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.
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.
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. Click To Tweet
How to Make Phyllo Cups with Pepper Jelly and Brie
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
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 :-)
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.
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.
Set the ham aside until it's cool enough to handle then break it roughly into small pieces.
In each phyllo cup, place ½ teaspoon pepper jelly and a ½” 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.
Bake until cheese is melted (approximately 10 minutes).
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.
Enjoy!
More Appetizer Recipes on Never Enough Thyme:
- Cheese Pinwheels with Mayhaw Jelly
- BLT Bites
- Sausage Swirls
- Asiago Cheese Crisps
- Pickled Baby Beets Amuse Bouche
Phyllo Cup Appetizer Recipes from Other Bloggers:
- Caprese Phyllo Cups from Gimme Some Oven
- Spinach and Feta Phyllo Cups from The Perfect Pantry
- Creamy Sriracha Shrimp in Phyllo Cups from A Farm Girl's Dabbles
- Mini Blue Cheese Quiche Phyllo Cups from Averie Cooks
- Mini Brie Bites from She Wears Many Hats
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Phyllo Cups with Pepper Jelly and Brie
Ingredients
- 15 20 whole pecan halves
- 2.5 oz. country ham
- 1 pkg. 15 count frozen phyllo cups
- 8 tsp. red pepper jelly
- 4 oz. 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 ½ tsp. pepper jelly and a ½” 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
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 health care provider or a registered dietitian if precise nutrition calculations are needed for health reasons.
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Jenni says
What perfect little bites of Southern Charm, Lana! Love them!
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 :)
Ansh says
These are fun ! A little kick from spice , a little crunch and that ham!! Oh the goodness in them.
Lora @cakeduchess says
I'm all about fun and spicy apps during the holidays. These pepper jelly bri phyllo cups are fabulous, Lana!!
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!
Lana Stuart says
Thank you, Barb. I love showcasing our classic Southern ingredients!
Paula - bell'alimento says
That is such a perfect party bite!
Liz says
What a terrific appetizer! Easy, but packed with wonderful flavors and textures. I can never resist a nibble featuring brie :)
Lana Stuart says
Me either, Liz. Brie is the ultimate temptation.
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!
Sues says
This is so the perfect party food!!
Lana Stuart says
Thanks, Sues! I think so too :-)
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.
Lana Stuart says
Thanks, Jeanette! You're right - these do hit all those sweet, salty, spicy notes in one bite.