Cranberry Apple Cheesecake Bites

Before you get your holiday main course on the table you need to have some delicious appetizers for everyone to nibble on.

These bite size cheesecake bites are a sweet and tart appetizer made with apple and cranberries.

How to make Cranberry Apple Cheesecake Bites

This Cranberry Apple Cheesecake Bites recipe has some of my favorite holiday flavors.

Cranberries, apples, cinnamon and cheesecake.

All you need are these cute little mini phyllo shells and a simple no bake cheesecake filling that is topped with a cranberry apple and orange filling.

They make the perfect little base for sweet or savory holiday appetizers. 

Cranberry Apple Filling Ingredients

• a large apple: I used red delicious but you can use any apple variety you have on hand.
• fresh cranberries
• a large navel orange: you will need the orange juice (divided) and zest.
• granulated sugar
• pure vanilla extract: as usual I am using my homemade vanilla extract.
• spices: ground cinnamon
• thickener: corn starch and water

How to make the cranberry apple filling

Step 1: Zest and squeeze the orange.

Step 2: Peel, core and chop the apple. Put it into a small sauce pan with a squeeze of orange juice to prevent browning.

Step 3: Finely chop the cranberries.

Step 4: Combine the apple, cranberries, orange juice, orange zest, water and cornstarch in the sauce pan.

Step 5: Toss the ingredients together and heat on medium until boiling. Reduce the heat to a simmer and simmer until the apple is tender. Allow the cranberry and apple filling to cool before filling the phyllo cups.

While the cranberry and apple filling is cooking make the no bake cheesecake filling following the directions below.

No bake cheesecake filling ingredients

• softened cream cheese
• powdered sugar
• pure vanilla extract
• orange juice

How to make cheesecake filling

• In a medium bowl beat the cheesecake ingredients until thick and creamy.

Assemble the appetizers

Fill the phyllo cups about ¾ of the way full with cheesecake filling. Spoon the cranberry and apple filling over the cheesecake.

Serve as is or top with a little whipped cream. 

This recipe will make 25-35 mini appetizers depending on how much cheesecake filling you use to fill each phyllo cup. 

Recipe Expert Tips

• Piping bag: a piping bag makes filling the tiny appetizer cups very easy, prevents waste and is easy to clean up.

More appetizers

Get the party off to a good start with these holiday appetizer recipes.