I’ve been on a goat cheese roll lately. Since I discovered I love this stuff, I’ve been using it in every way I can possibly think of. So when two good friends of mine threw a Super Bowl party, I knew this was a perfect excuse to once again whip out some goat cheese.

Goat cheese is delicious on its own, but when you pair it with something sweet and fruity it takes on a whole new dimension and makes it that much more tempting.

These little cups are not only adorable, but easy to make. You can make the compote several days in advance and store it in the fridge. (This also makes an amazing topping for sandwiches, or plain chicken breast.) Once you construct them, however, be sure to eat them within 3 hours, or the phyllo dough will begin to lose its crispy crunch.

Ingredients: (Makes about 2 dozen)

• 1 package phyllo dough – at least 8 sheets
• 8 oz. goat cheese
• 4 oz. light cream cheese
• 1 tbsp. skim milk
• 3 apples (I used granny smiths) peeled and diced
• 1 cup fig butter
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 cup brown sugar

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 325° F, and spray a mini cupcake pan with cooking spray. Layer 4 sheets of phyllo dough on top of each other. Working quickly to avoid drying it out, cut the phyllo into 12 rectangles, approximately 3.5 x 4 inches.

2. Stuff each mini cupcake cup with the phyllo rectangles. The edges of the dough will stick up above the rim of each cup.

3. Bake until the cups are golden brown, about 8-10 minutes. Let them cool on a wire rack in the cups until they’ve reached room temperature.

4. While the cups are baking, combine the peeled and diced apple, fig butter, cinnamon and brown sugar in a medium sauce pan over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally until the mixture thickens and the apples are soft when pierced with a knife. Set aside and let this cool to room temperature as well.

5. While you wait for everything to cool, combine the goat cheese, cream cheese and milk in a bowl and beat with an electric mixer until smooth. Refrigerate until ready to use.

6. Once everything has cooled, spoon some of the goat cheese mixture into each cup, filling it about half way.

7. Top the goat cheese with the apple-fig compote filling the cup to the edge. Serve immediately and enjoy your bites of tangy, fruity deliciousness!