Baked Cream Cheese Pesto Appetizer Recipes

PESTO CREAM CHEESE BAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• Combine the first 5 ingredients down to the olive oil in a food processor or mini chopper and blend together to make the pesto.
• Put the cream cheese block on a baking tray. You can put parchment paper under the cream cheese to make the transition to the serving tray later a little easier.
• Spread a thick layer of the pesto on top of the cream cheese block.
• Bake for 20 - 25 minutes or until it is a little brown and bubbly on top. Serve with whole grain crackers or toast points.

CREAM CHEESE PESTO SPREAD

Steps:

• In a small baking dish, spread cream cheese in the bottom.
• Top with pesto and spread evenly.
• Sprinkle tomatoes on top of the pesto.
• Sprinkle shredded cheese on top of tomatoes.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 10-15 minutes, or until shredded cheese is melted.
• Serve with crackers or chips.

CREAM CHEESE AND PESTO DIP

Steps:

• 1. Spray a medium size piece of aluminum foil with non stick spray. Place blocks of cream cheese next to each other in center of foil
• 2. Spread pesto sauce over top of cream cheese. Slice the cherry tomatoes and position on top of pesto. Sprinkle with garlic powder, salt and pepper to taste. Lightly sprinkle top with shredded italian cheese.
• 3. loosly wrap foil around the cream cheese mixture, leaving space at the top (kind of tented) and place on cookie sheet.
• 4. Bake at 350 just until soft and warm and flavors melded (about 30 minutes) Serve with Triscuits (I use the herb type)

MEDITERRANEAN PASTRY PINWHEELS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°. Unfold puff pastry; roll and trim into a 10-in. square., Beat cream cheese and pesto until smooth; stir in remaining ingredients. Spread cheese mixture on pastry to within 1/2 in. of edges. Roll up jelly-roll style. Freeze 30 minutes. Cut crosswise into 16 slices., Bake cut side down on a parchment-lined baking sheet until golden brown, 12-15 minutes. Freeze option: Cover and freeze unbaked pastry slices on waxed paper-lined baking sheets until firm. Transfer to airtight container; return to freezer. To use, preheat oven to 400°; bake pastries until golden brown, 15-20 minutes.

PESTO CREAM CHEESE DIP

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Spread cream cheese evenly in the bottom of an 8-inch round baking dish. Layer pesto evenly over cream cheese.
• Bake in the preheated oven until bubbling, about 20 minutes.

BASIL CREAM CHEESE PESTO FILLED TOMATOES

Steps:

• In a food processor fitted with metal blade puree basil, garlic, pine nuts, Parmesan, and cream cheese to make a paste.
• To hollow out cherry tomatoes, cut a cone shape out of the stem end of the tomato with a sharp paring knife.
• Fill tomatoes with "pesto" using a pastry bag fitted with a large nozzle.

BAKED PESTO AND CHEESE APPETIZER

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F.
• Unroll dough on lightly greased baking sheet; firmly press seams together to form 12x4-inch rectangle.
• Cut Neufchatel horizontally in half. Place 1 Neufchatel piece on half of dough; top with 1 Tbsp. pesto and peppers. Cover with remaining Neufchatel piece; spread with remaining pesto. Brush dough with egg; fold in half to enclose filling. Press edges of dough together to seal. Brush top with any remaining egg.
• Bake 15 to 18 min. or until lightly browned. Cool 10 min. Serve with assorted reduced-fat crackers and cut-up fresh vegetables.

PESTO CREAM CHEESE SPREAD

Steps:

• Line a 5-3/4x3x2-in. loaf pan with plastic wrap. In a small bowl, combine cream cheese and garlic powder until blended; set aside. In another small bowl, combine the Parmesan cheese, butter, parsley, garlic, basil and marjoram until blended. Stir in walnuts. Gradually stir in oil., Spread about 1/4 cup cream cheese mixture in prepared pan. Carefully spread with a third of the Parmesan mixture. Repeat layers twice. Top with remaining cream cheese mixture. Cover and refrigerate for at least 5 hours. Unmold; serve with crackers.

BAKED PESTO AND SUN-DRIED TOMATO APPETIZER

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F. Unroll crescent dough; separate into four rectangles. Place two of the rectangles, side-by-side, on nonstick baking sheet. Firmly press seams and perforations together to seal. Reserve remaining dough for decorative garnish.
• Cut block of cream cheese horizontally in half. Spread pesto onto bottom half of cream cheese; cover with tomatoes. Top with remaining cream cheese to form sandwich. Place in center of dough. Bring up ends of dough around all sides of cream cheese to enclose completely; pinch ends of dough together to seal. Place, seam-side down, on baking sheet. Cut remaining crescent dough into small fun shapes, such as leaves or fruit. Arrange on top of dough.
• Bake 20 min. Serve warm with assorted crackers and fresh vegetables.

BAKED CREAM CHEESE-PESTO APPETIZER

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400°F.
• Cut cream cheese horizontally in half. Place 1 piece in center of pastry sheet; spread with pesto. Cover with remaining cream cheese.
• Bring sides of pastry over cream cheese, completely enclosing cream cheese; press edges together to seal. Place, seam side down, on baking sheet sprayed with cooking spray.
• Bake 20 min. or until golden brown.