Cranberry Christmas Star Appetizer (Printable Version)

A festive star-shaped dish blending tart cranberries with creamy cheeses for vibrant holiday flavor.

# What You'll Need:

→ Cheese Filling

01 - 1 cup cream cheese, softened
02 - 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
03 - 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
04 - 2 tablespoons fresh chives, finely chopped
05 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Cranberry Mixture

06 - 1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
07 - 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
08 - 1 tablespoon orange zest
09 - 2 tablespoons orange juice
10 - 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

→ Pastry

11 - 2 sheets puff pastry, thawed (about 17.6 ounces total)
12 - 1 egg, beaten (for egg wash)

→ Garnish

13 - 2 tablespoons pomegranate seeds (optional)
14 - 2 tablespoons chopped pistachios (optional)
15 - Fresh rosemary sprigs, for decoration

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - Combine cranberries, sugar, orange zest, orange juice, and cinnamon in a small saucepan. Cook over medium heat until cranberries burst and mixture thickens, about 7 to 10 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool completely.
03 - In a bowl, blend cream cheese, mozzarella, feta, chives, and black pepper until smooth.
04 - Roll out one sheet of puff pastry on a lightly floured surface and cut into a 12-inch diameter circle. Transfer to the prepared baking sheet.
05 - Spread the cheese filling evenly over the pastry circle, leaving a 1-inch border around the edge.
06 - Spoon the cooled cranberry mixture evenly over the cheese layer.
07 - Place the second puff pastry sheet on top and trim to match the bottom circle.
08 - Place a round bowl with a 3-inch diameter in the center. Cut the pastry from the edge of the bowl outward into five equally spaced rays to form a star shape.
09 - Gently twist each ray outward to reveal the layers and filling. Remove the bowl.
10 - Brush the entire pastry surface with the beaten egg to enhance browning.
11 - Bake in the preheated oven for 18 to 22 minutes or until golden brown and puffed.
12 - Allow to cool slightly. Garnish with pomegranate seeds, chopped pistachios, and rosemary sprigs as desired. Serve warm or at room temperature.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • It looks absolutely magnificent on the table—honestly, people will take photos before they even taste it, and then they'll be even more impressed by the flavor
  • The sweet-tart cranberries paired with creamy, savory cheeses create this perfect balance that keeps people coming back for bites
  • Once you master the star shape, you'll feel like a professional pastry chef, and everyone will assume you spent hours when really it's just 50 minutes of your time
02 -
  • Don't skip cooling the cranberry mixture completely—I learned this the hard way when I put warm filling on cold cheese and everything separated, creating a slick, sad disaster inside the pastry
  • The egg wash makes all the difference between a pale, flat-looking pastry and one that gleams like it came from a bakery—brush it generously and don't be shy about getting into the twisted sections
  • Your puff pastry must be properly thawed, not hot and not still frozen—room temperature puff pastry cuts cleanly and twists beautifully, while cold pastry cracks and fragments
03 -
  • Make the cranberry mixture the day before and keep it covered in the fridge—this saves you time on serving day and actually makes the flavors even more developed and delicious
  • Don't be intimidated by the star shape—practice your knife cuts on paper first if you're nervous, and remember that slightly imperfect spirals actually look more artisanal and impressive than perfectly symmetrical ones
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