Easy Strawberries n’ Cream Phyllo Shells
Easy Strawberries n’ Cream Phyllo Shellsl
A super easy phyllo (filo) cup cream cheese dessert recipe that is done in less than 10 minutes. These no bake Easy Strawberries n’ Cream Phyllo Shells are a quick way to get your cheesecake fix in…and they look super fancy too!!
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Easy Strawberry Cream Cheese Phyllo Shells
Being Greek, I grew up watching my mother use phyllo dough in a lot of her appetizers and desserts. Her go-to Greek recipes she made, and still makes today, using phyllo (filo) dough are:
- spanakopita, a cheese and spinach appetizer
- baklava, a nutty, sweet dessert
- galaktoboureko, a yummy custard dessert
All desserts are SO amazing! But what I learned is that it takes some patience and care to work with phyllo dough. It can rip easily and get messy but fortunately, it still finds a way to come out beautiful and crunchy!
Speaking of baklava, have you tried my Mini Baklava Rolls With Citrus Honey? Instead of layering the phyllo into squares, I took a few sheets of dough and rolled them into “cigar-like” bites of baklava. They are SO fun to eat!
Over the years, I have experimented more and more with phyllo (filo) dough and realized that there are so many possibilities! Some easy and some….not so much. The phyllo cups I used for this recipe, make working with phyllo so fun! You WILL enjoy making this dessert rather than getting frustrated and throwing the phyllo across the kitchen..which I have done before..
If you are still wondering, “How do I use phyllo puff pastry sheets?” keep reading!
In reality, there are hundreds of ways to use phyllo! There is no right or wrong way. The more creative you are, the more fun it becomes! 🙂
The way I used them here is simple and super easy.
Oh and can we just talk about how fancy these dessert cups look?? PLUS they only take 10 minutes!!
Homemade phyllo cups with a strawberry cream cheese filling? Yes please. I’ll take 5! 🙂
Phyllo or Filo??
You’re probably wondering by now…Is it phyllo or filo??
I did some research to find out that there is no correct spelling!!
I’ve see it both way but I tend to like the phyllo spelling better. But potayto, potatoh… 😮
What I love most about these dessert cups is that all of these ingredients do not need to be purchased fresh! They are ingredients that can be purchased way ahead of time and can be pulled out when you need a quick dessert!!
With a 9 month old on my hip 90% of the time and a husband with a serious sweet tooth, I am always trying to find a way to whip up a fast dessert whether I’m expecting company or not.
And if Cal was a little older, I would have had him help me by cutting out the circles for the phyllo dessert cups! Butttt since he just puts everything in his mouth now…maybe hold off for another year!
As for the cream cheese…
PLEASE do not use the store-bought pre-mixed strawberry cream cheese as a “substitute”!!
It just does not taste the same!
Just mix whatever strawberry jelly or “jam” you have in the fridge with some WHIPPED cream cheese!
Tip* The whipped cream cheese part is important! The regular block of cream cheese will make the filling too dense! This is what I used! Philly cream cheese is the best!
By the way…if you DON’T keep strawberry jam in your fridge at all times, then I’m sorry but we can’t be friends…
If I come to visit you and out of no where get a hankering for a peanut butter and jelly sandwich (which has been known to happen) you better be able to help me satisfy that craving…
😆 …All kidding aside…it has been a fridge staple growing up. And if you have kids or are pregnant, it’s a MUST! This was my late night go-to preggo snack….with a cold glass of milk!!
Anyway…All you do is mix together some jam with some WHIPPED cream cheese, a lil’ vanilla, a lil’ powdered sugar and boom! A no-bake cheesecake dessert in a fancy phyllo (or filo) cup that will satisfy any husband’s (or guest’s) sweet tooth in no time AND with only 5 ingredients! Whisk drop.
BTW, have you tried my other super quick dessert, Raw Cookie Dough Bites!?
How to make phyllo (filo) Shells?
Okay so you have TWO phyllo shell options here…
Pre-baked
15 cups for $3.50
They have pre-baked phyllo cups or “shells” you could literally just thaw a fill which would turn this dessert into a 5 minute one! The only thing is the package comes with 15 cups for $3.50. Keep in mind they are small! If you are expecting a small group and want to save 5 minutes, perfect. Just make sure you make half the amount of filling!!
If this doesn’t appeal to you, look at option #2.
Cut and Bake Yourself
36+ cups for $3.50
Make your own phyllo cups! Yes it takes a tad more effort but I think they look better and come out much more crispier!! You also will save money and have more bang for your hard earned buck!
Math teacher time…
So the Athens brand of phyllo is the most common I’d say. They sell phyllo in 1 lb. packs. Either in one 12 x 17″ roll or two 9 x 14″ rolls. Both packages contain 1 pound of dough. Either way, you should be able to get at least 36 cups (4 rows of 5 for the large one and 3 rows of 4 for the smaller) if you cut your cups using a 3″ ring give or take!
A 1 lb. phyllo package is also about $3.50 and should give you at least 36 cups!
**Note** It has been 3 months since this post and I wanted to add a note. I just pulled out a few of these empty frozen phyllo cups from when I made these before just to see how they would taste and they were STILL delicious and so crunchy!! I just added the filling and they’re done 5 minutes later!!
