Snappetizers! Buttery, flaky puff pastry topped with balsamic caramelized onions, sauteéd mushrooms, a hint of garlic, and a smoked gruyere cheese bomb mixed right in. These caramelized onion bites are a game-changer for me. They’re perfect to serve your Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years guests before a big dinner. Also, they totally look fancy schmancy, but nobody really needs to know that the caramelized onion and sauteéd mushroom filling can be made a couple of days ahead of time. I’ve had readers tell me that these easy caramelized onion puff pastry bites flew out of the oven and right onto the guests’ plates! They are always a hit when we make them for parties, and with a sprinkle of parsley or some fresh thyme, the scent of these caramelized onion bites is UNREAL.
How to make caramelized onion bites:
Ingredients for caramelized onion tarts (or tartlets)
Butter and oil: We’ll use these ingredients to saute the mushrooms and the onions for the recipe. I like to use a high-heat oil such as avocado, sunflower, or vegetable to cook the onions and mushrooms.Mushrooms: I prefer to use small crimini or baby bella mushrooms, but button mushrooms, shiitakes, or a medley of mushrooms would also work for this recipe.Yellow onions: slice the onions thinly so that the caramelizes quicker in the pan. We’ll cook them down in a large skillet until they are tender and delicious.Dried or fresh thyme: We’ll use some type to flavor the onions.Seasonings: I keep things pretty simple. You’ll want some sugar to help the caramelization process of the onions; you’ll also need kosher salt, black pepper, and some garlic powder.Balsamic Vinegar: The syrupy vinegar cooks down with the onions and creates a balsamic glaze in the pan. This not only gives the onions a more delicious color, it also helps boost the sweetness which pairs beautifully with the nutty gruyere cheese.Gruyere Cheese: I like to use applewood smoked gruyere for this recipe as the smoky flavor pairs well with the sweetness of the jammy onions and the natural umami or mushrooms. You can also use regular gruyere or other economical options like white cheddar.Puff Pastry: For this recipe, you’ll need a box of frozen puff pastry. To make the process smoother, I like to thaw the puff pastry in the refrigerator overnight according to the package directions. I’ve never been able to get puff pastry to defrost quickly, so definitely plan ahead for this recipe.Large egg: This is for the egg wash! It just gives the puff pastry a beautiful sheen when it comes out of the oven.
How to make caramelized onion puff pastry bites:
Look at each of those puff pastry layers and how perfectly they separate from each other. It’s like taking a bite out of 10 potato chips at the same time, only less crunchy, and more buttery. Okay, so not like a potato chip at all, really. Caramelized onion puff pastry bites are going to make your holidays more amazing. The garlic, the mushrooms, the caramelized onions, and the smoky gruyere.
If you like this caramelized onion bites recipe, you might also like:
Chicken Puff Pastry (Chicken Patties)Easy Puff Pastry Twists with Za’atarCrispy Feta Cheese Filo Pastry SpiralsGreek Spinach PuffsHot Honey Cranberry Goat Cheese Balls
Make sure the puff pastry is cold when it goes into the oven. If at any point it becomes soft, allow it to rest in the refrigerator for 15-20 minutes or until it firms up again. Do not open the oven door during the first 10 minutes of baking time. Frequently opening the oven may cause the puff pastry to not ‘puff up’.Mozzarella or gouda cheese may be used to replace the gruyere. I really like the smoky flavor of applewood smoked gruyere with these bites.If you’ve prepared the caramelized onion mixture ahead of time, you can zap it in the microwave for 30 seconds to bring it back to room temperature quickly.
