These Sweet and Savory Holiday Bites are sure to impress your guests this winter season. They're easy to make and filled with incredible sweet and savory flavors!
If you're searching for an appetizer that effortlessly combines elegance with simplicity, look no further than these homemade Sweet and Savory Holiday Bites. This delightful finger food features layers of crisp phyllo dough shells filled with warm Brie and blue cheeses. They're topped with savory, crispy prosciutto, sweet and juicy Pure Flavor® Alonna™ Canary Melon, and bright pomegranate arils, fresh basil, and a touch of honey.
The Pure Flavor® Alonna™ Canary Melon is a melon for every meal. The exotic flavors meld effortlessly with fine cheeses, cured meats, mixed berries and honey. With its lunar like glow & silky texture, the quality & consistency of availability of a greenhouse grown Alonna™ Melon ensures you'll have a flavorful & continuous supply regardless of the season.
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Whether you're hosting a dinner party or looking to elevate your snack game, these bites are sure to impress.
Table of Contents
Why You'll Love this Recipe
- Elegance and Simplicity: These holiday bites have an elegant appearance, making them suitable for more special occasions. Despite their sophisticated presentation, they are often simple to prepare, requiring just a few ingredients.
- Flavor Contrast: The pairing of sweet and savory elements creates a delightful flavor contrast. Brie and blue cheese, with their creamy and slightly tangy profiles, complement the savoriness of the prosciutto and sweetness of the melon, pomegranate arils, and honey.
- Appetizer Appeal: Their bite-sized cuteness makes them convenient for guests to enjoy, and the combination of sweet and savory flavors makes them a crowd-pleaser.
Ingredients
- Prosciutto: Adds savoriness and crunch to the bite. It complements the sweet melon, pomegranate arils, and honey perfectly.
- Pure Flavor® Alonna™ Canary Melon: Adds a refreshing sweetness and burst of flavor to the appetizer. It also adds texture and color.
- Phyllo Shells: When baked, becomes wonderfully crispy and flaky. It adds a delicate crunch to the holiday bites, creating a contrast in texture against the creamy cheeses.
- Brie and Blue Cheese: Becomes gooey and melty during baking, providing a rich and luxurious center for the appetizer. Also adds a slightly tangy and pleasantly bitter flavor.
- Pomegranate Arils: Adds sweetness, a pop of color, and freshness to the appetizer.
- Fresh Basil: Adds a pop of color and freshness.
- Honey: Adds moisture and sweetness to the bite as well as a beautiful, glossy finish.
How to make Sweet and Savory Holiday Bites
- Arrange mini shells on a baking sheet.
- Evenly fill the shells with brie and blue cheese. Bake in a preheated 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the cheese melts.
- Peel, remove the seeds, and dice the melon into small cubes.
- In a small skillet on medium heat, cook the prosciutto until crispy. Transfer to a paper-towel lined plate.
- Transfer the baked tarts to a serving tray. Garnish with prosciutto, melon, pomegranate arils, basil and honey.
Tips and Substitutions
- Other toppings that pair well with the diced Pure Flavor® Alonna™ Canary Melon are balsamic glaze and/or fruit preserves. Toasted nuts, fresh thyme or rosemary or savory jams like onion or garlic jam are also excellent options.
- Crispy cooked bacon crumbles can be used in place of the prosciutto.
- Camembert or goat cheese are also great cheeses that work with this holiday appetizer.
- Phyllo cup shells can be substituted with:
- One 8-ounce crescent dough sheet cut into 24 squares. Press dough squares into a greased 24-cup mini muffin pan. Add the cheeses and bake 375°F for 10-12 minutes.
- One frozen puff pastry sheet, thawed, rolled into a 10"x14" rectangle, and cut into 24 squares. Press dough squares into a greased 24-cup mini muffin pan. Add the cheeses and bake at 350°F for 18-20 minutes.
Storage and Freezing
With the warm, cheesy base and chilled toppings, this one bite appetizer is best enjoyed when freshly made. It is not ideal to freeze, thaw, and consume as the texture of the components will be compromised.
You can have the components prepped and stored ahead of time for quicker, party-time assembly.
Frequently Asked Questions
A canary melon, also known as Juan Canary melon, is a type of melon with a bright yellow to pale green exterior and a pale green to white interior. It belongs to the Cucurbitaceae family, which includes other melons, cucumbers, and squash. The canary melon is often referred to as a variety of muskmelon, and it's known for its sweet and mildly tangy flavor.
Brie bites can be served warm or at room temperature.
You can experiment with other soft cheeses like Camembert or goat cheese. The key is to choose a cheese that melts well and complements the other flavors.
More Easy Appetizer Recipes
- Deluxe BLT Deviled Eggs
- Tis’ the Season Baked Brie
- Jalapeno Cranberry Salsa
- Mini Cheese and Corn Tarts
Sweet and Savory Holiday Bites
Ingredients
- 1 ounce diced prosciutto
- ½ Pure Flavor® Alonna™ Canary Melon diced
- 2 1.9 ounce packages phyllo shells
- 3.5 ounces brie cheese cut into ½-inch cubes
- ⅓ cup crumbled blue cheese
- 3 tablespoons pomegranate arils
- 2 tablespoons thinly sliced fresh basil
- 2 tablespoons honey
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Arrange mini shells on a baking sheet.
- Evenly fill the shells with brie and blue cheese. Bake 10-12 minutes, or until the cheese melts.
- In a small skillet on medium heat, cook the prosciutto until crispy. Transfer to a paper-towel lined plate.
- Transfer the baked tarts to a serving tray. Garnish with prosciutto, melon, pomegranate arils, basil and honey.
Video
Notes
Tips and Substitutions
- Other toppings that pair well with the diced Pure Flavor® Alonna™ Canary Melon are balsamic glaze and/or fruit preserves. Toasted nuts, fresh thyme or rosemary or savory jams like onion or garlic jam are also excellent options.
- Crispy cooked bacon crumbles can be used in place of the prosciutto.
- Camembert or goat cheese are also great cheeses that work with this holiday appetizer.
- Phyllo cup shells can be substituted with:
- One 8-ounce crescent dough sheet cut into 24 squares. Press dough squares into a greased 24-cup mini muffin pan. Add the cheeses and bake 375°F for 10-12 minutes.
- One frozen puff pastry sheet, thawed, rolled into a 10"x14" rectangle, and cut into 24 squares. Press dough squares into a greased 24-cup mini muffin pan. Add the cheeses and bake at 350°F for 18-20 minutes.
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