Baked Brie in Phyllo Cups (Apple Butter & Bacon)

This is my spin on traditional brie bites that are made with pastry and cranberry. But frankly, I think these are even better! I start with frozen phyllo shells so there’s no extra time or labor involved in working with pastry dough, and they’re ready in less than 30 minutes.

Using apple butter makes these more suitable for year round gatherings, and the sweet and salty combo with bacon makes them a popular appetizer for girls night in. Side note: if you haven’t had apple butter before, you are missing out – it’s delicious!

These room temperature appetizers are versatile enough for fancy finger food parties as well as casual happy hour, and even brunch. And you can easily double or triple the recipe to serve a large crowd.

I served these at my ladies Christmas party and everyone LOVED them. They’re also great for baby and bridal shower appetizer buffets, or pre-dinner hors d’oeuvres.

Ingredient Notes

• Phyllo cups. Buy phyllo shells in the freezer section. They come in packages of 15, and most commonly found under the brand, Athens.
• Brie. You can buy a cut wedge of brie in the cheese case, which might be the right amount for 15 appetizers. If you’re increasing the number, you can get an 8-ounce round of brie and cut off the rind.
• Apple Butter. Find it in the jelly aisle. For fall, a good substitute is pumpkin butter.
• Bacon. Use about 4 slices for 15 bites, and increase as necessary. Oven fry the bacon to save time if you’re cooking more than four slices. For non-meat eaters, chopped pecans is a good substitute.

Variations

Serve these brie bites all year long, and simply change it up for the occasion or season. Just replace the apple butter with one of these brie topping ideas, and substitute the bacon for toasted nuts.

• Fig jam
• Orange marmalade
• Cranberry sauce – great for Christmas and Thanksgiving entertaining
• Raspberry jam
• Strawberry jam
• Peach jam
• Apricot jam
• Honey
• Pepper jelly
• Balsamic glaze
• Lightly toasted almond slivers, rough chopped pecans, walnuts, or pistachios

Helpful Tips

• Cook the bacon a day ahead to save time. Refrigerate in an airtight container until ready to assemble the appetizers.
• You can actually cook the brie bites with the bacon on top, OR wait and add the bacon after removing from the oven.
• When using other fruit toppings it’s best to use jam or preserves. Jelly lacks the consistency and texture for this recipe.

FAQ’s

More Recipes with Phyllo Shells

I love using this convenient ingredient for all sorts of appetizers and desserts. For savory bites I use them for sweet & sour chicken cups and these spicy chicken cups. They also make these spanakopita cups quicker and easier to make than traditional recipes.

I make ham & cheese phyllo cups with them, and I’ll use them for Asian tuna cups when I want a shortcut in place of the wontons.

For a finger food dessert I use them for bite size lemon tartlets and easy baklava cups. They just make everything crunchy and tasty!

I urge you to make these baked brie phyllo cups for your next appetizer party. They’re easy to make and everyone will love them.