This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

The holidays pose serious challenges: making elastic-waisted pants look classy, sneaking off for a nap to avoid dish duty, and restraining yourself from eating all of the Fig Goat Cheese Appetizer Bites before dinner begins. The struggles are real.

Fig Goat Cheese Appetizer Bites made with frozen phyllo dough shells and bacon.

Although I’ve solved the first issue via a baggy sweater dress and am thinking slipping away for a snooze in my car might manage the second, I have yet to develop a strategy to resist these fig goat cheese appetizer bites (or these Brie Bites).

Delicate phyllo dough filled with creamy whipped goat cheese, red wine-poached figs, and crunchy bacon, this simple but impressive appetizer recipe is guaranteed to disappear from your holiday table.

  • Although the flavors are complex, the preparation is easy, thanks to a key ingredient: frozen mini phyllo shells.
  • The mini phyllo shells are fully baked before they are frozen, so all you need to do is remove them from your freezer, wait 10 minutes, then fill them as your heart desires.
  • They are lightly crispy, delightfully flakey, and perfect for an array of both sweet and savory fillings (see these Sun Dried Tomato Pesto Bites).
assembling easy Fig and Goat Cheese Bacon Bites in Phyllo Dough shells on a platter

5 Star Review

“Very impressed! These will become part of my repertoire, thanks again! Happy Holidays!”

— Grace —

How to Make Fig Goat Cheese Appetizer Bites

For today’s holiday appetizer recipe, I chose the trio of sweet figs, salty bacon, and tangy goat cheese (tomorrow: Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms).

Their flavors balance one another beautifully, and because I tend to enjoy these three ingredients even more with a glass of red wine, I decided to involve that in the recipe too. (A decision I also made for these Red Wine Truffles.)


The Ingredients

  • Phyllo Shells. My go-to ingredient whenever I want to prepare an impressive appetizer but am short on time. They’re crisp, flaky, and (most importantly) no fuss!
  • Dried Figs. I opted for dried figs, which are much easier to find than fresh. (Readers have also suggested using dried cranberries which sounds just as divine as these Cranberry Cream Cheese Appetizer Bites).
  • Red Wine. Rehydrates the figs to keep the figs from being overly chewy—making them plump, succulent, and infused with amazing wine flavor.
  • Honey. For a little added sweetness.
  • Goat Cheese. For a little creamy tang (as in these Goat Cheese Balls).
  • Bacon. Balances the sweet figs with its meaty, salty flavor (also recommended for these Bacon Wrapped Brussels Sprouts).
  • Thyme. For a final flourish of woodsy herb taste and aroma.
Ingredients for Fig Goat Cheese Appetizer Bites using frozen phyllo tart shells

The Directions

  1. Cook the bacon, cool, and crumble.
  2. Stir together the wine, honey, and figs together in a saucepan.
  3. Simmer until figs are plump and tender, cool, then cut into slices.
  4. Defrost the phyllo shells.
  5. Whip the goat cheese with the half and half until fluffy and transfer to a piping bag.
  6. Fill the phyllo shells with goat cheese, the wine-poached figs, and bacon.
  7. Sprinkle with fresh thyme and ground pepper. Serve. ENJOY!
Simmering dried figs in red wine and honey until plump

Storage Tips

  • To Store. These phyllo appetizer bites are best enjoyed within a few hours of filling and serving. You may store leftovers in the fridge for up to 4 hours otherwise the phyllo risks becoming soggy.
  • To Make-Ahead. If you want to prep these further in advance, I recommend preparing the filling ingredients and storing them in separate containers until ready to bake the shells and assemble.

Recommended Tools

Fancy Fig Goat Cheese Appetizer Bites using bacon, frozen prepmade phyllo dough cups, and red wine on a platter.

Wishing you roomy pants, a successful sneak-nap, and as many fig appetizer bites with goat cheese as you dare to finish!

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Fresh Figs be Used for These Phyllo Appetizer Bites?

I’d stick with dried as the fresh will be too soft and I think they’d make the pastry soggy.

What Could I Soak the Figs in Instead of Wine?

If you wish to omit the wine, I’d suggest simmering the figs in apple cider. If you make this swap, I would omit the honey (since cider is naturally sweeter than wine) and simmer longer as it will take the apple cider longer to reduce.

Can I Use Turkish Figs Instead of Mission Figs?

Sure! Note that the flavor will be slightly different (as will the color) but, overall, the appetizer bites will still taste great!

Fig Goat Cheese Appetizer Bites

4.60 from 5 votes
These fig goat cheese appetizer bites are an easy, yet impressive, appetizer made with frozen phyllo shells, goat cheese, figs, and bacon.

Prep: 45 minutes
Total: 45 minutes

Servings: 30 bites

Ingredients
  

  • 4 slices thick-cut bacon cooked*
  • 1 1/2 cups dry red wine
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 5 ounces dried mission figs about 15–18 total
  • 2 boxes frozen mini phyllo shells 30 shells total
  • 8 ounces goat cheese at room temperature
  • 2 tablespoons half and half or heavy cream
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme
  • Fresh ground black pepper

Instructions
 

  • Cook the bacon. (Try one of my favorite methods linked in the notes section). Once cool, dice into small pieces.
  • Meanwhile, stir the wine and honey together in a medium saucepan. Add the figs, then bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce the heat to a simmer, then let the figs cook until plump and tender, about 15 minutes. With a slotted spoon, transfer the figs to a cutting board. Once cool enough to handle, cut into 1/4-inch slices.
  • Remove the Athens Mini Fillo Shells from their box and place them on the counter, keeping the phyllo shells still in their protective tray.
  • In a small mixing bowl, beat the goat cheese together with the half and half or cream until smooth and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Place the mixture in a piping bag fitted with a large tip (or a ziptop bag with the corner cut off).
  • Pipe a dollop of the mixture into the bottom of each phyllo shell. If you do not wish the pipe the mixture, you can also use a small spoon to dollop it into each shell.
  • Top the goat cheese with a few pieces of figs and bacon crumbles. Sprinkle with fresh thyme and ground pepper. Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 4 hours.

