Caramelized Onion Apple Tarts with Blue Cheese and Cranberries

These super flavorful Caramelized Onion Apple Tarts with Blue Cheese and Cranberries are the perfect bite sized appetizer!

Howdy! I’m super excited to share this apple tart appetizer with ya! It’s one that I’ve made about 10 different ways and still can’t get enough of it. It’s the type of the recipe that you’ll keep in your back pocket for years!

The holidays are packed with so many festivities that it’s hard to slow down and enjoy the moments that really make it special. The apple tart is a great way to do just that. The flavors are complex and delicious but it’s actually a total fake out and it’s super easy to make! The trick (as always!) is the toasty, flaky puff pastry base and all the tasty toppings.

Depending on what’s in season and what I’m craving I switch up the ingredient. Feel free to swap pears in for the apples or gruyère in for the blue cheese. Any dried fruit or fresh herb should be just as delicious too!

Caramelized Onion and Apple Tarts with Blue Cheese and Cranberries

Print Recipe

These super flavorful Caramelized Onion Apple Tarts with Blue Cheese and Cranberries are the perfect bite sized appetizer!

• Author: Kristen Olson
• Prep Time: 30 mins
• Cook Time: 30 mins
• Total Time: 1 hour
• Yield: 12 Servings 1x

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 3 tablespoons butter (divided)
• 1 onion, halved and thinly sliced
• 1/4 teaspoon coarse Kosher salt
• 1 medium red apple, peeled and thinly sliced
• 1/4 cup chopped pistachio nuts
• 1/4 cup chopped sweetened dried cranberries
• 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme leaves
• 1/4 cup crumbled blue cheese
• 1 sheet of frozen puff pastry, thawed (from a 17.3-ounce box)
• 1 egg, beaten for egg wash

Instructions

1. Heat the oven to 375°F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. In a large skillet over medium heat, melt 2 tablespoons of the butter. Add the onions and salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are golden brown, about 30 minutes. Remove from the skillet and set aside.
3. In the same skillet over medium heat, melt the remaining 1 tablespoon butter. Add the sliced apples and cook, stirring frequently until the apples are tender, about 8 minutes. Add the onions back to the skillet and stir in the pistachio nuts, cranberries and thyme.
4. Unfold the puff pastry on a lightly floured surface. Cut the pastry into 5 rows by 5 rows making 25 (2-inch) squares. Transfer the squares to the prepared baking sheets.
5. Brush the beaten egg on the surface of the pastry. Spoon the filling into the middle of each puff pastry and sprinkle with the blue cheese.
6. Bake 18 to 22 minutes, rotating the pans halfway through baking, until the pastry is golden brown. Serve topped with additional blue cheese and fresh thyme.

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 2 tarts
• Calories: 123
• Sugar: 3g
• Sodium: 233mg
• Fat: 7g
• Saturated Fat: 4g
• Unsaturated Fat: 1g
• Carbohydrates: 12g
• Fiber: 1g
• Protein: 2g
• Cholesterol: 10mg

What are you serving for your holiday party?

Looking for another appetizer idea? Try these…
Roasted Tomato Bruschetta with Whipped Goat Cheese from Joyful Healthy Eats
Pumpkin Flatbread with Gruyère and Crispy Sage from Bojon Gourmet
Cheesy Bacon Holiday Crack from Half Baked Harvest

Or, my Roasted Squash Tart with Goat Cheese and Thyme…

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