Cranberry Christmas Star Appetizer (Printable)

A festive holiday star with tart cranberries and creamy cheeses baked in flaky pastry.

# What you 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
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 the oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - Combine cranberries, sugar, orange zest, orange juice, and cinnamon in a saucepan. Cook over medium heat until cranberries burst and mixture thickens, approximately 7–10 minutes. Allow to cool completely.
03 - In a mixing bowl, blend cream cheese, mozzarella, feta, chives, and black pepper until smooth.
04 - On a lightly floured surface, roll out one sheet of puff pastry and cut into a 12-inch (30 cm) circle. Transfer to the prepared baking sheet.
05 - Evenly spread the cheese filling over the pastry circle, leaving a one-inch (2.5 cm) border around the edges.
06 - Distribute the cooled cranberry mixture evenly atop the cheese filling.
07 - Place the second puff pastry sheet over the cranberry layer and trim edges to match the bottom circle.
08 - Place a 3-inch (7 cm) diameter bowl in the center as a guide. Using a sharp knife, cut from the edge of the bowl outward into five equal rays to create a star shape.
09 - Gently twist each ray to expose the layers and filling, then remove the center bowl.
10 - Brush the entire pastry surface with beaten egg to ensure a golden finish.
11 - Bake for 18 to 22 minutes until the pastry is puffed and golden brown.
12 - Allow to cool slightly before garnishing with pomegranate seeds, pistachios, and rosemary sprigs if desired. Serve warm or at room temperature.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It looks like you spent hours in the kitchen, but you'll have it assembled in 30 minutes and baked in under 25—no one needs to know your secret
  • The cranberry-orange filling strikes that perfect balance between sweet and tart, with just enough spice warmth from cinnamon to feel sophisticated
  • Those twisty pastry rays are genuinely fun to make, and they give you that magical moment when you reveal all the beautiful layers
  • It works warm, room temperature, or even chilled the next day, making it the most forgiving fancy appetizer for actual busy humans
02 -
  • Cool that cranberry mixture completely before it touches the cheese, or you'll end up with a soggy mess instead of defined, delicious layers—I learned this when I rushed on year three
  • When you cut those rays, use a very sharp knife and a gentle sawing motion rather than pressing down—pressing squashes the pastry and prevents it from rising properly
03 -
  • Make the cranberry mixture the day before and store it in the fridge—this removes stress from party prep and actually improves the flavor as it mellows overnight
  • If your puff pastry tears when you're assembling, just patch it with a scrap from the edge or corners—no one will see it once everything is baked and golden
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