Fancy Appetizer #SundaySupper...Featuring Easy Caprese Puff Pastry Bites

With Valentine's Day in a couple of days...and awards season in full swing...it's the ideal time to add a few fancy appetizers to your culinary bag of tricks! For this week's #SundaySupper event, our hostess Wendy from Wholistic Woman asked us to share our favorite upscale appetizers. My go-to ingredient for easy, elegant appetizers is frozen puff pastry. Whether you use sheets, shells, or bite-size mini cups, they help make fancy appetizers truly effortless. 

My Easy Caprese Puff Pastry Bites are a snap to make, full of flavor...and veg-friendly to boot! Seasoned puff pastry cups are filled with a fresh mozzarella pearl, then topped with a pesto-cream cheese filling and a halved grape tomato. If you love caprese salad, you'll flip for these bite-sized appetizers. Simply add a nice bottle of wine, and you're ready to celebrate...the Grammy's, Valentine's Day, or the Oscars! Wait until you see how simple this appetizer is to make.

Easy Caprese Puff Pastry Bites

a Weekend Gourmet original

Ingredients (makes 2 dozen appetizers):

• One 24-count package bite-size frozen puff pastry cups
• Olive oil
• 1/2 tsp. granulated garlic
• Salt and pepper
• 24 pearls fresh mozzarella cheese
• 3/4 cup plain whipped cream cheese
• 3/4 cup basil pesto -- homemade or purchased
• 12 grape tomatoes, halved lengthwise

Directions:
Step 1: Preheat your oven to 400. Place the frozen puff pastry cups on a parchment lined baking sheet. Brush each puff pastry cup with olive oil, then sprinkle with garlic powder and salt & pepper. Bake until the puff pastry cups are golden-brown and puffed. Remove the center from each puff pastry cup and discard.

Step 2: While the puff pastry cups bake, make the pesto filling. Place the whipped cream cheese and pesto in a mixing bowl. Whisk until the pesto is completely incorporated into the cream cheese. Spoon the mixture into a plastic zip-top bag and store in the fridge until you're ready to assemble the appetizers.

Step 3: Place a mozzarella pearl in the well of each cooked cup. Put the puff pastry cups back in the oven for 2-3 minutes to soften the mozzarella. Gently push the softened mozzarella into the well of the pastry cup. Use scissors to snip the end off of the reserved plastic zip bag of pesto filling, then squeeze the filling on top of the cheese in the puff pastry cup. Finally, place one tomato half on top of the pesto filling. Place the appetizers on a platter and serve.

These appetizers may be simple, but they're bursting with bright colors and robust flavors! They're a snap to make, and the flavor profile is a mashup of caprese salad and pizza. I especially love that they're so easy to make. I always have a package of two of puff pastry in my freezer, because they're a perfect vehicle for making amazing appetizers and snacks. Be sure to check out all of the amazing fancy appetizers this that week's #SundaySupper participants are sharing. You're guaranteed to find lots of great options for your upcoming Grammy and Oscar parties...or even at-homeValentine's celebration this Tuesday!

Finger Foods

• BLT Crostini Sliders with Avocado Aioli by Casa de Crews
• Buttery Mushroom Pinwheels by Sprinkles and Sprouts
• Easy Caprese Puff Pastry Bites by
• French Onion Palmiers by Cooking With Carlee
• Ham and Mustard Spirals by Food Lust People Love
• Homemade Mozzarella Cheese Sticks by Grumpy’s Honeybunch
• Middle Eastern Deviled Eggs by A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
• Mini Lobster Rolls by The Chef Next Door
• Mushroom and Blue Cheese Gougeres by Turnips 2 Tangerines
• Simple Greek Pinwheels with Tzatziki Dipping Sauce by A Mind “Full” Mom
• Soppressata Puffs by Cosmopolitan Cornbread

Hors d'oeuvres

• Baba Ganoush by The Crumby Cupcake
• Caesar Salad Wonton Cups by Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
• Cucumber Bites with Creole Shrimp and Guacamole by Life Tastes Good
• Dates with Goat Cheese, Prosciutto and Truffle Honey by Monica’s Table
• Drunken Asparagus with Feta and Prosciutto by Wholistic Woman
• Italian Chicken Meatballs by Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
• Japanese Meatballs by NinjaBaker.com
• Loaded Hasselback Potatoes Mini Size by Crazed Mom
• Mini Caprese Bites With Balsamic Drizzle by My Sweet Savings
• Mini Chicken and Mochi Waffles by Brunch-n-Bites
• Potstickers by A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Prosciutto and Blue Cheese Pear Bites by Jersey Girl Cooks

Seafood

• Lime Shrimp Cups by Our Good Life
• Mini Crab Cakes by My Savory Spoon
• Mini Tuna Crostini by Basic N Delicious
• Oysters Rockefeller by Caroline’s Cooking
• Scallop Crudo with Citrus by Cricket’s Confections
• Shrimp Martini by Palatable Pastime
• Southwestern Shrimp Spring Rolls by The Freshman Cook

Sweets

• Award Show Cake Pops by Gluten Free Crumbley
• Key Lime Cream Puffs by Gourmet Everyday
• Loaded Chocolate Dipped Potato Chips by Desserts Required
• Mini S’mores Tarts by That Skinny Chick Can Bake
• Peanut Butter and Jelly Cheesecake Bars by Pies and Plots
• Sweet and Tangy Pecan Baked Brie by Soulfully Made
• Wine Gummy Bears by Culinary Adventures with Camilla

Veggies

• Baked Eggplant Fries with Basil Dipping Sauce by Dizzy Busy and Hungry
• Baked Fruit and Nut Camembert by Sunday Supper Movement
• Blue Cheese Asparagus Bites by Hardly A Goddess
• Broccoli Pesto Potato Bites by Simple and Savory
• Mushroom Purses by Seduction in the Kitchen
• Roasted Carrot Soup by From the Bookshelf

Be sure to join the #SundaySupper conversation on Twitter today! We tweet throughout the day, and we share recipes from all over the world. Our fun and lievely weekly Twitter chat starts at 7:00 pm ET / 6:00 pm CST. Be sure to follow the #SundaySupper hashtag, and remember to include it in your tweets to join in the chat. To get more great Sunday Supper Recipes, visit our website or check out our Pinterest board. Would you like to join the Sunday Supper Movement? It’s easy! You can sign up by clicking here: Sunday Supper Movement.

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