We've got a must-try for your holiday table: Caramelized Onion Bacon Cheesecake Bites. These savory mini cheesecakes bites, filled with a delicious blend of sweet caramelized onions and crispy bacon, are sure to be the star of your appetizer spread.

Perfect for anyone looking to add a unique touch to their appetizer menu.

Holiday Appetizers

Our family is entering our busiest "party season" time of the year.

I usually bring a holiday party appetizer and a dessert to all of our parties.

As seen in the 2019 January Issue of FoodBlogs Magazine

Easy-to-Make Bite-Size Phyllo Cup Appetizers

Phyllo cups, crafted from the exceptionally thin and versatile pastry known as phyllo dough, offer an easy solution for creating elegant, bite-size appetizers.

This readily available dough allows anyone to assemble sophisticated treats without the hassle typically associated with gourmet preparations.

Whether you're looking to impress at a dinner party or seeking creative, tasty snacks, phyllo cups provide a convenient foundation for a myriad of fillings – from savory to sweet, simplifying the art of appetizer making.

Bite sized party appetizers like savory Bacon and Cheese Phyllo Cups, sweet Cranberry Apple Cheesecake Bites or Stuffed Mushrooms are easy to make and serve. The are perfect party appetizers.

Sweet and Savory Party Appetizers

Today I am sharing a sweet and savory appetizer recipe.

This Caramelized Onion Bacon Cheesecake Bites appetizer has layers of savory goodness.

The filling is a mini savory cheesecake with just an added hint of the caramelized onions and bacon.

Then the mini savory cheesecake bites are topping with more caramelized onions and bacon.

All this savory goodness tops a wispy mini phyllo cup.

How to make Caramelized Onion Bacon Cheesecake Bites

To make these sweet and savory appetizers you will first need to make some balsamic caramelized onions.

The best onions to use are sweet onions.

I love Vidalia Onions and when they are in season I always buy a big bag.

If you can't find sweet Vidalia onions use whatever sweet onions are available at the grocery store.

A note on Balsamic Vinegar

 I love using Balsamic Vinegar with vegetables or fruit.

So far I haven't met a fruit or vegetable that doesn't taste good cooked with it.

I've added it to the caramelized onions. It adds a wonderful flavor.

The first part of this recipe is to make the caramelized onions.

Once you have made them you can store them in the refrigerator until you need to use them.

They can be made a couple of days in advance.

Ingredients

• 3 large sweet onions, thinly sliced ( about 3 ½ to 4 cups sliced onion)
• ¼ cup dark brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons Balsamic Vinegar

Directions

1. Heat olive oil in a large skillet on medium.
2. Add the sliced onions to the skillet and sauté for 5 minutes on medium heat to soften.
3. Add the brown sugar and Balsamic Vinegar to the skillet.
4. Sauté uncovered, occasionally stirring for about 8 minutes or until the onions are translucent and reduced in size by half.
5. Reduce the heat to low and slowly sauté the onions until golden brown and caramelized. The sauce will have thickened and will cling to the onions. This can take anywhere from 15 minutes to 30 minutes or longer. Do not overcook.
6. When the onions have caramelized remove pan from heat and allow to cool.
7. Store the Balsamic Caramelized Onions in the refrigerator in a container with a lid until ready to use if not preparing the appetizers at this time.

To make the Balsamic Caramelized Onion Bacon Filling

Ingredients

• 8 oz softened cream cheese
• 1 egg, slightly beaten
• 1 tablespoon dark brown sugar
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• dash of ground black pepper
• 6-8 tablespoons Balsamic Caramelized Onions, chopped finely, divided
• 5 pieces of bacon, cooked crispy and chopped finely, divided
• 2 packages Phyllo Mini Shells

Directions to Assemble Caramelized Onion Bacon Cheesecake Bites

1. Beat the cream cheese, egg, salt, and pepper on high until thick and creamy, about 2 minutes.
2. Stir in 6 tablespoons of the balsamic caramelized onions and 2 tablespoons of the chopped bacon.
3. Using a small spoon or a frosting decorator bag fill each Phyllo cup with the cream cheese filling.
4. Bake in a preheated 350 F. degrees oven for 12-15 minutes or until the filling is set.
5. Remove from oven and allow to cool slightly. Top each baked Phyllo cup with  ¼ teaspoon of the remaining chopped balsamic caramelized onion.
6. Top each appetizer with a sprinkling of the remaining finely chopped bacon.

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More Party Appetizers

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More Party Appetizer Recipes

Roasted Tomato Garlic Bites Party Appetizer: Top a cracker with a slice of fresh mozzarella cheese, balsamic roasted tomatoes, and garlic.

Roasted Golden Beet Marinated Mozzarella Appetizers: Sweet golden beets served with marinated mozzarella on toasted bread.

Check out the appetizer category for all of my appetizer recipes