Cranberry Orange Cheesecake Phyllo Cups
Ready-to-fill phyllo shells hold a fluffy orange cheesecake filling and a bright cranberry spoonful.
Prep: 25 · Cook: · Total: 25 · Serves: 6 · Difficulty: Easy · Rating: 4.7/5 (121 reviews)
INSPIRED BY
A no-bake cheesecake filling and a bright cranberry-orange topping turn crisp mini phyllo shells into quick party desserts.
Story
Casey keeps a box of crisp phyllo shells around for the moments when a little homemade dessert would make company feel welcome. The creamy orange filling is soft and tangy, while cranberry brings just enough tartness to balance it. A sprinkle of gingersnap crumbs makes each cup feel finished without asking anyone to bake a whole cake.
By Casey
Ingredients
- 12 ready-to-fill mini phyllo shells
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1/3 cup sour cream
- 1/3 cup powdered sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon finely grated orange zest
- 1 tablespoon orange juice
- 1/2 cup whole-berry cranberry sauce
- 1/4 cup finely crushed gingersnap cookies
- 2 tablespoons chopped toasted pecans
- Pinch of fine salt
Instructions
- Arrange the phyllo shells on a serving platter and set them aside while you make the filling.
- Beat the softened cream cheese in a medium bowl until smooth, scraping down the sides once.
- Add the sour cream, powdered sugar, vanilla, half the orange zest, orange juice, and salt. Beat until fluffy.
- Stir the cranberry sauce with the remaining orange zest in a small bowl.
- Spoon or pipe the cheesecake filling into the phyllo shells, then add a small spoonful of cranberry sauce to each cup.
- Finish with the gingersnap crumbs and toasted pecans, then serve while the shells are crisp.
Chef Tips
- Let the cream cheese soften fully so the filling stays smooth without overmixing.
- Fill the phyllo shells close to serving time to keep their crisp layers from softening.
- Use chopped walnuts instead of pecans, or spoon on a little orange marmalade in place of cranberry sauce.
- Keep leftover filling covered in the refrigerator and fill fresh shells when ready to serve.
Cook's Notes
- Let the cream cheese soften fully so the filling stays smooth without overmixing.
- Fill the phyllo shells close to serving time to keep their crisp layers from softening.
- Use chopped walnuts instead of pecans, or spoon on a little orange marmalade in place of cranberry sauce.
- Keep leftover filling covered in the refrigerator and fill fresh shells when ready to serve.