Memorable Quotes:

“A Bearnaise sauce is simply an egg yolk, a shallot, a little tarragon vinegar and butter, but it takes years of practice for the result to be perfect.” — Fernand Point

Baked Mac-and-Cheese Bites (www.purewow.com)

Creamy homemade macaroni and cheese baked in mini-muffin pans until golden and crisp around the edges. These bite-size mac and cheese cups are perfect for parties, appetizers or an easy make-ahead snack.

Baked Mac-and-Cheese Bites


Yield: 48 mini mac & cheese bites
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Bake Time: 17–20 minutes
Cooling Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients:

  • 1 pound small elbow macaroni
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 small onion, minced
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • ¼ cup all-purpose flour
  • 2½ cups whole milk
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional
  • Kosher salt, to taste
  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 2 cups grated white cheddar cheese
  • 2 cups grated yellow cheddar cheese, divided
  • Nonstick cooking spray

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F. Generously coat two mini-muffin pans with nonstick cooking spray.
  2. Cook the macaroni in a large pot of salted boiling water according to package directions, about 7–9 minutes. Drain well.
  3. Melt the butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion and sauté until translucent, about 4–5 minutes.
  4. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute, until fragrant.
  5. Sprinkle in the flour and cook, stirring constantly, for about 2 minutes.
  6. Gradually whisk in the milk. Bring to a gentle simmer over medium-low heat, stirring frequently, until the sauce begins to thicken.
  7. Season with cayenne, if using, salt and pepper.
  8. Remove from the heat and stir in the white cheddar and 1½ cups of the yellow cheddar until melted and smooth.
  9. Add the cooked macaroni and stir until evenly coated with the cheese sauce.
  10. Spoon about 1½–2 tablespoons of macaroni and cheese into each mini-muffin cup.
  11. Sprinkle the remaining ½ cup yellow cheddar over the tops.
  12. Bake for 17–20 minutes, until the cheese is melted and the edges are golden.
  13. Allow the bites to cool in the pans for 15 minutes before carefully removing them.
  14. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Tip: Don't skip the 15-minute cooling period. It allows the bites to firm up so they hold together when removed from the muffin pans. PureWow specifically notes that both thoroughly greasing the pans and allowing the bites to cool are important for getting clean individual bites. 

Source: PureWow — Baked Mac and Cheese Bites