Phyllo Cup Appetizers: Sweet and Savory Goat Cheese Cups

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Elevate your entertaining with this super-easy, yet elegant Phyllo appetizer. Featuring crisp, buttery fillo pastry shells stuffed with tangy goat cheese, sweet preserves, and crunchy walnuts, these bite size appetizers feature a delicious symphony of flavors and textures that will delight your guests!

Featured comment: Awesome and completely demolished. Sooo good and simple!” –Lori

Update: This post was originally published on November 1st, 2014. I made updates to the post below to include new photos and more information about phyllo cup appetizers. Plus, I’ve included step-by-step photos and a recipe video to show you how quick and easy these goat cheese tartlets are to make! 

Hi, friends! I am so excited I can hardly contain myself! I have been hard at work developing recipes for the holidays, and I finally get to share them with you! Hooray!

We are going to start this holiday recipe sharing shindig off with a bang! Because, enter beautiful, yet ridiculously easy (seriously – SO EASY) phyllo cup tartlets!

About this recipe for phyllo cup appetizers

Bite-sized phyllo shells filled soft goat cheese, herbaceous thyme, fruity preserves, crunchy walnuts and sparkly turbinado sugar. Baked to flaky, butter perfection and finished with a drizzle of sweet honey, these phyllo cup appetizers are a party in one bite!

Out of all the recipes I have coming up for the holidays, this goat cheese appetizer was one of Boy’s absolute favorites. He had these phyllo cups with his coffee in the morning, with an energy drink for a midday snack, on their own around 4 o’clock for an appetizer before dinner. Oh, he also might have had a couple of these with a small glass of milk as a late night snack. Clearly, these goat cheese bites are addicting!

Honestly, I these phyllo cup appetizers are more like an any-tizer, because you could literally serve them whenever! The perfect mix of sweet and savory, these phyllo cups are perfect for breakfast, snacktime, appetizers and dessert!

What is a fillo cup?

Phyllo cups (also known as filo cups, phyllo shells or tart shells) are made from tissue-paper thin leaves of phyllo dough (filo dough) pastry stacked atop one another to form a mini shell. Phyllo dough is a traditional Greek ingredient used to make classic recipes, such as baklava and strudel.

Bite-size phyllo cups are buttery and flaky in taste with an airy, light and incredibly crispy texture! You can fill these cups with all sorts of ingredients, from savory to sweet, to create fun appetizers or desserts!

Where to buy phyllo dough?

You can purchase phyllo cups in the freezer section of most major grocery stores. They are often located with the frozen fruit.

How to make phyllo pastry cups appetizer

This bite-sized appetizer is incredibly easy to make! With just 10 minutes of hands on preparation time and 6 ingredients required, these flaky phyllo cups make the perfect party bite!

1. Preheat oven to 350-degrees Fahrenheit. Line a rimmed sheet pan with parchment paper for easy clean up. Remove phyllo cups from their packaging and place on prepared sheet pan.
2. Fill each shell:  Place 1 teaspoon of goat cheese in the button of the phyllo cup. Very gently press the goat cheese down into the cup. Sprinkle 1/16 teaspoon of the thyme leaves over the goat cheese. Sprinkle ½ teaspoon of the walnuts on top of the thyme. Place a ½ teaspoon of the preserves over the walnuts. Sprinkle sugar (I used 1/8 teaspoon) directly over the preserves.
3. Bake the prepared cups for 10-12 minutes, or until cups are golden and crisp. Remove from oven and allow the cups to cool on the pan for 2-3 minutes.
4. Serve:  Transfer phyllo cups to serving platter. Garnished with a drizzle of honey and more fresh thyme if desired. Enjoy!

Step-by-step photos: making goat cheese appetizers with phyllo cough

(Please scroll down for the detailed instructions in the complete printable recipe card at the bottom of the page!)

Customizing phyllo cups appetizers

Goat cheese, or chevre, is mild in flavor and pairs well with just about any sweet or savory jam. I used pear preserves and cranberry jelly in the goat cheese appetizers shown. Don’t feel limited to just jam though! Preserves, jellies, marmalades and jelly-like sauces all work with goat cheese.

Below are a few of my favorites, but feel free to use what you have on hand or a combination of your personal favorites!

Jams that pair well with goat cheese and filo dough

• Pear preserves
• Cranberry jelly or sauce
• Fig jam
• Apricot jam
• Orange marmalade
• Strawberry jam
• Lemon marmalade
• Cherry preserves
• Red currant jelly
• Grapefruit marmalade
• Red onion jam
• Tomato jam

Storing this appetizer with phyllo cups

Can you freeze fillo shell appetizers?

Yes, you can freeze phyllo appetizers! Prepare the appetizer according to the recipe instructions, but do not bake them. Store the prepared appetizers in an airtight, freezer-safe container in the freezer for up to one month.

When ready to use, do not thaw the phyllo as it will become soggy. Bake from frozen at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 12-14 minutes or until cups are golden and crisp.

How to use leftover mini phyllo shells

You can fill phyllo cups with a wide variety of ingredients to create either a savory appetizer or sweet bite-sized dessert!

Savory appetizer ideas for filo pastry

• Fill them with soft cheeses, like goat cheese, whipped ricotta or feta, and top with fruit jam or preserves.
• Dollop your favorite chicken salad recipes inside.
• Stuff your favorite dip, such as artichoke, pimento, salmon dip, or creamy jalapeno dip inside the cups and bake until warm
• Salmon Cup: Add a little whipped cream cheese to the bottom of the phyllo cup and top with homemade gravlax salmon, pickled red onion, and capers.
• French Onion Cups: Fill the cups with oven caramelized onions + gruyere cheese  and bake.
• Taco Cups: Fill the filo with fajita seasoned and cooked ground meat (sausage, chicken, beef or lamb) and with grated cheese. Then bake until warm, top with pico and sour cream.
• Stuff filo shells with chopped marinated tomatoes, mozzarella balls, and chiffonade of basil to create caprese cups.
• If you love pizza, fill them with mini pepperonis, shredded mozzarella, pizza sauce or marinara and bake.

Sweet desserts fillings for fillo appetizers 

• Add your favorite flavor of pie filling to the cups.
• Dollop your favorite no-bake cheesecake filling inside the shells.
• Layer in whipped yogurt, macerated fresh berries and drizzle with honey.
• Stuff them with a combination of nutella and fresh strawberries.
• If you love a cannoli, try this: Whip up ricotta cheese, fill the cups and finish them with drizzle of warm chocolate sauce made with chocolate chips for an easy sweet snack.
• Or try filling them with a combination of vanilla pudding and caramel sauce.

Join me in making your holiday stress-free and add these quick and easy goat cheese tartlets to your menu!

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Recipe testimonials!

Here’s what readers are saying about this goat cheese cups recipe!

• “These are so addicting and have been a huge hit! Thank you!” –Elena
• “Super easy and super delicious! Everyone loved them!” –Stacy

More cheese appetizers!

Looking for more crowd-pleasing, easy, cheesy snacks and apps? I’ve got you! Check out these fan favorites:

• brie en croute recipe
• baked camembert cheese
• Broccoli bacon cheese dip
• Seafood Rangoon Dip

The best Phyllo Cups Appetizers Recipe (plus step by step video)👇

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