Okay so I chose to make my own cups and froze a bunch! (I went with option 2 and used one roll from a two roll/1 lb. package)
*If you are going to make your OWN phyllo cups, this is what you need to do…
Layer 6 phyllo sheets onto a floured surface.
Use a round cutter to cut out 3-3 1/2″ rounds.
Or use something round like a cup and a sharp knife to cut out your circles.
Press into greased mini muffin tin and bake!
Once you have your phyllo cups (made or premade) just mix and fill!
Mix together your strawberry cream cheese filling!
Place piping bag or ziploc bag in a mug to fill.
If your not using a piping bag, snip off the end of your ziploc bag. (About the size of a quarter)
Fill cups!
Top with a small dollop of jam.
Top with a slice of strawberry and serve!
Top with powdered sugar if you choose.
*BONUS* Here are my TOP items I love to have on hand when hosting!
This is my new favorite food warmer. It is an electric buffet warmer. I bought two of them!
These mini skewers I use ALL the time for serving my bite sized appetizers!
Here are some other party dessert recipes you may like:
Here are some other party dessert recipes you may like:Healthy Chocolate Strawberry Yogurt Truffles
Individual Banana Pudding Monkey Bread
Mini Raspberry Cheesecake Bites With Cookie Crust
Quick Mini Angel Cakes With Berry Syrup
Easy Microwave Vanilla Cream Fudge (without condensed milk)
Pin the photo below to save this recipe for later!!
Easy Strawberries n’ Cream Phyllo Shells
Easy Strawberries n' Cream Phyllo Shells
Ingredients
- 1 1 lb. (16 oz.) Package Phyllo Dough (*OR 3 packages premade phyllo cups)
- 1 Cup (8 oz.) Whipped Cream Cheese (*Whipped is key)
- 1/3 Cup Strawberry Jam or Preserves ((extra to dollop on top))
- 2 Tsp. Vanilla Extract
- 3 Tbsp. Powdered Sugar ((extra for sifting))
- 1/2 Small Lemon Zested (Optional*)
Mini Muffin Tin
Instructions
- If using premade phyllo cups, skip to step 6!Defrost phyllo dough in fridge first!Preheat oven to 375 degrees F and lay defrosted dough onto a floured surface covering dough with a damp towel as you work.
- Layer 6 sheets of dough on top of one another onto a separate floured surface.
- Cut twelve (or as many as you can) 3"-3 1/2" rings out of the layered dough. See photo if needed. Continue with 6 more sheets until all of the dough is used.
- Press phyllo rounds into lightly greased mini muffin tin and bake for 5 minutes or until golden brown around edges.
- While cooling, mix together the rest of the ingredients in a small bowl and add to piping bag or ziploc bag. *If filling is too thick to squeeze, just add a touch of milk. Consistency should be "pudding-like".
- When cups are room temperature, pipe/squeeze filling into each and top with a dollop of jam! Sprinkle with powdered sugar if desired!
Recipe Notes
- These freeze well so make ahead if you'd like!!
- You can add whipped cream to the top if you have or/and a fresh strawberry to make it look even better!
Nutrition
This looks fabulous! And you’re right, another year for your son before he starts helping 😉 I love strawberries and cream cheese and having them placed in phyllo? Perfect. Absolutely perfect!
Thanks Elaine!!
These are so cute! And I love how easy you are! I’m with you, when I was pregnant with my youngest I ate pb&j every day for lunch and I still loveit!
lol thanks Beth! Glad I’m not the only one! 😉
This looks fabulous! And you’re right, another year for your son before he starts helping 😉 I love strawberries and cream cheese and having them placed in phyllo? Perfect. Absolutely perfect!
Thanks Elaine!!
These are so cute! And I love how easy you are! I’m with you, when I was pregnant with my youngest I ate pb&j every day for lunch and I still loveit!
lol thanks Beth! Glad I’m not the only one! 😉
I love this recipe it is so simple but good. It is always handy to have a quick dessert to serve. I do want to be your friend, would an apricot jam do instead of strawberries? I remember having peanut butter and jam sandwiches the first time in USA during high school at the Sacred Hearth in Greenwich. Much better then the mushy spaghetti! The nuns would say, but you are Italian why you don t eat spaghetti?……I am Italian, that is why
Omg, that’s too funny but I completely understand (but with Greek food!) And yes, great idea! Crazy you say that because apricot jam is what I always put on my bagel (with cream cheese)! That would be the perfect substitute!! Really any jam would be yummy!
I love this recipe it is so simple but good. It is always handy to have a quick dessert to serve. I do want to be your friend, would an apricot jam do instead of strawberries? I remember having peanut butter and jam sandwiches the first time in USA during high school at the Sacred Hearth in Greenwich. Much better then the mushy spaghetti! The nuns would say, but you are Italian why you don t eat spaghetti?……I am Italian, that is why
Omg, that’s too funny but I completely understand (but with Greek food!) And yes, great idea! Crazy you say that because apricot jam is what I always put on my bagel (with cream cheese)! That would be the perfect substitute!! Really any jam would be yummy!