Are you looking for easy apps to serve at your holiday party? I have 21 delicious phyllo cup Christmas appetizers that are perfectly bite-sized and easy to make. From sweet to savory, you’ll find fillings of all types on this list.
1. Baked Brie Phyllo Cups
Delicious brie baked with tart craisins and chopped walnuts (or pecans), topped with a little bit of honey. These phyllo cups are baked until they’re golden brown and the brie is gooey. Save the honey for last and drizzle it on just before serving.
If you can’t find craisins, you can use simple dried cranberries.
2. French Onion Soup Bites
The filling for these phyllo cups takes a little bit longer than other recipes on this list, but it’s mostly hands-off.
The onions need to be cooked for about 45 minutes.
Once that’s ready, you can start assembling your cups. Start with a layer of Parmesan cheese at the bottom, then add the onion mixture and top with slices of melty cheese. Gruyère and cheddar pair really well with the onion mixture.
3. Cranberry Brie Phyllo Bites
These phyllo cup Christmas appetizers are a mix of tart and savory, and you can easily tweak the recipe to make it your own. The filling couldn’t be simpler. It’s a mix of brie, cranberry sauce, pecans and fresh rosemary.
You can use canned cranberry sauce, or you can make your own.
Related: 21 Crescent Roll Christmas Appetizers That Look Fancy
4. Smoked Salmon Bites Appetizer
Quick, easy and elegant, these smoked salmon bites will impress everyone. The creamy cucumber filling blends cream cheese, sour cream, lemon juice and zest, onion powder, garlic, salt and salt with grated and strained cucumber.
Fill each cup with the cream cheese mixture and top with small pieces of smoked salmon. Sprinkle with chopped chives as garnish.
5. Baklava Cups
These baklava cups are easy to prepare and full of flavor. You’ll want a food processor to finely chop the nuts for this filling. The recipe calls for pecans, pistachios and almonds mixed with lemon zest, cinnamon, sugar, melted butter, vanilla and a pinch of salt.
Fill your phyllo cups with the nut mixture and top with a honey water blend before baking.
6. Sausage Ranch Phyllo Cups
Here’s a savory appetizer that will keep your guests full. Each flaky phyllo cup is filled with a mix of spicy breakfast sausage, shredded cheese and ranch dressing.
It couldn’t be simpler to prepare these, and each batch makes 30 mini cups, so you can easily feed a crowd.
You can use whatever cheese you want for this recipe, but cheddar or gouda work really well.
Pro tip: Don’t fill your phyllo cups until you’re ready to start baking. Otherwise, the cups may get soggy if they sit for too long.
7. Shrimp Cocktail Appetizer Bites
Looking for fancy phyllo cup Christmas appetizers? These shrimp cocktail bites are perfect. They feature a rich cream cheese filling, homemade cocktail sauce and cooked, chopped shrimp.
The cream cheese filling features Old Bay seafood seasoning and fresh lemon zest to give it a fresh taste. I highly recommend that you use a microplane for zesting.
To fill the cups easily and without making a mess, add the cream cheese mix into a Ziploc bag. Cut off one bottom corner and squeeze to pipe it into the phyllo cup.
8. Caprese Cups
These caprese cups are fast and easy to prepare. Once you’ve baked the shells, all that’s left to do is fill each one with your caprese salad: halved cherry tomatoes, mozzarella pearls and fresh basil leaves.
Just before serving, drizzle on some balsamic glaze.
You could also use marinated mozzarella, but pat it dry before filling to remove any excess oil that could make your cups soggy.
9. Mushroom-Stuffed Phyllo Cups
This mushroom appetizer will be the talk of your party. Each cup is filled with a delicious blend of gourmet mushrooms cooked in a spiced sherry sauce with garlic, shallots, fresh thyme, heavy cream and Gruyère cheese.
You’ll fill each cup with the mushroom mixture before baking until the cups are golden and flaky.
Garnish with chives and fresh thyme sprigs. I prefer to serve these fresh out of the oven when the cheese is still gooey, but they’re every bit as tasty if you serve them at room temperature.
Related: 21+ Mouthwatering Christmas Eve Appetizers That Are Perfect for Sharing and Snacking
10. Cream Cheese Pesto Bites
These pesto bites are so festive, thanks to the basil pesto and sun-dried tomatoes. Feel free to make your own basil pesto (here’s a great tutorial), but if you’re pressed for time, use a high-quality jarred variety from the store.
To make the filling, beat cream cheese and Greek yogurt together until smooth. Stir in the pesto and fold in the sun-dried tomatoes, Parmesan cheese and herbs.
