet and creamy cream cheese below the cranberry sauce to give every bite an unexpected POP of flavor.
- Almost like a cheese danish…but somehow even BETTER!
- Made with store-bought puff pastry to make these tarts super easy.
Here’s Everything You’ll Need For The Recipe
Full ingredient amounts and instructions can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
For The Tarts:
- Frozen Puff Pastry – Available in the freezer section at your local supermarket, pre-made puff pastry makes these tarts quick and easy! There’s no lamination, no folding…just beautiful flaky layers.
- Cream Cheese – Smooth, creamy, and tangy, cream cheese creates the perfect base layer.
- Granulated Sugar – The perfect amount of sweetness without adding flavor is why granulated sugar is the best choice here.
- Vanilla Extract – Just a bit adds a subtle undertone and boosts the flavor.
- Cranberry Sauce – Tangy and sweet with just a hint of orange, cranberry sauce creates the perfect holiday flavors in this tart!
For The Egg Wash:
- Large Egg Yolk – The protein in the egg yolk creates a beautiful, shiny, golden brown color on the pastry.
- Water – Adding water before whisking the egg yolk thins out the yolk and helps it brush onto the pastry smoother.
Feeling Adventurous? You Can Make Your Own Puff Pastry!
While store-bought puff pastry is delicious, homemade puff pastry is something that brings these little pastries to the next LEVEL! You can find our recipe for simple rough puff pastry in our Blackberry Turnovers recipe. We love using homemade puff pastry in so many of our treats. From our Christmas Tree Tear & Share to our Mushroom Turnovers. If you choose to make your own rough puff, it will add a whole extra layer of deliciousness to any pastry you make!
Here’s How To Make These Cute Little Tarts
Step 1: Make the egg wash
Whisk egg yolk and water together in a small bowl until smooth. Set aside.
Step 2: Prepare filling
With an electric mixer, beat cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla until smooth and creamy, about 1-2 minutes. Set aside.
Step 3: Assemble tarts
Working with one piece at a time, unfold puff pastry sheet and place on work surface. Using crease marks as a guide, cut pastry into thirds. Cut each slice in half horizontally so that you have 6 approximately 3 inch x 4 inch pieces.
Place on sheet pan and brush about ¼ inch of all 4 edges of each piece of dough with a small pastry brush dipped in egg wash.
Fold about ¼ inch of each side (brushed with egg wash) in toward the center of the dough.
Brush folded over dough with egg wash.
Step 4:Fill and bake
Spread 1½ teaspoons of the cream cheese mixture evenly over the center rectangle of dough all the way up to the edges you folded over. Top with 1 Tablespoon cranberry sauce and spread evenly.
Bake for 20 minutes, until the sides are golden brown and the whole tart is puffed.
FAQ’s & Troubleshooting
If the tarts burned, but the dough is still raw, this is due to the oven temperature being too high. We recommend buying an oven thermometer to check your oven temperature to see if your oven may be running hotter than what you set it to.
Of course! If you want to make your own cranberry sauce, we highly recommend using our recipe for Cranberry Orange Sauce.
If you don’t have any puff pastry, you can use pie dough. Just remember, it won’t be as flakey and the bake times may be different.
Actually, no! The egg wash is added to promote even browning, but if you aren’t a fan of egg washes, you can brush the edges of the pastry with milk or cream.
Looking for more recipes using cranberries? Here are a few you may like:
Be Sure To Check Out Our New Merch!
*Available worldwide and comes in different styles + colors!
When you make these Cranberry Cream Cheese Puff Pastry Tarts, be sure to leave a comment down below! We love hearing from you and answering any questions you might have! Also, be sure to tag us on social media and hashtag it #BakersTable.
Cranberry Cream Cheese Puff Pastry Tarts
Ingredients
Tart
- 6 Tablespoons cream cheese
- 1½ Tablespoons granulated sugar
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 sheets puff pastry, thawed
- ¾ cup cranberry sauce
Egg Wash
- 1 large egg yolk
- 1 Tablespoon water
Instructions
Egg Wash
- Whisk egg yolk and water together in a small bowl until smooth. Set aside.
Tart
- Heat oven to 400℉.
- Line 2 sheet pans with parchment paper. Set aside.
- With an electric mixer, beat cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla until smooth and creamy, about 1-2 minutes. Set aside.
- Working with one piece at a time, unfold puff pastry sheet and place on work surface.
- Press gently to flatten.
- Using crease marks as a guide, cut pastry into thirds.
- Cut each slice in half horizontally so that you have 6 approximately 3 inch x 4 inch pieces.
- Brush about ¼ inch of all 4 edges of each piece of dough with a small pastry brush dipped in egg wash.
- Fold about ¼ inch of each side (brushed with egg wash) in toward the center of the dough.
- Press gently to seal.
- Brush folded over dough with egg wash.
- Spread 1½ teaspoons of the cream cheese mixture evenly over the center rectangle of dough all the way up to the edges you folded over.
- Top with 1 Tablespoon cranberry sauce and spread evenly.
- Repeat assembly with remaining dough, egg wash, and fillings.
- Bake for 20 minutes, until the sides are golden brown and the whole tart is puffed.
Notes + Tips!
- Remember to set your puff pastry out in advance to allow it time to thaw.
- If your puff pastry is too warm, it might not puff like it’s supposed to. You can freeze the tarts for 5-10 minutes before baking to ensure the perfect layers!
- If you don’t have any cranberry sauce on hand, you can either buy your favorite brand or make our super-simple Cranberry Sauce recipe.
- These tarts are best enjoyed as soon as they are made.
- Pie dough can be used instead of puff pastry, but remember that bake times may very if a different dough is used.
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Nutrition
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
– Still Hungry? –
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These were the perfect new years snack! Loved how simple they are to make.
The combination of cream cheese and cranberry is SO GOOD!!! I could eat all of these in one sitting.