How to Make Phyllo Cups {step-by-step recipe}
Use my step-by-step recipe to learn how to make Phyllo Cups! These crunchy pastry cups can be filled with sweet or savory ingredients and make for showstopping appetizers, desserts and snacks.
Today’s post for homemade Phyllo Cups is not really a recipe, it’s more like an introduction to next week’s recipe.
I figured it would be worth writing a specific post on how to make Phyllo Cups because you can use these crispy pastry shells for pretty much anything.
Phyllo Cups can be eaten warm or cold and with both sweet or savory fillings. These crispy crunchy pastry bites are perfect for formal dinners, laidback lunches, a buffet event or just a little snack.
You get the idea: Phyllo Cups are definitively versatile and today I show you how to make them at home. All you need is a muffin pan and some store-bought phyllo pastry.
I couldn’t find any pre-made phyllo cups here in Sydney so I decided to make my own. It’s easy and quick, and you get to know exactly what you put in your body.
The other thing I really like about making your own phyllo cups is that you can adjust their size according to your needs. Think mini-muffin tin to make little bite-sized phyllo cup appetizers or regular muffin tin for individual desserts.
You can keep your baked phyllo cups about a week in an airtight container in the fridge or several months in the freezer – so no waste involved.
Stay tuned for next week’s recipe! Just a hint: it’s a dessert, it involves caramelized apples and I almost gobbled up the whole batch in a few minutes.Can’t wait to share it with you!
If you tried this recipe for Homemade Phyllo Cups, don’t forget to rate the recipe below and let me know how it went in the comments – I love hearing from you! You can also follow me on Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook for more deliciousness and behind-the-scenes!
How to Make Phyllo Cups {Step by Step}
Use my step-by-step recipe to make homemade phyllo cups! These crunchy phyllo pastry cups can be filled with sweet or savory ingredients and make for showstopping appetizers, desserts and snacks.
Ingredients
- 6 phyllo sheets about 1/3 of 1 package frozen phyllo dough, thawed
- Cooking spray I used olive oil spray
Instructions
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Preheat the oven to 350F.
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Place a sheet of phyllo dough on parchment paper. Lightly spray with oil, then place another sheet on top. Repeat layering until you have 6 sheets stacked up.
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Using a sharp knife, cut the stack into 12 equal pieces.
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Press each piece into the cups of a muffin tin.
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Bake for about 13-15 minutes (for regular muffin tin size), or until golden brown. Keep an eye on the oven to make sure they don't burn.
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Remove the muffin tray from the oven, let cool for a few minutes then remove the phyllo cups from the tin. Your phyllo cups are now ready to be filled!
Recipe Notes
You can use tins of different sizes according to your needs. You'll just have to adjust baking time, the rest is the same.
Thank you for this!
You’re welcome Pari!
Do I need to bake the shells first and then add filling? Or do I bake a little and then add filling and continue baking? Or just add filling and bake raw dough?
Hi Becky! It actually depends on the recipe. If the filling is uncooked, then you need to fully bake the shells first. What do you want to do exactly?
Thanks for a quick response! I am going to do Brie and red pepper jelly in them. So it will need to be melted a litte.
Hi Marie, I am going to bake crab and something else in the philo… maybe 🥑 and a cheese. Any suggestions on other filling/s as well I’m thinking curry as well.
So I’d cook 6 min philo then 7 or 8 with crab? Will that be enough time to cook the crab? Also should I add a little crunch…say walnuts?
Thanks!! Love your posts
I’d mix the crab with a bit of cream cheese and a sprinkle of sweet paprika. You could add walnuts or almonds for a little crunch, yeah. Or green onions! Start with 10 minutes in the oven (with the filling, once the shells are precooked) and keep an eye on them, they’ll be ready when the top starts to brown.
Avocado/feta sounds like a nice combo. There’s also the classic brie/fruit preserve.
Enjoy!
I’m planning to fill these with a creamy mushroom, spinach, cheese and sausage mixture. Do I need to bake the shells only first or fill and then bake?
Oh yum, that sounds like a delicious combo! I would under bake the shells first (say about 6-7 minutes), fill them and then finish baking for another 6 minutes or so. Hope this helps!
