CHRISTMAS CHEESECAKE CUPS

Christmas Cheesecake Cups image

Provided by Ree Drummond : Food Network

Categories dessert

Time 20m

Yield 15 bites

Number Of Ingredients 9

One 1.9-ounce package frozen phyllo shells (15 shells)
8 ounces cream cheese
3 tablespoons powdered sugar, plus more for dusting
1 tablespoon whole milk
2 teaspoons orange zest
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 1/2 tablespoons cherry preserves
15 fresh raspberries
15 fresh mint leaves, for garnish

Steps:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Place the phyllo cups on a baking sheet and bake for 3 minutes; they are already baked, but this will give them a light crisp. Set aside and cool for 5 minutes.
Add the cream cheese, powdered sugar, milk, orange zest and vanilla to the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment and whip together until light and fluffy, 1 to 2 minutes. Spoon the mixture into a pastry bag and set aside. Snip a small opening in the tip of the bag with a pair of scissors just before you are ready to fill the cups. No piping top needed.
Spoon 1/2 teaspoon of the cherry preserves into the bottom of each phyllo cup. Pipe a swirl of the cream cheese mixture into each cup, completely covering the preserves. Top each with a single raspberry and a mint leaf. Transfer them to a serving platter and give them a light dusting of powdered sugar.