Description
This Quick Pepper Jelly Cream Cheese Appetizer is a delightful and speedy recipe perfect for entertaining. It features creamy tangy cream cheese paired with sweet and spicy red pepper jelly, served as a dip or elegant phyllo cup bites. Ready in minutes, it offers an impressive presentation and bold flavors ideal for holiday parties, game nights, or last-minute guests.
Ingredients
For Phyllo Cup Bites
- 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)
For Dip (Optional)
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1/4 cup red pepper jelly
- Crackers and assorted veggies, for serving
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) to prepare for baking the phyllo cups.
- Arrange Phyllo Shells: Place the mini phyllo shells evenly on a baking sheet, spacing them slightly apart.
- Fill with Cream Cheese: Spoon about 1 teaspoon of softened cream cheese into each phyllo shell, creating a creamy base.
- Add Pepper Jelly: Top each cream cheese-filled shell with approximately 1/2 teaspoon of red pepper jelly to add a sweet and spicy kick.
- Bake: Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake for 5 to 7 minutes, until the phyllo shells are crisp and the cream cheese is warmed through.
- Garnish: Remove from the oven and garnish each bite with fresh thyme leaves or chopped green onion for a pop of color and flavor, if desired.
- Serve: Serve the phyllo cup bites warm or at room temperature alongside the cream cheese and pepper jelly dip served with crackers and vegetables for an easy, crowd-pleasing appetizer.
Notes
- You can use any variety of pepper jelly—adjust the spice level to your preference.
- To save time, pre-fill phyllo shells and refrigerate until ready to bake.
- Garnish with fresh herbs for color and a flavor boost.
- For a festive twist, use cranberry-pepper jelly during the holidays.
- Serve the dip with a mix of crackers and veggies to suit all diets.
- This recipe is naturally vegetarian and can be made gluten-free by selecting gluten-free phyllo shells or serving as a dip alone.