Thank you! So easy! I’ll be filling mine with humus, sliced cucumbers and grape tomatotes!
mmm… sounds delicious!
thanks for the blog post 🙂
correct “waist” to be “waste”
Thanks for the heads up Frank!
Can I bake the cups and store till next day? Frodge or counter?
Yes you can Lisa. I would store them where it’s less humid in your house, to make sure they don’t soften up and lose their crispiness
I was looking for homemade phyllo dough that I can roll out with a rolling pin for the cups. This is not it. Oh well I will just need to look somewhere else.
I got filo dough instead of filo cups- I dont think I can ever go back to pre made filo cups..Thank you so much. The filo cups came out beautiful
So glad to hear Teree!
Hi Marie, can I brush melted butter if I don’t have spray oil?
Absolutely!
Wow! These are amazing! I filled them with marscopone cheese mixed with honey and topped with boysenberries. Thank you for this recipe! Already thinking of other fillings….
Yum this sounds delicious Rosemary! Thanks for sharing 🙂
hey! do you oil or butter the muffin pan before placing phyllo dough in them?
Thanks!
No you don’t need to!
I love how detailed you describe this recipe! With this step-by-step guide, making these will be a piece of cake! Cannot wait to experiment with different fillings!
Used mini muffin size for appetizers. They were perfect. Used a pizza cutter to make cutting much easier.
Thanks for sharing Elaine!
What size did you cut to fill mini muffin pans?
Hi can you freeze them ahead of time
Yes!
Awesome idea on just getting sheets,was getting frustrated not being able to find mini cups..Did not even think about cutting the sheets.Thank you.
Happy to help Carole!
Is it possible to bake, freeze, then fill and heat at a later date? If so, would you recommend only baking partially and complete baking after filling?
Thanks.
Yes, definitely! If you already know how you’re going to use them, you can either cook them fully (if it’s a raw filling or something that doesn’t need to be baked) or bake them partially (if it needs to be baked). If you don’t know, I would bake them partially and finish baking them when you’re ready to prepare them. Freeze them in a air-tight container and don’t thaw them (bake them directly straight out of the freezer).
Maybe I’m blind, but I could not find your Step by Step Homemade Phyllo Dough Recipe.
Can you see the recipe box Karen? That’s where the step by step is.
Marie, I am so glad I found you site. How long do I bake if I am using mini muffin tin? I also guess I will have to cut the squares smaller. Thanks for all your information.
Rita
Yes you will need to cut them smaller. Start watching them at 6-7 minutes, they are ready when they’re golden brown.
I love these! Most popular appetizer requested is my filo cups filled with goat cheese, a tad of fig spread and drizzle of honey.
Oh yum, I love this combo of ingredients!
I plan on filling mine with pie filling. Do I need to cook the cups first or just do it all at the same time? Thanks
You can add the pie filling before baking the dough and bake them together.
I would like to make salmon parcels.Do I freeze them uncooked or shall I bake them first please. thank you
Hi Mary,
What exactly do you want to freeze? The phyllo cups you will later use to make salmon parcels or the salmon parcels themselves?
Its the salmon parcels already cooked. I need them in 2 weeks time.
thank you.
In that case, I would use unbaked phyllo cups with uncooked salmon, freeze them together and bake them together. If the salmon is already cooked, then I would use already cooked phyllo cups and then simply re-heat the parcels on the oven to defrost.
I’ll be making many Hor’s for a convention. Heating or baking options will be limited. Any suggestions on making and freezing shells ahead? Heating filling ingredients in crockpot so ideas would be appreciated. Thanks
Hi Shari. You can bake these ahead and fill them a la minute. Phyllo cups are surprisingly sturdy. Once they’ve cooled, you can store them at room temperature. If you keep them more than one day, re-crisp them a bit by heating them in a 350-degree oven for five minutes. As a rule-of-thumb, you can keep your baked phyllo cups about a week in an airtight container in the fridge. Hope this helps
Hi this is just what I was looking for. We have some really nice apples off our tree and I already cooked them, so they are ready to go into the phyllo dough cups that I plan to make in a regular size muffin tin. So, I am still pondering if I should bake it all together or just put the filling into the prebaked phyllo dough cups .
