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Fig and Goat Cheese Tartlets

5 from 11 votes

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These easy fig and goat cheese tartlets are the perfect way to impress your friends with an appetizer recipe that’s full of flavor. Set out a tray and watch them disappear!

Overhead view of fig and goat cheese tartlets on a marble board.

What you’ll love about this goat cheese appetizer


  • Ready in 20 minutes or less! It doesn’t get much faster than that!
  • Prep ahead. These tartlets don’t take much time to prep, but you can make them ahead of time and pop them into the oven when you’re ready to eat.
  • 5-Ingredient Recipe. Made with just 5 simple ingredients that deliver a big punch of flavor. These are sweet and salty, with a hint of tartness from the goat cheese.

Easy, cute, and full of flavor—these fig and goat cheese tartlets are my kind of appetizer!

I’ve always been a big fan of the kind of entertaining that’s low-key and casual, but still feels like a big deal.

If you’re the same way, these fig and goat cheese appetizer bites are exactly what you need in your life right now.

They’re sweet and salty, with just the right amount of texture from the crunchy crust and soft filling. They’re also incredibly easy to throw together—you can even make them ahead of time and pop them in the oven when you’re ready for your first guests to arrive!

These classy appetizers feel like they’re straight off a restaurant menu, but they only take a few minutes to prep and less than 10 minutes in the oven. They’re so easy and so impressive that you just might feel like you’re getting away with something!

Whether you’re looking for something to bring to a fancy cocktail party for the holidays or just hosting friends and family for a cozy game night, this tasty bites will be the talk of the party.

Ingredients to make fig and goat cheese appetizer bites.

Ingredients You’ll Need

This is a super simple appetizer recipe that replies heavily on pantry staples. It’s great for entertaining surprise guests!

Phyllo Cups. I’m obsessed with these little cups. They’re come ready to eat, so you just need to fill them and pop them into the oven to crisp up! I always have a few boxes in the freezer.

Soft goat cheese. You can use a flavored goat cheese if you want, but I just use plain chèvre. A small sized log is plenty — a little bit goes a long way!

Fig preserves. Fig preserves are so good. They’re sweet and jammy with a flavor that’s more like a fresh fig than a Fig Newton. I love Bon Mamman preserves, but any fig preserves or fig jam will work for this recipe.

Prosciutto. A tiny piece of prosciutto complements the sweet figs and tangy cheese so well, plus is crisps up to add even more texture to this delicious snack.

Fresh Thyme. A few fresh thyme leaves sprinkled over the top really amp up the flavor and take this recipe to the next level.

Fillinf phyllo cups with goat cheese.
Adding fig preserves and prosciutto.

How to make them:

  1. Place the phyllo shells on a baking sheet.
  2. Stuff a little bit of cheese, fruit preserves, and prosciutto into each shell.
  3. Bake until the shells are golden and crisp and the jam and cheese begin to melt.
  4. Top with fresh thyme leaves.
  5. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Tips and Substitution Ideas:

Goat cheese is easier to work with when it’s at room temperature. Letting it sit out for about a half hour before you make these can be helpful. If you don’t have time for that, the cheese might just be a little crumblier as you try to add it to the cups.

Instead of goat cheese, try making these with brie or cream cheese.

Swap out the fig preserves for seedless raspberry jam or cranberry sauce.

Omit the prosciutto for a vegetarian option.

Try making this with puff pastry instead of phyllo.

For an extra special treat, top each tartlet with chopped fresh figs.

For a more savory vibe, drizzle each tartlet with balsamic glaze and sprinkle with black pepper.

To play up the sweetness, top with a drizzle of honey.

Fig and Goat Cheese Tartlets on a baking sheet.

Frequently asked questions

Can I make this ahead of time?

Yes! You can prep these appetizer bites in advance and keep them in the fridge until you’re ready to bake them. You can also freeze the prepped tartlets for longer-term storage. bake them right from frozen, increasing the bake time to 15-20 minutes, or until they’re warmed through.

What is chèvre?

Chevre is a type of soft goat cheese that has a buttery, tangy flavor. Often sold shaped into logs, chevre is soft and spreadable.

Do phyllo cups need to be baked?

Phyllo cups are pre-baked, but it’s always nice to bake them for a few minutes to crisp them up and warm the fillings through. I use my countertop oven to save on preheat time!

Should I thaw phyllo cups before baking them?

No, you can fill and bake them straight from the freezer.

Can I make these in the air fryer?

Yes! Air fry at 330ºF for 5 minutes, or until warmed though.

Are fig preserves and fig jam the same thing?

For the purposes of this recipe, jam and preserves are interchangeable.

More recipes that are perfect for easy entertaining:

Goat cheese appetizer on a plate.
Goat cheese appetizer bites

Fig and Goat Cheese Tartlets

These sweet and salty appetizer bites are loaded with flavor and texture. They're sure to be a hit at your next party.
5 from 11 votes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American
Servings 15 tartlets
Calories 52 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 package phyllo shells (15 shells)
  • 4 ounces soft goat cheese chevre
  • ¼ cup fig preserves
  • 4 slices prosciutto
  • Fresh thyme

Instructions
 

  • Heat your oven to 350ºF.
  • Slice or tear each piece of prosciutto into 4 pieces.
  • Arrange the phyllo shells on a baking sheet.
  • Fill each shell with ½ teaspoon of goat cheese, ¼ teaspoon of fig preserves, and a piece of prosciutto.
  • Bake for 7-10 minutes, until the shells are crisp and the preserves begin to melt.
  • Remove from the oven and top each tartlet with 3-4 fresh thyme leaves.
  • Serve warm.

Nutrition

Serving: 1pieceCalories: 52kcalCarbohydrates: 5gProtein: 2gFat: 3gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.2gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0.003gCholesterol: 5mgSodium: 51mgPotassium: 9mgFiber: 0.04gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 79IUVitamin C: 0.3mgCalcium: 11mgIron: 0.2mg
Love this recipe?Mention @TheBusyFoodieLauren or tag #busyfoodie!
Fig and Goat Cheese Tartlets on a baking sheet.
By on October 24th, 2022
lauren

Hi, I'm Lauren!

I love to cook -- but even more importantly, I really like to eat! I have a demanding day job that keeps me busy, so time is precious. I'm a culinary school graduate and five-time cookbook author who's all about finding ways to make delicious, restaurant-quality meals at home on a tight schedule. Read more...

4 thoughts on “Fig and Goat Cheese Tartlets”

  1. 5 stars
    I love figs and goat cheese together and these little mini tartlets are a great way to serve them! Delicious.

    Reply
  2. 5 stars
    How tasty are these! Yum! Some of my fav flavors are in these easy tartlets – I didn’t want to share!

    Reply
  3. 5 stars
    Fig and goat cheese pair perfectly! I loved these tartlets. They are so easy to make, and the presentation is stunning! These are the perfect appetizer for any party!

    Reply
5 from 11 votes (7 ratings without comment)

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