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Crispy Mini BLT Cups with Herbed Cream Cheese

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These crispy mini BLT cups combine thick-cut bacon, fresh tomatoes, shredded lettuce, and a tangy herbed cream cheese in a golden, crunchy bread cup. Perfect for quick, easy, and crowd-pleasing party appetizers.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 12 slices thick-cut bacon, cooked until crisp
  • 6 slices white or whole wheat sandwich bread, crusts removed
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, quartered
  • Fresh lettuce leaves, shredded (romaine or butter lettuce)
  • 8 oz cream cheese, softened
  • 1 tablespoon fresh chives, finely chopped
  • 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, finely chopped
  • 1 teaspoon fresh dill, finely chopped (optional)
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • Melted butter for brushing bread cups (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Lay bacon slices on a foil-lined baking sheet without overlapping. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until crisp but not burnt. Drain on paper towels, then chop into bite-sized pieces.
  2. Lower oven temperature to 350°F (175°C). Flatten each bread slice with a rolling pin until about 1/4 inch thick. Use a round cookie cutter or glass (about 2.5 inches diameter) to cut out circles.
  3. Press each bread circle gently into a mini muffin tin cup, forming a small cup shape. Spray or brush lightly with melted butter for extra crispness and flavor.
  4. Bake the bread cups for 10-12 minutes or until golden and crispy. They will firm up as they cool. If not crisp enough, bake for another 2-3 minutes, watching carefully.
  5. While the bread cups bake, combine softened cream cheese, chopped chives, parsley, dill, garlic powder, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Mix until smooth and creamy. Adjust seasoning to taste.
  6. Once bread cups are cool, spoon or pipe a generous dollop of herbed cream cheese into each cup.
  7. Top each cup with shredded lettuce, a few pieces of crispy bacon, and quartered cherry tomato.
  8. Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 2 hours before serving to keep fresh and crisp.

Notes

Use thick-cut bacon for best texture. Flatten bread to about 1/4 inch thickness for even crisping. Let bread cups cool fully before assembling to avoid sogginess. For gluten-free, substitute bread with gluten-free bread or sturdy lettuce leaves. Herbed cream cheese can be made up to 3 days ahead and stored refrigerated. Bacon and cream cheese can be prepared in advance; toast bread cups the same day for best crispness. Piping cream cheese helps with neat presentation. Reheat bread cups in toaster oven for 2-3 minutes to refresh crispness if needed.

Nutrition

Keywords: mini BLT cups, party appetizer, crispy bacon, herbed cream cheese, bite-sized snacks, easy appetizers, crowd-pleaser

Find it online: https://tempotaste.com/crispy-mini-blt-cups-with-herbed-cream-cheese-easy-party-appetizer-recipe/