I want to sell these at the farmers market tomorrow and want them to be crispy. I think I will use melted butter and a little natural sugar. would love you opinion before I begin
Hi Jeannie. I would precook the filling and bake the cups separately for that perfect crisp. Hope your sale went well!
This looks great!! How large should I cut the squares for mini muffin tins?? I’m planning to make Louisiana dirty rice for a party – I want all finger foods – I think this would work well to hold the rice. Should I freeze the cooked shells with the cook rice in them or should I freeze them both separately? I’m impressed with your detailed instructions and with the care in which you have answered questions.
Hi Adele. Using a sharp knife, simply cut the phyllo into 12 approximately 4-by-4-inch squares. Your Rice Cups sound amazing! I would freeze separately to keep the cups crisp. I hope it all turns out well! Enjoy the party.
How long can these keep for? I have a dinner party in 10 days, but I would like to prebake the cups ahead of time so that on party day, I only have to add filling
You can keep your baked phyllo cups about a week in an airtight container in the fridge or several months in the freezer!
I would like to try making cranberry and Brie/cheddar mini bundles, have never attempted this before. Had thought it best to make the cranberry chutney and put in the uncooked phyllo. We are having our 50th wedding anniversary. Any help would be appreciated.
Hi Gerrie! That sounds lovely! I would cut the brie into 1-inch cubes. Place a cube of brie in each phyllo cup.
Bake for 8 minutes or until brie is melted and warm. While the phyllo cups bake, warm up your cranberry sauce (via microwave or stovetop) and then add 1/2 teaspoon (or more!) to each phyllo cup once done baking. Hope this helps
Hi How many days ahead do you think these can be made to retain their crispiness. I will fill them will a cold filling
Hi Gail! You can keep your baked phyllo cups about a week in an airtight container in the fridge or several months in the freezer.
When you layer the pastry when making the cups, do you spray each layer, or just the first one?
Hi Sue! Yes. You want to lightly spray after each layer!
I plan to make mini pecan apple pies.
What size should I cut them?
Hi Elizabeth! Can you specify your question? Are we talking about the size of the apple chunks for the filling? Happy to help!
Made them for Thanksgiving and filled with creamed mascarpone and feta, topped with cranberry chutney (David Leibovitz). Making again with creamed mascarpone and goat cheese, topping with a dab of sour cherry jam. Love that it is just a tiny bite, but soooo good!
This sounds absolutely delicious Anne, thanks for sharing!
Can I use normal cooking oil in between layers or does it have to be a cooking spray
Hi there! Yep, normal cooking oil works!
Awesome recipient.filled with basa bites, sauteed mushrooms, onion, garlic and cream used rosemary & touch of White into sauce. Decadent!
Sounds amazing! Thanks for sharing Karin 🙂
Going to fill with chicken salad for bridal luncheon. Just the recipe I was loooking for!
That sounds like an excellent little party snack! Enjoy the festivities and feel free to let me know how you liked the recipe! Cheers
Hi! I’m planning on putting some of mine in the freezer. When I go to reheat then, should I thaw them first or reheat from frozen, and how long? I saw from another post you said 350 degrees for 5 minutes but I wasn’t sure if that was from the fridge or frozen. Thanks!!
Directly from frozen!
I want to do lemon meringue tarts, will filo base work?
It would work but I’d personally choose another base. Something thicker like an easy pie dough baked in individual size or maybe even a Graham cracker base (kind of like a cheesecake).
I had never used phyllo dough before. Reading this was wonderful. Thanx for sharing. I will be filling my cups with sf butterscotch pudding and whipped crm …. and in warm ones….apple chunks tossed with monk fruit and cinnamon mix and sf apple sauce…..yummy
yum sounds delish Pamela!
HI, I have a small doubt, the filo comes with a plastic wrapper on one side, do you need to remove that? If not, does that side stay below?
Mine don’t come with a plastic wrapper but yes, you’d need to remove it. Just keep the actual filo sheets and layer them 🙂