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Strawberry Balsamic Cream Cheese Bites

Strawberry Balsamic Cream Cheese Bites is a quick and easy hors d’oeuvre with the classic combination of sweet ripe strawberries, balsamic vinegar, and cracked black pepper. Combine those flavors with smooth cream cheese for a knockout strawberry appetizer!

A completed strawberry balsamic cream cheese appetizer.

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This is a quick and easy appetizer with quite a sophisticated taste. This little bite combines strawberries, balsamic vinegar, and cracked black pepper – a classic of Italian cuisine – with the smooth flavor of cream cheese.

The contrast in flavors between the sweetness of the strawberries with the balsamic vinegar and black pepper is what makes this hors d’oeuvre so interesting.

To keep things simple, I used Triscuit crackers with cracked pepper and olive oil. If those aren’t available where you shop, simply mix a little olive oil and lots of cracked black pepper into the cream cheese and use a neutral flavored cracker for the base.

💗 Why You’ll Love This Recipe


  • They’re full of flavor. This unusual pairing of strawberries with balsamic vinegar and cream cheese creates an interesting and delicious flavor profile.
  • They’re easy to make. The recipe requires only a few simple steps and ingredients. You can whip up a batch of these bites in no time with minimal effort.
  • They’re good for many occasions. Whether you’re hosting a sit-down dinner party or a casual get-together, these are a good option for the menu.

🛒 Ingredient Notes


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All ingredients needed for the recipe.
  • Crackers (Triscuit cracked pepper and olive oil crackers make the perfect base for this recipe.)
  • Cream Cheese (Have the cream cheese at room temperature to make spreading easier.)
  • Strawberries (You want to use the sweetest, ripest strawberries you can find.)
  • Balsamic Vinegar (Selecting balsamic vinegar can be complicated. If you need help choosing one, check out this guide from The Spruce Eats.)

You’ll find detailed measurements for all ingredients in the printable version of the recipe at the bottom of this post.

🔪 How to Make Strawberry Balsamic Cream Cheese Bites


  1. Wash the strawberries, remove the tops, and cut them in half.
  1. Place a teaspoon of cream cheese on each of the crackers.
  2. Top with a strawberry half.
  3. Place the assembled appetizers on a serving dish and add a drop or two of balsamic vinegar to the top of each strawberry.
A completed strawberry balsamic cream cheese appetizer.

🤔 What’s the difference between an hors d’oeuvre and an appetizer?


I referred to this recipe as both an hors d’oeuvre and an appetizer, but is there a difference? Technically, yes, and it has mostly to do with timing. An hors d’oeuvre is meant to be served at any time outside of a meal. It could be with cocktails in advance of dinner or by the pool in the afternoon, or just as a “snack.” An appetizer is considered to be the beginning of a meal and should be a complement to the main course. Now you know!

A completed strawberry balsamic cream cheese appetizer.
Lana Stuart.

More 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!

📖 Recipe

A completed strawberry balsamic cream cheese appetizer.

Strawberry Balsamic Cream Cheese Bites

Strawberry Balsamic Cream Cheese Bites is an impressive but easy hors d'oeuvre with a combination of strawberries, vinegar, and pepper.
5 from 5 votes
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Course: Appetizers
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 12 appetizers
Calories: 89kcal
Author: Lana Stuart

Ingredients

  • 12 whole grain crackers with cracked pepper and olive oil (recommend: Triscuit brand)
  • 12 teaspoons softened cream cheese
  • 6 ripe sweet strawberries, halved
  • Balsamic vinegar

Instructions

  • Wash the strawberries, remove the tops and cut them in half.
  • Place a teaspoon of cream cheese on each of the crackers and top with a strawberry half.
  • Place the assembled appetizers on a serving dish and add a drop or two of balsamic vinegar to the top of each strawberry.

Notes

In place of the recommended Triscuits, you can mix a little olive oil and lots of cracked black pepper into the cream cheese and use a neutral flavored cracker.

Nutrition Information

Serving 1 | Calories 89kcal | Carbohydrates 15g | Protein 1g | Fat 2g | Saturated Fat 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat 1g | Monounsaturated Fat 1g | Cholesterol 5mg | Sodium 16mg | Potassium 218mg | Fiber 2g | Sugar 7g | Vitamin A 104IU | Vitamin C 5mg | Calcium 8mg | 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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— This post was originally published on April 29, 2010. It has been updated with new photos and additional information.

Strawberry slices with balsamic vinegar and cream cheese on crackers.

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9 Comments

  1. Christina says:

    I tried this for a cooking club with a vanilla/strawberry theme. Since strawberries aren’t quite in season and not as sweet as they should be, I added 1/2 t. vanilla and 1-1/2 t. extra-fine sugar to the cream cheese. I also drizzled with reduced balsamic vinegar. Delicious!!

  2. You make the most delicious things! I have strawberries and cream cheese, but no triscuits. These look tasty and perfect while beautiful strawberries are in the markets right now!

  3. It is like a mini strawberry cheesecake with a hint of saltiness.

    1. Well, not quite, Joy. It’s actually quite savory. The only sweetness is from the strawberries. The contrast in tastes is very nice, though.

  4. Karen Bove says:

    What a great way to feed my addiction t o both strawberries and Triscuits!

  5. What a cute, simple and beautiful idea! I have a feeling these would go over well at any party!

  6. Barbara @ moderncomfortfood says:

    These do look easy and are pretty as a picture. I could make a meal of your last two posted recipes, although I would certainly take more than a bite of each one. Thumbs up!

  7. jenn (Bread + Butter) says:

    Another hit right here. I remember my little appetizer kick last year. This may just reignite that feeling again. :)

  8. Those look really yummy!