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Phyllo Cups with Pepper Jelly and Brie

Phyllo Cups with Pepper Jelly and Brie – delicate phyllo pastry filled with pepper jelly and brie, baked and topped with pecans, country ham, and jalapeno.

Phyllo Cups with Pepper Jelly and Brie - delicate phyllo pastry filled with pepper jelly and brie, baked and topped with pecans, country ham, and jalapeno. https://www.lanascooking.com/phyllo-cups-pepper-jelly-brie/

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I always think that it’s nice to have a spicy appetizer to serve with cocktails. My feeling is that a tiny bit of heat enhances the taste of a great cocktail. Not so much heat that it assaults your tastebuds, but just enough to awaken your senses.

That’s what I was trying for with this appetizer and, according to my chief taste tester (a.k.a. BeeBop), this recipe for Phyllo Cups with Pepper Jelly and Brie is a keeper! I hope you enjoy it as much as we do.

How to Make Phyllo Cups with Pepper Jelly and Brie

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

A package of country ham.

I really enjoy recipes that allow me to showcase our uniquely Southern ingredients. Take “country ham” for instance. It’s certainly pork, but it’s so much more than that.

A country ham is salt cured and has a flavor that I can only describe as “tangy.” If you can’t get country ham, proscuitto is a good substitute.

We can purchase country ham in the South in packages with just a few slices so when I need some for a recipe like this, I don’t have to make an investment to purchase an entire ham. I only used a few ounces out of this package so I still have plenty to put between some biscuits for breakfast this weekend :-)

Slices of country ham and pecan halves on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

Place the pecan halves and ham on a baking sheet. Bake until the pecans are golden brown and toasted (7-8 minutes). I line my baking sheet with parchment, but that’s just because I’m lazy and it makes clean up easy. You don’t have to do that if you don’t want to.

Baked country ham on a lined baking sheet.

Remove the pecans and return the ham to the oven to continue cooking until the edges begin to curl (4-5 additional minutes). A little crispness around the edges is a good thing.

Country ham broken into pieces.

Set the ham aside until it’s cool enough to handle then break it roughly into small pieces.

Phyllo cups filled with pepper jelly and brie.

In each phyllo cup, place 1/2 teaspoon pepper jelly and a 1/2” cube of brie.

Note: I used Braswell’s brand red pepper jelly for this recipe. It’s a mildly spicy pepper jelly and that’s what I’d recommend. There are others, such as jalapeno pepper jelly, that are much hotter but those will overwhelm the delicate taste of the brie used here.

Filled phyllo cups after baking for 10 minutes.

Bake until cheese is melted (approximately 10 minutes).

Jalapeno slices on a paper towel beside a mandolin.

Optional only if you want to add a tiny bit of heat to the recipe for those who enjoy it. While the phyllo cups bake, slice the jalapeno paper thin using a very sharp knife or mandolin.

I can’t over emphasize how important it is to slice the pepper paper thin. You’ll see some slices in the photo that are a little thicker and some that are so thin you can see through them. We tried the recipe with both and found that the thicker slices really over took the entire taste and were just too much. The tissue thin slices were just right!

Remove the phyllo cups from the oven and allow to cool for approximately 5 minutes. Top each with a piece of ham, a pecan half, and a slice of jalapeno if using.

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Lana Stuart.

Questions? I’m happy to help!

If you have more questions about the recipe, or if you’ve made it and would like to leave a comment, scroll down to leave your thoughts, questions, and/or rating!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Phyllo Cups with Pepper Jelly and Brie - delicate phyllo pastry filled with pepper jelly and brie, baked and topped with pecans, country ham, and jalapeno. https://www.lanascooking.com/phyllo-cups-pepper-jelly-brie/

Phyllo Cups with Pepper Jelly and Brie

Some of my favorite southern ingredients in one simple little bite!
5 from 2 votes
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Course: Appetizers
Cuisine: Southern
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 23 minutes
Total Time: 33 minutes
Servings: 15 appetizers
Calories: 69kcal
Author: Lana Stuart

Ingredients

  • 15 pecan halves
  • 2.5 ounces country ham
  • 15 phyllo cups (from the frozen section in your grocery store)
  • 8 teaspoons red pepper jelly
  • 4 ounces brie rind removed
  • 1 jalapeno optional

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
  • Place the pecans and ham on a baking sheet. Bake until the pecans are golden brown and toasted (7-8 minutes). Remove the pecans and return the ham to the oven to continue cooking until edges begin to curl (4-5 additional minutes).
  • Set the ham aside until cool enough to handle then break into small pieces.
  • In each phyllo cup, place 1/2 tsp. pepper jelly and a 1/2” cube of brie.
  • Bake until cheese is melted (approximately 10 minutes).
  • Optional – while the phyllo cups bake, slice the jalapeno paper thin using a very sharp knife or mandolin.
  • Remove the phyllo cups from the oven and allow to cool for approximately 5 minutes. Top each with a piece of ham, a pecan half, and a slice of jalapeno if using.