You’ll need to bake your phyllo cups before filling them and serving them so that they’re golden brown and flaky.
Garnish with fresh parsley or basil (or a blend of both).
11. Blackberry Brie Appetizers
Fresh blackberries, creamy brie and green sprigs of thyme make this appetizer perfect for the holiday season.
A dollop of blackberry jam and honey add extra flavor and a hint of sweetness.
The fresh berries are added after baking, so save them until you’re ready to serve.
If you want to tweak the recipe a little, you could add finely chopped pecans or walnuts, or even swap out blackberries for a different berry.
12. Honey Balsamic Bacon Goat Cheese and Pistachio Bites
Sweet and savory, these phyllo cup Christmas appetizers are loaded with holiday flavor. Each cup is filled with layers of fresh basil, spiced goat cheese, pistachios and crispy chopped bacon.
You’ll mix the goat cheese with garlic, honey and a tasty balsamic glaze until well combined.
Once all of your cups are filled with the goat cheese, nuts and bacon, you can drizzle on honey balsamic glaze before baking. Save some for garnishing just before serving (if you desire).
If you don’t like pistachios, you could use walnuts or pecans instead.
13. Cannoli Bites
Why not serve a sweet appetizer instead of the usual savory options? Everyone will love these cannoli bites.
You’ll make the cannoli filling from scratch with whole milk ricotta cheese, mascarpone cheese, powdered sugar, chocolate chips and vanilla extract.
Refrigerate before serving and sprinkle on some pistachios before serving.
Related: 21 Christmas Wreath Appetizers and Snacks That Double as Decor
14. Pomegranate Goat Cheese Bites
These little phyllo cup bites are so festive, with vibrant red pomegranate arils and green thyme sprigs.
Each cup is filled with goat cheese and topped with just a pinch of thyme and a little honey before baking.
Wait until you’re ready to serve to add the pomegranate.
15. Cheesy Bruschetta Bites
Stuff your cooked mini phyllo shells with your softened cheese, garlic and herb mixture. Add in your tomatoes and basil on top, along with salt, pepper and any other spices you like.
16. Apricot, Bacon and Brie Tartlets
Phyllo tartlets with apricot, bacon and brie are one of my favorite appetizers. You’ll cook your bacon in a medium skillet, drain on paper towels and then allow it to cool. Chop with a sharp knife and then, in a small saucepan, add preserves and vinegar.
Once combined, add your bacon and bring the mix to a boil.
Reduce to low and simmer for 5 minutes before removing from heat. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, fill the cups with Brie and then top with the bacon mixture. Bake for 10 minutes and serve warm.
17. Sweet and Spicy Phyllo Poppers
Preheat your oven and place 15 mini phyllo cups on a baking dish. While your oven is preheating to 350℉, mix your cream cheese and shredded pepper jack cheese together until it’s combined well.
Spoon the mixture into the shells and bake for 15-20 minutes or until the shell is golden brown.
Top each of the cups with jalapeño pepper jelly before serving.
18. Greek Hummus Phyllo Cups
Phyllo cup Christmas appetizers inspired by delectable Greek cuisine? All you need is ten minutes to make these, and they only call for:
- Black olives
- Cherry tomatoes
- Feta cheese
- Hummus
- Parsley
Cook the phyllo cups, fill with hummus and then add in the extra ingredients. Serve when ready.
19. Sun-Dried Tomato Ricotta Bites
To make these bites, whole milk ricotta cheese (don’t opt for part-skim because you want the fat) should be blended with salt, pepper and dried oregano in a food processor or with a hand mixer. Mix until it’s smooth and creamy and then scrape down the sides and whip again.
Divide the mixture evenly into phyllo shells and then bake for 15 minutes in the oven.
Remove the baking sheet from the oven and top with sun-dried tomatoes. Add any additional spices that you wish to the mixture.
20. Cranberry Brie Mini Tarts
Brie, frozen phyllo cups and cranberry sauce are the three ingredients you need. Preheat your oven to 350℉ while you place your phyllo cups on a baking sheet. Cut your brie into squares and then put them inside of the cups.
Top with your cranberry sauce and bake for 5 minutes or until the cheese melts and the phyllo cups turn golden.
21. Blue Cheese and Pear Tartlets
Phyllo cups, pears, black pepper and blue cheese are all you need for these tasty appetizers. Peel the pear into pieces so small that they fit into the shells. Put the shells on a baking sheet and be sure to put a crumble of blue cheese and a sprinkle of black pepper on top.
