Cranberry Jalapeño Puff Pastries

Featured in: Savory Stories

Enjoy golden puff pastry cups filled with a creamy mixture of cream cheese, sour cream, and honey, finished with a vibrant cranberry jalapeño topping and fresh herbs. These bite-sized treats offer tangy, sweet, and mildly spicy flavors, perfect for serving at holiday gatherings or parties. Made easily in a mini muffin tin, they can be enjoyed warm or at room temperature and customized with feta or extra herbs for added flair.

Updated on Sun, 26 Oct 2025 16:11:00 GMT
Cranberry Jalapeño Dip Puff Pastries in flaky cups, ideal for festive gatherings.  Save
Cranberry Jalapeño Dip Puff Pastries in flaky cups, ideal for festive gatherings. | tastychuck.com

Flaky puff pastry cups filled with a creamy, tangy cranberry&jalapeño dip are perfect for any festive appetizer or party snack. The combination of sweet and spicy flavors layered in a golden, crisp pastry creates an irresistible bite guests will love.

I created these pastries for our annual holiday party, and they quickly disappeared from the table. The creamy filling with a punch of jalapeño and the bright tang of cranberry was a huge hit with both family and friends.

Ingredients

  • Puff Pastry: 2 sheets frozen puff pastry, thawed
  • Creamy Filling: 225 g (8 oz) cream cheese, softened, 60 ml (¼ cup) sour cream, 2 tbsp honey, ¼ tsp salt
  • Cranberry Jalapeño Topping: 120 g (1 cup) fresh or frozen cranberries, chopped, 1 medium jalapeño, seeded and finely diced, 2 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped, 2 tbsp green onions, thinly sliced, 2 tbsp sugar, 1 tbsp lime juice
  • Garnish (optional): Extra chopped cilantro, finely diced jalapeño

Instructions

Prepare Oven & Pan:
Preheat oven to 200°C (400°F). Lightly grease a 24-cup mini muffin tin.
Form Pastry Cups:
Roll out the thawed puff pastry sheets on a lightly floured surface. Cut each sheet into 12 equal squares (24 total). Gently press each square into the muffin tin to form cups.
Make Creamy Filling:
Beat together cream cheese, sour cream, honey, and salt in a bowl until smooth and creamy.
Prepare Topping:
In a separate bowl, combine chopped cranberries, jalapeño, cilantro, green onions, sugar, and lime juice. Mix and let stand for 10 minutes.
Fill Cups:
Spoon about 1 teaspoon of the cream cheese mixture into each puff pastry cup.
Add Topping:
Top each with a spoonful of the cranberry jalapeño mixture.
Bake:
Bake for 18–20 minutes, until pastry is golden and crisp.
Cool & Garnish:
Let cool in the tin for 5 minutes before removing. Garnish with extra cilantro and jalapeño if desired. Serve warm or at room temperature.
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My kids helped pop these out of the tin before serving, and everyone agreed they tasted even better with a sprinkle of fresh cilantro on top. These bites always bring a smile to my family around the holidays.

Required Tools

Rolling pin, mini muffin tin, mixing bowls, electric mixer or whisk, spoon or small scoop

Allergen Information

Contains wheat (gluten) and milk (dairy). Check puff pastry labels for additional allergens.

Nutritional Information

Each pastry contains about 95 calories, 6 g fat, 9 g carbohydrates, and 2 g protein.

Warm pastry cups filled with creamy cranberry jalapeño dip, a perfect holiday appetizer.  Save
Warm pastry cups filled with creamy cranberry jalapeño dip, a perfect holiday appetizer. | tastychuck.com

Serve these pastries with a crisp Riesling or sparkling wine for the perfect party pairing. They taste delicious both warm and at room temperature.

Recipe Guide

Can I use store-bought puff pastry?

Yes, frozen store-bought puff pastry works perfectly for these pastries. Simply thaw as directed before assembling.

Is it possible to make these ahead of time?

Prepare and bake ahead, then reheat briefly in the oven to refresh the pastry. Fillings can be prepped in advance.

How spicy are these pastries?

The jalapeño adds mild heat. Adjust the amount or substitute with green pepper for less spice.

Can I substitute frozen cranberries?

Yes, frozen cranberries are suitable. Thaw and drain well before mixing with the other topping ingredients.

What wine pairs well with these pastries?

Crisp Riesling or sparkling wine pairs nicely, complementing the tangy and sweet flavors in each bite.

Are these suitable for vegetarian diets?

Yes, they are vegetarian-friendly, using plant-based ingredients for the creamy filling and topping.

Cranberry Jalapeño Puff Pastries

Flaky pastries with tangy cranberry jalapeño filling, a crowd-pleasing appetizer for festive entertaining.

Prep duration
15 min
Heat time
20 min
Full duration
35 min
Created by Chuck Harrison


Skill level Easy

Heritage American

Output 24 Portions

Nutrition Labels Meat-free

What you'll need

Puff Pastry

01 2 sheets frozen puff pastry, thawed

Creamy Filling

01 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
02 1/4 cup sour cream
03 2 tablespoons honey
04 1/4 teaspoon salt

Cranberry Jalapeño Topping

01 1 cup chopped fresh or frozen cranberries
02 1 medium jalapeño, seeded and finely diced
03 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped
04 2 tablespoons green onions, thinly sliced
05 2 tablespoons sugar
06 1 tablespoon lime juice

Garnish (optional)

01 Extra chopped cilantro
02 Finely diced jalapeño

Method

Phase 01

Prepare Baking Tin: Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C) and lightly grease a 24-cup mini muffin tin.

Phase 02

Shape Puff Pastry: Roll out thawed puff pastry sheets on a lightly floured surface; cut each sheet into 12 equal squares to make 24 pieces.

Phase 03

Form Pastry Cups: Gently press each pastry square into the muffin tin cavities, creating small cups.

Phase 04

Combine Creamy Filling: Beat together cream cheese, sour cream, honey, and salt in a mixing bowl until smooth and creamy.

Phase 05

Mix Cranberry Topping: In a separate bowl, mix cranberries, jalapeño, cilantro, green onions, sugar, and lime juice. Let rest for 10 minutes for flavors to blend.

Phase 06

Fill Pastry Cups: Spoon about 1 teaspoon of the cream cheese filling into each pastry cup.

Phase 07

Add Topping: Top each with a small spoonful of cranberry jalapeño mixture.

Phase 08

Bake: Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, until pastry is crisp and golden brown.

Phase 09

Cool and Garnish: Let pastries cool in the tin for 5 minutes before removing; garnish with extra cilantro and jalapeño as desired. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Kitchen tools

  • Rolling pin
  • 24-cup mini muffin tin
  • Mixing bowls
  • Electric mixer or whisk
  • Spoon or small scoop

Allergy alerts

Always review ingredients for potential allergens and seek professional medical guidance if unsure
  • Contains wheat (gluten)
  • Contains milk (dairy)
  • Always check puff pastry packaging for ingredient and allergen details.

Nutrition breakdown (per portion)

Values shown are estimates only - consult healthcare providers for specific advice
  • Energy: 95
  • Fats: 6 g
  • Carbohydrates: 9 g
  • Proteins: 2 g