We’re all familiar with those wonderful “wontons” we find in the produce section and use to make Crab Rangoon or other Chinese fare. However, I’ve found them to be just as useful to make desserts.
They can be wrapped around apple slices that are sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar and then baked like apple dumplings. Those dumplings are even better if you drizzle a little caramel ice cream topping over them as soon as they’re taken out of the oven.
But, if you want to make a sweet and flavorful but more elegant dessert, the following recipe for Cherry Cheese Wontons is something your family is sure to love. The filling is both attractive and delicious, but you can substitute other fillings for these tiny “cups” made in miniature muffin tins.
CHERRY CHEESE WONTONS
30-35 wonton wrappers
15 ounces ricotta cheese
1/4 cup cornstarch
1 1/3 cups whole milk
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup chopped maraschino cherries
30-35 whole maraschino cherries
Powdered sugar for dusting
In a bowl, slowly whisk 1 cup milk into cornstarch until smooth. Let stand for 20 minutes. Transfer mixture to a medium-size saucepan and add remaining 1/3 cup milk and sugar. Heat over medium-low heat, stirring constantly until thick and smooth (about 7 minutes).
Remove from heat, stir in extract and vanilla and place a plastic wrap over surface to avoid “skin” from forming and let cool to room temperature. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Press 30-35 wonton wrappers in mini muffin pans to form “cups.” Be sure corners don’t fold in after pan sits for a minute. Bake cups about 10 minutes or until golden brown. Remove and let cool.
After milk mixture has reached room temperature, whisk in ricotta cheese and cinnamon until smooth and then fold in chopped cherries.
Spoon mixture into baked cups. Dust with powdered sugar and top each with a whole maraschino cherry. Be sure to keep refrigerated until served, and refrigerate any left over. Makes 30-35 mini cups.
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Looking for a recipe you can’t find? Email me at kbrotherton42@gmail.com and I’ll see if I have it.
