15-Minute Crispy Feta and Hot Honey Phyllo Cups Recipe
Crispy feta and hot honey phyllo cups are a deliciously addictive appetizer combining flaky mini phyllo shells filled with creamy, melty feta cheese and drizzled with a spicy honey glaze. Perfectly balanced with savory, sweet, and a touch of heat, these bite-sized cups are easy to prepare and ideal for entertaining or as a flavorful snack.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 24 phyllo cups 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Phyllo Cups
- 24 mini phyllo cups (found in the freezer aisle)
Filling
- 1 cup feta cheese, crumbled (preferably block feta for creaminess)
Hot Honey Drizzle
- 2 tbsp honey (preferably runny, good quality)
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
Additional Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive oil (optional, to brush phyllo cups for extra crispiness)
- 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 350°F (175°C) to prepare for baking the phyllo cups to a perfect crisp.
- Arrange Phyllo Cups: Place the 24 mini phyllo cups evenly spaced on a baking sheet; no need to grease the baking sheet.
- Fill Cups: Spoon crumbled block feta cheese generously into each phyllo cup, filling them up to the top but without overfilling to prevent spillage.
- Bake: Bake the filled cups for 8-10 minutes until the feta softens and the edges of the phyllo cups turn golden brown and crispy.
- Prepare Hot Honey: While baking, mix together the honey and red pepper flakes in a small bowl. Adjust spiciness by adding more flakes if desired.
- Drizzle Hot Honey: As soon as the phyllo cups come out of the oven, drizzle the spicy honey mixture evenly over each cup, letting the heat create a delightful sizzle.
- Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle fresh thyme leaves over the cups if using, and serve warm for the best flavor and crunch.
Notes
- For extra crispiness, lightly brush the phyllo cups with olive oil before filling with feta.
- Adjust the amount of red pepper flakes in the honey to control the level of spiciness according to your preference.
- Best served freshly baked but can be reheated in a 300°F oven for 3-4 minutes to restore crispness.
- Do not microwave leftovers as it will make phyllo cups soggy and cheese rubbery.
- If honey is unavailable, maple syrup can be substituted with extra chili added for heat.
- If fresh thyme is not available, rosemary can be used as a garnish or omitted entirely.
- For a tangier flavor, goat cheese can replace feta; press it down slightly in cups before baking.
- Phyllo cups can be filled up to 2 hours in advance and refrigerated, then baked just before serving.
Keywords: feta, hot honey, phyllo cups, appetizer, easy, spicy, savory, Mediterranean, bite-sized
