These parmesan thyme shortbread cookies with a creamy feta cheese dip, topped with cranberry sauce, are a perfect party amuse-bouche or holiday starter. The salty, sweet, tangy flavor with the crunch of the parmesan shortbread will give your guests and family a party in their mouth!
Enjoy!
Parmesan Thyme Shortbread with Feta Spread and Cranberry Sauce
Mia Florea
This sophisticated yet easy-to-make appetizer is ideal for holiday gatherings or any festive occasion. The buttery shortbread, infused with fragrant thyme, complements the rich feta and sweet-tart cranberry, creating a deliciously balanced amuse-bouche that will impress your guests
With an electric mixer, blend together the butter and parmesan until smooth. Incorporate the egg.
Whisk together the flour, baking powder, and thyme and add to the butter mix.
Roll the dough, on a lightly floured surface or in between two baking sheets, to a thickness of about 1 third of an inch. Using a cookie cutter of your choice, cut shapes and place them on a baking tray lined with parchment paper and with ½ inch distance between them.
Bake for 12 minutes, turning halfway through the baking time. Let cool on a wire rack.
For the feta dip:
In a food processor, blend all ingredients until smooth.
For the cranberry sauce:
Place all the ingredients in a saucepan and simmer on low for about 15-20 minutes until the cranberries soften and a thick sauce forms. If needed, add one tablespoon of water at a time to reach the desired consistency.
Assembly:
Put a heap teaspoon of the feta spread on each shortbread cookie. With the back of a measuring teaspoon create a cavity into which add ½ teaspoon of the cranberry sauce.
Notes
Tip: To add another texture and flavor you could toast some pine nuts and sprinkle them on top.
I'm a business graduate turned Pastry Chef with a passion for cooking savory dishes as well. My culinary journey began in 2011 after the birth of my first daughter, and I haven't looked back since.
I spent 17 years in the Gulf Region, including Dubai and Qatar, where I had the privilege of working with 'The Cooking Academy.' During my time there, I served as a teacher for various classes and briefly took on the role of General Manager.
After the pandemic, I launched my own project, 'Baked by Mia,' a cooking platform that came to life in 2020. The goal of this platform is to encourage everyone to bake more, focusing not on the perfection often associated with being a pastry chef, but on embracing and enjoying time spent in the kitchen with family and friends.
These worked great for a little gathering I hosted the other day. Love them!