Caramelized Onion Tart With Puff Pastry
A crisp, golden puff pastry tart layered with creamy goat cheese, deeply caramelized onions, and fresh thyme. This elegant savory tart is perfect for appetizers, brunch, lunch, or holiday entertaining.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Yield: 6–8 appetizer servings or 4 larger servings
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French-Inspired
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
- 1 sheet puff pastry, thawed
- Yellow onions, thinly sliced
- Butter
- Olive oil
- Brown sugar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Goat cheese, crumbled or softened
- Fresh thyme
- Salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 1 egg, beaten with a splash of water
Instructions
- Heat the butter and olive oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add the sliced onions and a pinch of salt.
- Cook the onions for 30–40 minutes, stirring occasionally, until soft and deeply golden brown.
- Stir in the brown sugar and balsamic vinegar. Cook for another 2–3 minutes, then remove from the heat and allow the onions to cool slightly.
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Place the thawed puff pastry on the prepared baking sheet. Lightly score a 1-inch border around the edges without cutting completely through the pastry.
- Prick the center of the pastry several times with a fork, leaving the scored border untouched.
- Spread or crumble the goat cheese over the center of the pastry, keeping it inside the scored border.
- Spread the cooled caramelized onions evenly over the cheese. Sprinkle with fresh thyme and black pepper.
- Brush the exposed pastry border with the egg wash.
- Bake for 20–25 minutes, or until the pastry is puffed, crisp, and deeply golden around the edges.
- Allow the tart to rest for 5–10 minutes before slicing. Garnish with additional fresh thyme if desired and serve warm or at room temperature.
Notes
- Gruyère, Brie, feta, ricotta, cream cheese, or blue cheese can be substituted for the goat cheese.
- For a sweet-savory variation, add thin pear or apple slices beneath the caramelized onions or drizzle the finished tart with honey.
- Chopped walnuts or pecans can be added for extra texture, and rosemary can replace the thyme.
- Allow the caramelized onions to cool and avoid overly wet toppings to help keep the puff pastry crisp.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat at 350°F (175°C) for 8–12 minutes or briefly in an air fryer.
- The onions can be caramelized up to 4 days ahead and refrigerated in an airtight container until ready to assemble the tart.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 of 8 appetizer servings
- Calories: 280 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 260 mg
- Fat: 19 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 23 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 35 mg
