Cheese Tart with Garlic and Honey

This Cheese Tart recipe is loaded with garlic butter, cheeses, herbs and hot honey. It’s non-traditional puff pastry bottom creates golden brown flaky layers!

I love a little crunch from the layers to go with the smooth and creamy melty cheese. Load that tart crust up with some extra garlic butter, sesame seeds and sea salt and you’ve got a super flavorful delicious crust.

This tart tastes like a garlic lovers dream. In my opinion, you can never have too much garlic!

This is an easy recipe you can prepare yourself or even have the kids help. It’s a great recipe to serve as an appetizer or weeknight dinner along with fresh fruit.

I love serving this Cheese Tart with Garlic and Honey alongside my Summer Fruit Salad or Best Heirloom Tomato Salad. The buttery pastry, cheese and hot honey go so well with the fresh bright flavors of the fruit.

Next time you’re looking for an easy dinner or appetizer, I hope you’ll try this Cheese Tart. Cheesy tarts are always high on my list and I hope this becomes one of your favorite recipes too!

Why you’ll love this Cheese Tart with Garlic and Honey recipe

This Cheese Tart with Garlic and Honey is really easy to make! Not much work goes into it, and some days that’s exactly what you need.

It’s made with a store bought puff pastry crust. That means you don’t have to spend any time or effort making the crust yourself!

All of the ingredients are simple, easy to use ingredients. The most you have to do is slice and lightly brown the garlic in butter.

This recipe is also a fun one to make with the kids! It’s an easy to follow cheese tart that is great for kids to follow along with.

You’ll also love it because it’s cheesy, garlicky, flaky and slightly sweet. A garlic and cheese lovers dream!

Ingredients needed

• Puff Pastry – I use store bought puff pastry for ease and I love a flaky crunchy crust! You need one sheet of puff pastry for the bottom and you’ll cut another sheet of puff pastry to add to the sides.
• Garlic – Use fresh garlic cloves. Garlic powder will burn.
• Butter – I use unsalted butter so I can control the salt level myself.
• Kosher Salt – Salt helps bring out the flavor in all the ingredients.
• Gouda Cheese – Gouda cheese is creamy, mild and so delicious on this cheese tart.
• Fontina Cheese – Fontina cheese helps give a creamy cheese filling.
• Parmesan Cheese – Parmesan adds a little extra flavor to the tart and goes really well with the basil and honey.
• Basil – Use fresh basil leaves, not dried. The flavor will not be the same.
• Egg – Egg is used to egg wash the crust and give it a golden brown color.
• Thyme – I prefer fresh thyme in this recipe but you can use dried if that’s all you have. If your using dried thyme, only use half the amount called for in the recipe.
• Pesto (optional) – I use store bought pesto.
• All Purpose Flour – Just a small handful when you’re rolling out the puff pastry so that it doesn’t stick to the surface.
• Hot Honey – I love hot honey but you can use regular honey if you’re not a fan of spice.
• Balsamic Drizzle (optional) – I love a little vinegar kick to the creaminess of the cheese.
• Sesame Seeds – Use black sesame seeds, toasted sesame seeds or a mixture of both on the edges of the crust.
• Flaky Sea Salt – My favorite flaky sea salt is Maldon’s.

Tips for the best Cheese Tart with Garlic and Honey

• The easiest way to cut strips out of the puff pastry is with a pizza cutter. A sharp chef knife works too.
• This recipe goes really well with fresh berries, Easy Watermelon Basil Salad or Summer Fruit Salad.
• Don’t throw away your excess dough! You can brush it with garlic butter then top it with flaky sea salt and bake it alongside your cheese tart. For a sweeter treat try brushing it with butter then adding a little sugar, cinnamon and pinch of salt!
• If you don’t want to egg wash the crust you can brush it with garlic butter only or olive oil.
• If you want to make smaller individual size tarts then you can cut the dough into smaller size cheese tartlets. Bake them for 5-7 minutes less time.
• Goat cheese is a great addition or substitute for one of the cheeses if you want to switch things up from time to time. It goes really well with the basil and honey.
• Press the edges of the crust together with the tines of a fork for a different, more rustic look to your cheese tart.

Equipment needed

• Rolling Pin – Use a rolling pin to roll the puff pastry slightly larger.
• Sheet Pan – You need a large baking sheet or sheet pan to bake the Cheese Tart with Garlic and Honey. I like to use half sheet pans.
• Small Skillet – Brown your butter and garlic in a small skillet or sauce pot.
• Parchment Paper – Use parchment paper on your baking sheet for easier cleanup!
• Food Processor – I buy block cheese and use my food processor to shred them. It’s easy and convenient.
• Set of Mixing Bowls – You’ll need a small bowl to mix the spices for the crust and a medium bowl to mix the cheeses together.

