Christmas Appetizer Bites are a festive addition to any holiday gathering, featuring mini phyllo shells filled with sun dried tomato pesto. Their cheerful red and green colors make them especially fitting for Christmas parties, while their bite sized shape makes them easy to serve and share with family and friends.
Mini phyllo shells are a convenient shortcut for creating appetizers without making pastry from scratch. They come fully baked with a delicate, flaky texture and are ready to fill with sweet or savory ingredients. Their crisp shells also give these little bites an appealing presentation for holiday entertaining.
The sun dried tomato pesto gives these appetizers their distinctive flavor and festive appearance. Served on a platter, they add a colorful touch to the holiday spread and offer guests a flavorful little bite to enjoy while mingling.
Although these appetizers are perfect for Christmas, they’re versatile enough for other occasions throughout the year. Serve them at birthday parties, wedding showers, or even a special date night at home whenever you want something that feels a little more elegant.
For holiday gatherings, these bites fit beautifully alongside other party snacks and appetizers. They’re a simple way to bring seasonal color to the table without making the menu feel overly complicated, whether you’re hosting at home or bringing a dish to share.
Christmas Appetizer Bites
Christmas Appetizer Bites are my latest way of getting into the holiday spirit — by dressing up food in red and green instead of myself! I had big plans to scour thrift stores for the cheesiest holiday sweater, preferably one covered in pom-poms and topped with a faux-fur collar, but let’s be honest — these festive bites won my attention first.
Ingredients
- 2 boxes mini phyllo shells 30 total
- 8 ounces reduced fat cream cheese
- ½ cup plain non-fat Greek yogurt
- ½ cup prepared pesto I recommend DeLallo
- ½ cup diced olive-oil packed sundried tomatoes patted dry
- ½ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- Chopped fresh basil or parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- Take the phyllo shells out of the box and set them on the counter, leaving them in their protective tray until you're ready to fill them.
- In a mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese and Greek yogurt until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Add the pesto and mix until evenly incorporated.
- Reduce the mixer speed to low, then add two-thirds of the sun-dried tomatoes and the Parmesan cheese. Mix just until everything is combined.
- Transfer the pesto filling to a piping bag and pipe it into each phyllo shell, or spoon a small amount into each one. Arrange the filled shells on a serving plate, then garnish with the remaining sun-dried tomatoes and chopped parsley or basil.
- Serve immediately, or refrigerate for up to 4 hours before serving.
Notes
- For Extra Crispy Shells: To give the phyllo shells a little more crunch, arrange them in a single layer on a baking sheet and bake at 350°F for 8 minutes. Set them aside and let them cool completely before adding the filling.
- Storage: These Christmas appetizer bites taste best when served within a few hours of assembly. If needed, store them in the refrigerator for up to 2 days, but keep in mind that the phyllo shells will gradually lose their crisp texture.
- Make Ahead: Prepare the filling up to 2 days in advance and keep it in an airtight container in the refrigerator until you're ready to fill the phyllo cups. If the ingredients separate during storage, give the filling a good stir before piping.
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