Apple season is here and this recipe for Spiced Apple and Cheddar Cheese Filo Treats is a great way to celebrate the beginning of fall baking. Crispy, buttery, flaky filo cups make the base for a delicious apple and spice filling. The addition of cheddar cheese adds an unexpected layer of flavor to this easy fall dessert!
You might be thinking, “apples and cheddar cheese together?” As unusual as it might sound, this combination is actually an old time favorite in New England, where the addition of cheddar cheese to an apple pie is nothing new or unusual. When something sweet (the apples and warm spices) is paired with something slightly salty (the cheese), it makes for a wonderful flavor combination!
If you are not too keen on overly-sweet desserts, and if you happen to be a cheese lover, this recipe is for you. If you are still not convinced, you should give it a try and the result is sure to surprise you!
Ingredients for the Spiced Apple and Cheddar Cheese Filo Treats
- Filo Dough – the pastry needs to be thawed in the refrigerator overnight. As always, using a good quality filo is essential. For this recipe I used Fillo Factory filo pastry in the standard 14″ x 18″ size (you will need only a small part of the package)
- Apples – use your favorite sweet-to-tart baking apples, such as McIntosh, Cortland, or, Honeycrisp
- Warm Spices – ground cinnamon and ground cardamom are a must for this recipe, but you could also add some ground ginger or freshly ground nutmeg
- Sugar – light brown sugar gives added depth of flavor, but granulated refined sugar works equally as well
- Brandy – or cognac is always a good addition to the filling, and the alcohol does cook off (but you can omit it altogether if you prefer)
- Cornstarch – dissolved in a little water, this is used as a thickener. You can substitute with arrowroot if you have corn allergies
- Butter – to brush on the filo pastry layers
- Turbinado Sugar — this is optional for an added crunch to the filo edges as it bakes (it is also known as “Sugar in the Raw”)
- Powdered Sugar – for dusting on the baked filo cups (also, optional)
How to make the Spiced Apple and Cheddar Cheese Filo Treats
- Prepare the apples, place them in the pan, then toss them with the sugar and the spices
2. Cook until the apples are slightly soften and caramelized, but still hold their shape
4. Make a stack of three filo sheets, each lightly brushed with butter. Cut the stack into squares
5. Butter the cupcake tins and gently press the filo squares into them
6. Fill the cups with the caramelized apples and cubes of cheddar cheese
7. Bake for 12-15 minutes
8. Allow them to cool slightly in the pan
9. Dust them with some powdered sugar, and enjoy them while they are still warm
HOW TO MAKE THEM AHEAD OF TIME
You can form these treats several hours ahead of time. First, form the filo cups, cover them well with plastic wrap so they don’t dry out and refrigerate. Then, prepare the apple filling, dice the cheese and set them aside. When you are ready, fill the filo cups with the apple filling and the cheddar cheese and bake until golden brown.
If you love apple desserts, you might want to take a look at another favorite recipe for apple turnovers with filo pastry!
This recipe for Spiced Apple and Cheddar Cheese Filo Treats is in collaboration with Fillo Factory. You can find Fillo Factory filo dough at Whole Foods and several small local stores. I love the quality of the Fillo Factory products and I always make sure to stash a couple of boxes in the freezer!
- 4 - 5 medium baking apples, about 1½ lbs.
- ⅓ cup light brown sugar
- ¼ tsp. salt
- ½ tsp. ground cinnamon (and a small cinnamon stick, optional)
- ¼ tsp. ground cardamom
- 2 TBSP. brandy
- 1 tsp. cornstarch
- 1 TBSP. cold water
- ½ cup butter, melted
- 4 oz. cheddar cheese
- 1 package of filo dough, thawed overnight in the refrigerator
- 1 tsp. turbinado sugar for sprinkling the edges of the filo before baking (optional)
- --- powdered sugar, for dusting
- Remove the thawed filo from the refrigerator and let it sit on the counter for 30 minutes, without taking it out of the package.
- Peel, core, and quarter the apples. Chop the quarters into ½” pieces then place them in a large, nonstick pan along with the light brown sugar, salt, cinnamon, cardamom and brandy. Gently combine the ingredients and cook the mixture for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the apples are tender and caramelized. Dissolve the cornstarch into the cold water and stir it into the apple mixture. Cook for another 3 minutes, or, until the juices thicken. Allow the mixture to sit for 10 minutes to cool.
- Set the oven rack in the middle position then pre-heat the oven to 375°F.
- Cut the cheddar cheese into small cubes and set aside.
- Butter 8-9 cupcake holders (depending on the size of the cups) with melted butter.
- Open the filo package, unroll the filo, and remove one sheet of filo (keep the rest covered with a clean kitchen towel because they dry out easily). Place the first sheet on the counter in front of you, brush it with some melted butter, then top it with a second filo sheet, butter it, and repeat with a third layer of filo. At the end of the process, you will have a three-sheet layer of filo. With a sharp knife, cut the stack of filo in three equal horizontal strips (about 4.5" each). Then, make three vertical cuts, across the horizontal strips, each one 6" wide. You will have 9 squares, each one about 6" by 4.5".
- Gently press the filo squares into the cups. Place a few cheese cubes at the bottom of each of the filo cups. Then, add about 2 heaping tablespoons of the apple mixture, followed with a few more cheese cubes on top of the apples.
- Continue filling the rest of the filo cups with the remaining apple filling and cheese. You should have a total of 8 - 9 filled filo cups in total at the end of the process.
- Brush the edges of the filo with some melted butter, and sprinkle with some turbinado sugar (if using). Bake them for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown and the cheese is melted.
- Remove the cupcake pan from the oven and allow to slightly cool before placing to a serving platter. Serve them plain, with a sprinkle of powdered sugar, or, with a small scoop of good quality vanilla ice cream.
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