Notes

Nutrition Information

Serving 2 | Calories 69kcal | Carbohydrates 5g | Protein 3g | Fat 4g | Saturated Fat 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat 1g | Monounsaturated Fat 2g | Cholesterol 10mg | Sodium 112mg | Potassium 36mg | Fiber 1g | Sugar 2g | Vitamin A 56IU | Vitamin C 1mg | Calcium 16mg | Iron 1mg

Nutrition information is calculated by software based on the ingredients in each recipe. It is an estimate only and is provided for informational purposes. You should consult your healthcare provider or a registered dietitian if precise nutrition calculations are needed for health reasons.

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32 Comments

  1. Angie | Big Bear's Wife says:

    Love progressive dinners! ☺great little appetizer cups! !

  2. Angela {Mind Over Batter} says:

    Has it been a month already?! Feels like yesterday. I agree, a bit of heat does enhance the flavor of a good cocktail! Brie, country ham, and pepper jelly sound amazing! Those paper thin slices of jalapeño – Yum!!

  3. Mild heat is what I’m about. Now this is an appetizer tray I wouldn’t leave alone. You have the perfect combination of pork, cheese, nuts, heat and that crispy phyllo shell.

  4. Renee - Kudos Kitchen says:

    Brie with pepper jelly sounds like the perfect flavor combination. Love the pecan and ham addition too. Very creative!

    1. Lana Stuart says:

      Thank you so much Renee.

  5. Heather / girlichef says:

    Cocktails and tasty little apps like these are all that I need. I love melty brie with a bit of heat, these sound amazing!

  6. If Brie cheese is involved I’m RSVPing, coming early, and leaving late. I’m a sucker for that sweet creamy goodness. I’ve never tried anything spicy with Brie but I’m more than willing to give it a shot.

  7. Lauren @ Healthy Delicious says:

    I don’t think I’ve ever seen ham like that here in NY but it looks great! I’ll have to keep an eye out.

    1. Lana Stuart says:

      Lauren – you can easily substitute prosciutto for the country ham.

      1. Lauren @ Healthy Delicious says:

        yeah, I saw that but ‘m still going to keep an eye out because I really want to try the ham! :)

  8. Brenda@Sugar-Free Mom says:

    Cute little appetizer and love the spice and cheese combo!

  9. What perfect little bites of Southern Charm, Lana! Love them!

  10. Ashley @ Wishes & Dishes says:

    I love the easy ingredients list. SO trying this next time I need a good appetizer for something! Southern ingredients are the best :)

  11. These are fun ! A little kick from spice , a little crunch and that ham!! Oh the goodness in them.

  12. Lora @cakeduchess says:

    I’m all about fun and spicy apps during the holidays. These pepper jelly bri phyllo cups are fabulous, Lana!!

  13. Barbara | Creative Culinary says:

    This is so perfect; creamy and crunchy with some heat and that ham…how I miss a great Smithfield ham! Thanks for participating; I can always count on you to bring the perfect Southern dish to our parties!

    1. Lana Stuart says:

      Thank you, Barb. I love showcasing our classic Southern ingredients!

  14. Paula - bell'alimento says:

    That is such a perfect party bite!

  15. What a terrific appetizer! Easy, but packed with wonderful flavors and textures. I can never resist a nibble featuring brie :)

    1. Lana Stuart says:

      Me either, Liz. Brie is the ultimate temptation.

  16. susan // the wimpy vegetarian says:

    What a wonderful idea for a party app!! And I agree – the pepper jelly adds a nice zing to it!

  17. This is so the perfect party food!!

    1. Lana Stuart says:

      Thanks, Sues! I think so too :-)

  18. Jeanette | Jeanette's Healthy Living says:

    Love the combination of sweet, salty and spicy in these little bites! Perfect for our cocktail party theme this month.

    1. Lana Stuart says:

      Thanks, Jeanette! You’re right – these do hit all those sweet, salty, spicy notes in one bite.