Description
This Quick Pepper Jelly Cream Cheese Appetizer features crispy mini phyllo shells filled with smooth cream cheese and topped with sweet and spicy red pepper jelly. Garnished with fresh thyme or green onion, it makes a simple yet elegant bite-size appetizer perfect for parties and gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Appetizer Ingredients
- 1 box (15-count) mini phyllo shells
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1/4 cup red pepper jelly
- Fresh thyme leaves or chopped green onion (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to prepare for baking the phyllo shells.
- Arrange phyllo shells: Place the mini phyllo shells evenly on a baking sheet to ensure they bake evenly.
- Fill with cream cheese: Spoon about 1 teaspoon of softened cream cheese into each phyllo shell, creating a smooth base layer.
- Add red pepper jelly: Top each filled shell with approximately 1/2 teaspoon of red pepper jelly, balancing sweet and spicy flavors.
- Bake: Bake the filled shells for 5 to 7 minutes, or until the shells become crispy and the cream cheese is nicely warmed through.
- Garnish: Once out of the oven, optionally garnish each bite with fresh thyme leaves or chopped green onion for added color and flavor.
- Serve warm or room temperature: These appetizers are best enjoyed warm or at room temperature as a delightful finger food for any occasion.
Notes
- You can prepare these bites ahead of time and bake just before serving for convenience.
- Substitute cream cheese with a flavored cream cheese for an extra twist.
- If mini phyllo shells are unavailable, small tart shells or wonton wrappers can be used as alternatives.
- Adjust the amount of pepper jelly according to your preferred spice level.
- This recipe is suitable for vegetarian diets.
