Made with local Ontario cheddar and blue cheese, these Mini Mac n’ Cheese Cups are guaranteed to be a hit at your New Year’s Eve celebration. It’s an appetizer that is entirely edible and we can guarantee you that there will no trace of these cups of cheesy goodness by the end of the evening! Pair these Mac n’ cheese cups with a local, VQA Icewine for an unforgettable flavour experience.
Make the cups:
Step 1
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Step 2
Using 1/4 cup (60 mL) pre-shredded Ontario Old Cheddar Cheese for each cup, sprinkle Cheddar cheese evenly onto the prepared baking sheet creating small circles.
Step 3
Bake in the preheated oven about 5 minutes or until edges start to brown lightly and cheese is bubbling. Remove from oven and cool slightly. Using a spatula lift cheese onto the back of a lightly sprayed muffin tin. Press down gently and cover with another lightly sprayed muffin tin to create the cup shape. Refrigerate until ready to use.
Make the mac n' cheese:
Step 1
In a pot of salted water, cook macaroni for about 8 minutes or until tender but firm (al dente). Drain well and return to pot.
Step 2
In a saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Stir in flour and cook for 1 minute.
Step 3
Gradually whisk in milk. Cook, whisking gently for about 5 minutes or until starting to bubble and thicken. Reduce heat to low; stir in cheddar, blue cheese, bacon, salt and pepper. Remove from heat and stir until cheese is melted.
Step 4
Pour sauce into cooked macaroni to coat thoroughly.
Assembly:
Step 1
Fill cheese cups with macaroni and cheese.
Step 2
For the topping, sprinkle crumbled blue cheese and garnish with bacon half on top of each.
Serve and enjoy immediately!
Cheese Cone Variation:
Sprinkle Cheddar cheese evenly onto the prepared baking sheet, distributing evenly into a rectangle shape. Place cheese onto parchment paper lined baking sheet and bake for about 5 minutes or until bubbly and melted. Let cool slightly. Turn out cheese and parchment paper onto cutting board and remove parchment. Cut melted cheese into 4 large squares or 6 smaller ones and roll into cone shapes. Crumble some parchment to fill cones to help hold shape and refrigerate until ready to use. Make as many as you like!
Blue Cheese Recommendations