Mini Beef Tourtières Appetizer (Printer Friendly)

Flaky pastries with savory spiced beef filling, perfect for appetizers or festive gatherings.

# What You Need:

→ Cream Cheese Pastry

01 - 8 oz cream cheese, softened
02 - 8 oz unsalted butter, cold and diced
03 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
04 - 1/2 teaspoon salt

→ Beef Filling

05 - 1 lb ground beef
06 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
07 - 1 clove garlic, minced
08 - 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
09 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
10 - 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
11 - 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
12 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
13 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
14 - 1/4 cup beef broth
15 - 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
16 - 1 tablespoon unsalted butter

→ Assembly

17 - 1 egg, beaten for egg wash

# How to Make It:

01 - In a large bowl, blend softened cream cheese and cold diced butter until smooth. Add flour and salt, mixing until a soft dough forms. Divide dough in half, flatten each portion into a disk, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
02 - In a skillet over medium heat, melt 1 tablespoon butter. Add chopped onion and cook until translucent, approximately 3-4 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add ground beef and cook until browned, breaking up with a spoon, about 5-7 minutes. Stir in allspice, cinnamon, cloves, thyme, salt, and pepper. Pour in beef broth and simmer until mostly evaporated, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat, stir in parsley, and allow to cool completely.
03 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
04 - Roll out chilled pastry dough on a floured surface to 1/8 inch thickness. Cut 2 3/4 inch rounds using a round pastry cutter. Place half the rounds on prepared baking sheets.
05 - Spoon 1 heaping teaspoon of cooled beef filling onto each round on the baking sheets. Brush edges lightly with water, top with remaining pastry rounds, and seal edges firmly with a fork.
06 - Brush tops of assembled tourtières with beaten egg. Cut a small slit in each pastry for steam to escape.
07 - Bake for 18-22 minutes, or until pastry is golden brown. Cool slightly on baking sheets before serving.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • They vanish faster than you can refill the platter, which means everyone actually loves them.
  • The cream cheese pastry is so tender it practically melts, no fancy technique required.
  • You can make the dough and filling ahead, then assemble and bake right before guests arrive.
  • The warm spices make your kitchen smell like a holiday memory even in the middle of summer.
02 -
  • If your dough gets too soft while you're working, pop it back in the fridge for 10 minutes, warm pastry tears and sticks and makes you want to give up.
  • Don't overfill them or the filling will burst out during baking, a heaping teaspoon is the sweet spot I learned after ruining a whole first batch.
  • Let the filling cool completely before assembly, hot filling melts the butter in the dough and you end up with soggy bottoms.
03 -
  • Use a fork dipped in flour to crimp the edges, it stops the dough from sticking and gives you those pretty sealed ridges.
  • If the tops aren't browning evenly, rotate your baking sheets halfway through and switch their oven positions.
  • Let them rest on the pan for 5 minutes after baking, they firm up just enough to move without falling apart.
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