More delicious Tarts to try

• Asparagus Tart
• Chocolate Raspberry Tart

How to make Cheese Tart with Garlic and Honey

This Cheese Tart with Garlic and Honey is super simple to make and a meal the whole family will love!

Thawing pastry and making garlic butter

First thing, thaw puff pastry dough for 30-40 minutes outside of the cardboard box on the counter. Next, preheat the oven to 425°F.

Heat the butter and whole garlic in a small skillet over low-medium low heat, stirring frequently. When the butter and garlic become golden brown remove them from the heat, about 5 minutes.

Be careful not to have the heat too high or leave the garlic butter unattended. It can burn easily.

Stir in the salt. Mash the garlic with a fork.

Preparing the tart crust

Roll one sheet of the puff pastry out on a floured surface. Be sure to flour the rolling pin as well so the dough does not stick.

Roll pastry to about 14×12 inches then transfer it to a parchment lined sheet tray. Roll the second sheet of puff pastry the same size then cut 4 strips, lengthwise out of it and set them aside.

Brush the entire bottom of the crust of the first pastry with garlic butter. Add the strips of pastry to the buttered dough and trim edges to fit properly, making a 1-inch border.

Use your finger tips to press the dough down lightly so it sticks.

Adding the toppings

Add the basil and thyme over the garlic butter inside of the border on the pastry dough.

Mix the cheeses together in a medium sized mixing bowl then top the tart with an even layer of the cheese mixture, staying inside the crust edges.

Very lightly drizzle the pesto over the cheese. There won’t be much, it’s just for a bit of extra flavor.

Drizzle the cheese tart with hot honey.

Whisk the egg with 1/2 teaspoon of water then brush the egg mixture onto the edges of the crust. Mix the sesame seeds and flaky sea salt together in a small bowl then sprinkle over the egg washed edges.

Baking Cheese Tart with Garlic and Honey

For best results, freeze the cheese tart for 10 minutes.

Bake cheese tart in preheated oven for 20 minutes. Drizzle with balsamic glaze if desired.

Serve immediately while cheese is still hot.

Serve this cheese tart at a party alongside other finger foods like Philly cheesesteak egg rolls! These appetizers are always a crowd pleaser.

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FAQ

How to store

This Cheese Tart with Garlic and Honey is really best eaten fresh. However, if you do have leftovers, you can store them in the fridge.

Store the cheese tart in an airtight container or wrapped tightly in plastic wrap. The tart will last up to 3 days in the fridge.

Pop it in the microwave for about 30 seconds or in a 400°F oven for 5 minutes to reheat it. Eat while warm.

Can I freeze a cheese tart?

You can freeze this cheese tart BEFORE baking it. Put the whole thing together then wrap tightly with multiple layers of plastic wrap and place in the freezer.

It will last for up to 1 month in the freezer, tightly wrapped.

I would not recommend freezing the cheese tart after it’s cooked.

What are cheese tarts made of?

Cheese tarts can be made of a variety of different things. Some are sweet, some are savory.

Some use pie crust, cookie crust, graham cracker crust or puff pastry. Depending on whether it’s sweet or savory will make a big difference on what ingredients it includes.

This particular recipe includes garlic butter, fresh herbs, a mixture of cheeses, hot honey, pesto and balsamic glaze.

How to serve

This recipe is best served hot. While the cheese is still melty. Cut the tart into squares, rectangles or triangles and enjoy!

It can be served room temperature as well but I really like the melty cheese when it’s hot.

Serve alongside Easy Watermelon Basil Salad or Summer Fruit Salad!

What types of tarts are there?

To break it down simply, there are sweet tarts and there are savory tarts. That being said, the flavor combos are endless.

Here are a few examples of different types of tarts:

• Savory Cheese Tarts – Think pizza-ish.
• Sweet Cheese Tarts – Think Cheesecake
• Veggie Tarts – Asparagus Tart
• Chocolate Tarts – Chocolate Raspberry Tart
• Tomato Tart – Think tomato and cheese
• Blackberry Tart – Think blackberry pie
• Apple Tart – Think apple pie

You can make a freeform tart like this recipe or use a tart pan. Many tart pans have a removeable bottom to hold they’re shape perfectly.

This comes in handy when using things like pie crust and cookie crust. It’s a very versatile bake and you really can’t go wrong with whatever flavor combo you choose!