White Cheddar, Onion & Mushroom Puff Pastry Tart Recipe
This White Cheddar, Onion & Mushroom Puff Pastry Tart is a savory and elegant appetizer or light meal featuring a flaky puff pastry base topped with creamy French onion dip, sharp white cheddar cheese, caramelized onions, and earthy baby bella mushrooms. Drizzled with olive oil and balsamic vinegar and finished with fresh thyme, this tart is bursting with flavor and simple to prepare, perfect for entertaining or a cozy night in.
- Author: Leo
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 6-8 slices 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Puff Pastry Base
- 1 puff pastry sheet (thawed but cold)
Toppings
- ¼ cup French onion dip (Old Home recommended)
- 1 ½ cups white cheddar cheese (shredded)
- 1 large yellow onion (thinly sliced)
- 2–3 baby bella mushrooms (thinly sliced)
Seasonings & Finishing
- Olive oil (for drizzling)
- Balsamic vinegar (for drizzling)
- Red pepper flakes (to taste, optional)
- Salt and pepper (to taste)
- 1 egg (beaten, for egg wash)
- Fresh thyme (for garnishing, optional)
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F to ensure it’s at the perfect temperature for baking the puff pastry tart to a golden brown.
- Prepare Puff Pastry: On a lightly floured surface, roll out the thawed but cold puff pastry sheet into a 10×12 inch rectangle. Transfer the rolled pastry carefully onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. Using a knife, score a ½ inch border around the pastry edges without cutting all the way through to help create a crust edge.
- Dock Pastry: Prick the inside of the pastry all over with a fork to prevent it from puffing unevenly during baking, allowing steam to escape.
- Add Toppings: Spread the French onion dip evenly over the pastry within the scored borders. Sprinkle the shredded white cheddar cheese evenly on top, then arrange the thinly sliced onion and baby bella mushrooms over the cheese. Drizzle olive oil and balsamic vinegar over the toppings. Season with salt, pepper, and optional red pepper flakes to taste.
- Apply Egg Wash: Brush the beaten egg along the edges of the puff pastry, staying outside the score lines, to give the crust a shiny golden finish once baked.
- Bake Tart: Place the tart in the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes until the puff pastry is golden brown and cooked through, and the cheese is melted.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove from the oven, garnish with fresh thyme if desired. Cut the tart into 6-8 slices and serve warm for the best flavor and texture experience.
Notes
- Make sure the puff pastry is cold before rolling to help maintain its flaky texture.
- Scoring the border without cutting through helps the center puff up while keeping the edges flat.
- Docking the pastry prevents excessive puffing and ensures even cooking.
- You can substitute French onion dip with a homemade mixture of sour cream, caramelized onions, and seasoning if preferred.
- Adjust red pepper flakes to your spice preference, or omit for a milder flavor.
- Serve the tart immediately after baking for the best crispness, leftovers can be reheated but may lose some flakiness.
Keywords: puff pastry tart, white cheddar tart, mushroom tart, onion tart, French onion dip tart, savory pastry, appetizer recipe, vegetarian tart