Notes

  • *Easy bacon cooking methods: Air Fryer Bacon and Oven Baked Bacon.
  • TO STORE: These phyllo appetizer bites are best enjoyed within a few hours of filling and serving. You may store leftovers in the fridge for up to 4 hours otherwise the phyllo risks becoming soggy.
  • TO MAKE-AHEAD: If you want to prep these further in advance, I recommend preparing the filling ingredients and storing them in separate containers until ready to bake the shells and assemble.

Nutrition

Serving: 1(of 30)Calories: 78kcalCarbohydrates: 6gProtein: 3gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 7mgPotassium: 48mgFiber: 1gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 106IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 21mgIron: 1mg

Join today and start saving your favorite recipes

Create an account to easily save your favorite recipes and access FREE meal plans.

Sign Me Up

More Delicious Party Appetizers

Did you try this recipe?

I want to see!

Follow @wellplated on Instagram, snap a photo, and tag it #wellplated. I love to know what you are making!

You May Also Like

Free Email Series
Sign Up for FREE Weekly Meal Plans
Each includes a grocery list, budget, and 5 healthy dinners, helping you save time, save money, and live better!

Erin Clarke

Hi, I'm Erin Clarke, and I'm fearlessly dedicated to making healthy food that's affordable, easy-to-make, and best of all DELISH. I'm the author and recipe developer here at wellplated.com and of The Well Plated Cookbook. I adore both sweets and veggies, and I am on a mission to save you time and dishes. WELCOME!

Learn more about Erin

Leave a Comment

Did you make this recipe?

Don't forget to leave a review!

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating





14 Comments

Leave a comment

    1. Hi Cassandra! It sounds like you bought a different type of fig (probably a turkish fig) instead of the mission figs called for the in the recipe. The flavor will be slightly different (as will the color), but I think they will still taste great!

  1. Hi Erin, 
    Thanks so much for the recipe! I modified it because I didn’t have mission figs….but I did have dried cranberries! Soaked the cranberries in nouveau beaujolais overnight and assembled the next morning to bring for a Thanksgiving picnic with MIL (in a rehab center for stroke; no holiday meal due to staffing issues.)  I had to have portable foods as not even a microwave to heat things up! Actually forgot to put the bacon on these in my rush!  It was a beautiful day here in LA…..We had chardonnay,  these appetizers, toasted pecans, cheese straws,  and red grapes;  followed by ham sandwiches with sweet potato salad, and then mini pies from a local baker.   MIL was very impressed -especially with these appetizers! So, these will become part of my repertoire, thanks again!  Happy Holidays!5 stars

  2. I’d-love-to-make-these-for-Thanksgiving-this-year,-but-we-have-one-or-more-family-members-who-won’t-or-can’t-eat-anything-with-even-a-hint-of-alcohol-in-it-and-I-personally-hate-wine-anyway..(I-know-I’m-unusual-haha)…I-was-thinking-of-substituting-the-wine with our-favorite-Knudsen-organic-100%-apple-juice-in-the=same-way-until-boiled-down-to=a-glaze..and-wondering-if-you-think-that-would-turn-out-well-or-no?–I-think-it-comes-in-a-pear-juice-too-if-you-think-that-would-work-better?-Since-the-juices-are-naturally-sweet-would-I-leave-the-honey-out-or-no?
    I-appreciate-your-input-and-advise.
    Thank-you!
    Looking-forward-to-your-reply

    1. Hi Yvonne! I actually think that apple cider would be your best bet as a substitution for the wine. It will take longer to reduce, so be prepared for a longer cooking time for the reduction, and you may need to alter the amount of cider versus the amount of wine originally called for in the recipe. And yes, you can leave out the honey, as it will naturally be sweeter! I hope you enjoy the recipe!

  3. Thank-you-s0-much-Erin!—I_was-wondering-that-too….I-LOVEEEEE-apple-cider-anyway!-
    Thank-you-for-the-advice-and-tip-to-be-prepared-for-more-time-and-to-alter-the-amount.
    I-really-appreciate-your-expertise-and-input-and-I’m-excited-to-try-it.
    I-will-let-you-know-how-this-alteration-works-out-if-I-do-get-chance-to-make-this-as-I-am-hoping.
    Wishing-a-happy-Thanksgiving-to-you-and-yours.
    PS.-sorry-for-the-odd/annoying-typing-…my-spacebar-is-broken.HAHA.

    1. Jess, for this I’d stick with dried as the fresh will be too soft and I think they’d make the pastry soggy. I hope that helps!

    1. Hi Linda! I’m afraid the phyllo dough may become soggy if the bites are assembled ahead of time. If you want to prep these early, I’d recommend preparing the filling ingredients, and then you can put them together and bake right before serving. I hope this helps!

  4. It’s been a few years since I made this staple appetizer and chose it for a girls night over this Holiday Season! It was a hit and everyone loved it.5 stars

  5. You mention in the To Make Ahead section in the instructions to prepare to bake the shells. But there’s no baking instructions in the recipe directions. Can you clarify… do you bake the shells empty or filled at some point? Thanks!

    1. Hi Anne, for this recipe I used pre-baked shells. If you happen to buy some that are not pre-baked, you’d bake according to the package and then assemble according to the recipe. Hope that helps!