Crisp, flaky mini fillo shells filled with a creamy, tart lime no-bake cheesecake, topped with a sweet fresh strawberry topping and garnished with half a strawberry and a maraschino cherry. The flavors you love in a Strawberry Margarita in a fun to eat mini dessert.
Today’s recipe for No-Bake Strawberry Margarita Cheesecake Bites is the second of three mini dessert recipes that I developed for Athens Foods. Monday I posted the Pina Colada Cheesecake Bites recipe, and next Monday I’ll post the third mini dessert recipe, Orange Sunrise Cheesecake Bites.
These No-Bake Strawberry Margarita Cheesecake Bites are super easy-to-make and inspired by one of my favorite drinks, a strawberry margarita.
The sweet strawberry topping is paired with a luscious, tart lime cheesecake served in crispy mini fillo shells, then dressed up with half of a strawberry and a maraschino cherry on a festive golden star toothpick.
The strawberries need to be blended and strained so that you remove most of the seeds. You’re topping will still have a lot of the strawberry pulp, but the pulps adds a fun, more strawberry margarita like taste to the dessert.
I used frozen sliced strawberries in the strawberry topping because they’re softer and blend much easier. You could substitute fresh strawberries, but you may have to add the lime juice to the blender to get the strawberries to start breaking down.
It worked best if I pushed the toothpick straight into the center of the cheesecake bite and into the fillo shell. However, you don’t need to skewer the fruit. If you wanted a simpler garnish, these cheesecake bites would be pretty with just a cherry on top.
These Strawberry Margarita Cheesecake Bites were my husband’s favorite of the three mini cheesecake bites. My daughter and I loved the Orange Sunrise best. (I can’t wait to share that recipe with you next week.)
My son-in-law said he loved all three, and his favorite was which ever one he was eating at the moment. I know your family/guests will love them too!
No-Bake Strawberry Margarita Cheesecake Bites
Ingredients
- 2 boxes Athens® Mini Fillo Shells 30 shells
- 8 ounces cream cheese room temperature
- 2 tablespoons sour cream
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- 2 teaspoons lime zest
- 1 ½ cups frozen diced strawberries thawed
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 8 fresh strawberries for garnish.
Instructions
- Prepare Strawberry topping: Puree strawberries in a blender or food processor to create mostly strawberry juice. Press pureed strawberries through a fine mesh strainer in to a small saucepan. In a small bowl, mix together 3 tablespoons sugar and cornstarch. Stir into the strawberry juice in the saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly, until sauce thickens and is clear. Cool to room temperature, then refrigerate until chilled, at least 1 hour.
- (Optional: Crisp up the fillo shells in a preheated 350° on a baking sheet for 3 - 5 minutes, until golden browned and crispy. Remove to a wire rack to cool completely before filling.)
- In a small mixing bowl, beat together cream cheese, sour cream, 2 tablespoons sugar, lime juice, and 1 teaspoon lime zest until smooth.
- Fill each shell with the cream cheese mixture. Top each with one to two teaspoons of strawberry topping. Garnish with a strawberry on a skewer.
Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Athens Foods, but all opinions expressed are always my own. Visit Athens Foods for more great Fillo Dough recipes.
Nutmeg Nanny
Those little mini phyllo shells are my favorite holiday shortcut. They make amazing little dessert cups. I love that strawberry margarita combo…yum!
Nicole
These are so cute and easy!
ATasteOfMadness
These are adorable! I could eat at least 6 in one sitting!
Amanda
Theses are adorable, I love how easy this is!
Maureen | Orgasmic Chef
I LOVE those shells. I also love appetizers that are one bite and you can get it all in your mouth without leaving crumbs on your ‘shelf’, if you know what I mean. Delightful cheesecake bites!
Ala
This is SUCH a cute treat, Barbara! I love that you’ve been filling up all these adorable shells with wonderful flavors. I’d really love to grab my own box of shells so I can make equally cute dessert trays this holiday!
Melissa @ My Recent Favorite books
These are so cute! And they sound and look delicious!
Strawberry Margaritas are one of my favorite drinks also. =)
Happy Holidays!
Heather C
These bites are just the right way to bring in the new year without too much of the sugar,butter,eggnog,booze,duck pate,fritos,peppermint,dips,fudge,toffee,cakes and pies that we have indulged in for the past month. Thanks and Happy New Year!
Angie@Angie's Recipes
These little bites look so adorable and festive. I love fuss free and easy recipes like this. Thanks for sharing, Barbara and Happy Holidays to you!
Angie
Carol
Those are so darned cute. I love the way your son-in-law thinks…I think I’d be inclined to agree with him. It would be hard to choose a favorite flavor-you can’t go wrong with any of them.