This pear and goat cheese tart is the definition of easy and elegant. It feels like something you would order at fancy bistro, but it couldn’t be simpler to make right at home! It takes less than 10 minutes to assemble with so few ingredients and requires no specialize baking skills.
It’s the perfect recipe for beginner home chefs or busy mamas! Such minimal time and effort, and yet in the end you have created a fancy, upscale dish that’s sure to impress your friends and your taste buds.
The juicy, sweet pear is divine with the creamy tang of the goat cheese. All of it covered in sweet, caramelized fall spices and graced with the earthy nuttiness of toasted walnuts. It’s just too good! My four little boys gobbled it up and said it was the best dessert by one million katrillion. I mean, if that doesn’t convince you to try this I don’t know what will!
Serve this pear and goat cheese tart as an appetizer, alongside my simple goat cheese and dill egg dish for brunch, or as an elegant dessert. It would be incredible served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or whipped cream!
Why This Simple Tart is Perfect for Fall
I love how this dish captures the flavors of fall so well. The pears are sprinkled with warm fall spices that caramelize with the sugar as it bakes. The contrast of sweet and savory you get from the pear and the goat cheese. You have the toasted nuttiness from the walnuts, all of which is topped off with a gorgeous drizzle of sweet, sticky honey at the end. It’s warm, and spicy, and sweet. All the goodness of fall baking in a crispy, buttery puff pastry shell.
It’s a delightful combination of fall flavors that are perfect for celebrating the season!
Tips for Making My Simple Pear and Goat Cheese Tart
- You want your puff pastry cold from the fridge, but not frozen. For best results leave your frozen puff pastry in the fridge overnight to thaw
- Forget to thaw your puff pastry? Or you want to make it right now? You can quickly thaw your frozen puff pastry by taking the dough out of the plastic wrapper and wrap the still rolled up dough in a paper towel. Then place it in the microwave and microwave for 15 seconds on 70% power. Next, flip the dough over to the other side and repeat the process. If you feel it has gotten a little too warm to work with, pop it back in the fridge or freezer and let it chill while you slice your pears
Substitutions for My 5 ingredient Pear and Goat Cheese Tart
Don’t have pears? Apples would be simple swap out and all of the flavors of the tart would compliment the apples as they do the pears. I also think caramelized onions would be delicious as well!
No coconut sugar? I used coconut sugar because it’s lower on the glycemic index than refined sugar, but you could absolutely use white sugar or brown sugar as a simple replacement. I would recommend choosing brown sugar over white if you have the option because it will provide more of a caramelized flavor in the end.
Try a different cheese if you don’t have goat cheese on hand. If you love blue cheese, go for it with a blue cheese crumble. That flavor profile would be amazing! You could also try feta for a milder tang. Cream cheese would also be mild, yet deliciously creamy option.
Use any nut you have on hand! Sliced almonds would be beautiful, while pecans absolutely have that fall feeling as well. Even pine nuts would create an interesting flavor experience!
Experiment with spices to make it you own. In this recipe I just use cinnamon and nutmeg, but cloves, allspice, or ginger would be delicious as well.
While I love the fall spices, what if you tried adding herbs such as rosemary or sage? That could be incredible!
Tools You May Need
Baking sheet
Parchment paper, I use these pre-cut sheets from amazon and I love them!
Small mixing bowl
Kitchen knife
Fork for crimping
How to Make My 5 Ingredient Pear and Goat Cheese Tart
Start by figuring out your puff pasty situation. If you have already thawed it in the fridge, get started slicing your fruit.
If you are impatient like me and you want to make it right now even though the dough is frozen, follow my directions in the tips above to quickly thaw out your puff pastry in the microwave. After you remove it from the microwave, place it back in the fridge while you slice up your fruit and mix your sugar and spices.
Next, slice your pears fairly thin.
Keep in mind that your slices will be visible and adding to the beauty of the tart. It you so desire, try to keep your slices uniform and roughly the same length so they will lay beautifully on the tart.
Now, mix your sugar and your spices in a small bowl.
Grab your puff pastry from the fridge and lay your parchment paper out on your baking sheet. Roll out your pastry directly onto the parchment paper.
Now, fold all the edges of the puff pastry in by about an inch,
and crimp with a fork to seal.
Next make a simple egg wash by cracking an egg into a bowl, add a tablespoon of water and beat the egg. Brush the edges of the puff pastry with the egg wash.
Then sprinkle on half of your spiced sugar mixture over the entire inside of the pasty shell.
Now layer on your pear slices,
and then top those with an even sprinkling of the remaining spiced sugar.
Finally sprinkle on your chopped walnuts and goat cheese.
Bake at 375 for 30-35 minutes.
Remove your tart from the oven and let it cool for about 5 minutes, then drizzle with honey!
Bon appetite!
More Easy and Elegant Recipes From My Cottage Kitchen
- Easiest Ever Cinnamon Butter Croissants
- Simple Goat Cheese and Dill Egg Dish
- 15 Minute Garden Pasta with Shrimp
- Sourdough Apricot Fritters
Pear and Goat Cheese Tart
PRINTABLE RECIPE
5 Ingredient Pear and Goat Cheese Tart
Ingredients
- 1 sheet frozen puff pastry I use peppridge farm or trader joe's brand
- 3-4 medium pears
- 1/3 cup walnuts chopped
- 2 oz goat cheese crumbled
- 2 tablespoons honey
Pantry Staples
- 3 tablespoons coconut sugar could sub brown of white sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 egg beaten
- 1 tablespoon water
Instructions
- Start by figuring out your puff pasty situation. If you have already thawed it in the fridge, get started slicing your fruit.
- If you have frozen puff pastry, remove it from the package but keep it rolled up. Wrap in paper towel and microwave at 50% power for 20 seconds. After you remove it from the microwave, place it back in the fridge while you slice up your fruit and mix your sugar and spices.
- Next, slice your pears fairly thin. Keep in mind that your slices will be visible and adding to the beauty of the tart. It you so desire, try to keep your slices uniform and roughly the same length so they will lay beautifully on the tart.
- Now, mix your sugar and your spices in a small bowl.
- Grab your puff pastry from the fridge and lay your parchment paper out on your baking sheet. Roll out your pastry directly onto the parchment paper.
- Now, fold all the edges of the puff pastry in by about an inch and crimp with a fork to seal.
- Next make a simple egg wash by cracking an egg into a bowl, add a tablespoon of water and beat the egg. Brush the edges of the puff pastry with the egg wash.
- Then sprinkle on half of your spiced sugar mixture over the entire inside of the pasty shell.
- Now layer on your pear slices and then top those with an even sprinkling of the remaining spiced sugar.
- Finally sprinkle on your chopped walnuts and goat cheese.
- Bake at 375 for 30-35 minutes.
- Remove your tart from the oven and let it cool for about 5 minutes, then drizzle with honey!
- Bon appetite!
Thank you so much for joining me in my cottage kitchen today!
Will you be giving this easy peasy pear and goat cheese tart a try? If you start working with frozen puff pastry, I think you’ll be surprised how simple it is to create the most elegant dishes. And it’s so delicious!
I truly enjoy getting to share recipes and my photos with you all! Thank you for your continued support!
Are there any other kinds of recipes you would like to see on my blog?
Let me know in the comments and I’ll see what I can do!
Have a lovely day friend!
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