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These crispy egg rolls/wontons are filled with a flavorful cream cheese mixture studded with shrimp and jalapeno, and best served with a side of sweet chili sauce. Plus, they’re shaped like firecrackers so they’re fun to eat!

Shrimp and cream cheese firecrackers: A tasty and spicy spin on cream cheese wontons.

If I had to eat one food every day for the rest of my life – nutrition aside – it would be cream cheese wontons. Hands down.

The mix of warm cream cheese, crispy fried wonton shells, sweet dipping sauce, and crab (if you’re lucky) is a flavor combination that is hard to beat.

About The Recipe: Shrimp and Cream Cheese Wontons (Firecrackers)

Since I’m always looking for variations on classic cream cheese wontons or crab rangoons, I thought I would try the following:

  • Adding shrimp to the cream cheese mixture to make a shrimp-based wonton
  • Adding spicy components (hot pepper and sriracha sauce)
  • Folding them in a firecracker shape (because cuteness)

The result?

Delicious. Obviously. You truly can’t go wrong with this flavor combination!

You can make these large (using an egg roll wrapper) or small (using wonton wrappers). Look for both types of wrapper in the produce section of the grocery store. I usually find them for $2.99 per package.

Shrimp and cream cheese firecrackers: A spicy, kicked-up version of cream cheese wontons, in a fun firecracker shape.

Other Recipes Using Egg Roll Or Wonton Wrappers

If you have leftover wonton or egg roll wrappers, consider making one of these easy recipes:

Once you get the hang of how to roll and seal the wrappers, you can experiment with all sorts of fillings. There are so, so, so many options!

You can make dessert wontons, like apple pie wontons. You can put cheese inside, and indulge on melted goodness. You can make Mexican wontons and put a ground beef/corn/pepper/cheese mixture inside. Or you could even put mac & cheese on the inside for a special treat.

The point? The sky is the limit when it comes to making fun flavored wontons or egg rolls.

How To Store Unused Wonton Or Egg Roll Wrappers

If you are storing extra opened wrappers the fridge, be sure to seal the packaging so no air gets in. The wrappers dry out quickly.

You can also freeze any extra unused wonton wrappers. Seal the package well in an airtight plastic zipper bag. To thaw, place the bag of frozen wontons on the cupboard at room temperature for about an hour before using.

Learn how to make shrimp and cream cheese firecrackers. Click through for recipe!

Shrimp and cream cheese firecrackers: A tasty and spicy spin on cream cheese wontons.

Shrimp and Cream Cheese Firecrackers

Yield: 8 egg rolls
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes

You can find canned shrimp next to the canned tuna in the grocery store. If you prefer, you can use fresh shrimp - but don't be scared to try the canned version. It's perfect for this recipe!

Ingredients

  • 8-ounce package cream cheese, softened
  • 4-ounce can of shrimp, drained
  • 2 teaspoons sriracha sauce
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 Red Fresno pepper, finely chopped
  • 8 egg roll wrappers
  • Oil, for frying
  • Sweet and sour sauce, for serving

Instructions

  1. Mix cream cheese, shrimp, sriracha sauce, sugar, garlic powder, and red pepper in a mixing bowl.
  2. Assemble egg rolls: Lay an egg roll wrapper on the counter in front of you in a diamond shape. Place about 2 tablespoons of cream cheese mixture on right below the middle of the wrapper. Start rolling the wrapper up. Do not fold in the sides, instead twist them. Seal the wrapper with a bit of water. Set aside and cover with a damp paper towel until ready to fry.
  3. To fry: Heat 1/2 inch of cooking oil over medium-high heat in a frying pan or shallow saucepan. The oil is hot enough when you dip the egg roll wrapper in it and it sizzles. Fry one or two egg rolls at a time. Once one side is golden brown, flip and fry the other side. You may need to dip the ends in the oil using tongs. Once egg rolls are fried, lay them on a paper towel-lined plate to absorb excess oil. Continue frying the rest of the egg rolls.
  4. To serve: Serve egg rolls hot with a side sweet and sour sauce or sweet chili sauce.

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© Haley
Category: Appetizers

FAQs About Making Shrimp And Cream Cheese Wontons

These are some of the common questions I get about making homemade wontons at home:

Can I make these in the air fryer?

Yes, you can make shrimp and cream cheese wontons in an air fryer. You’ll fill the wonton wrappers as usual, using about 1 teaspoon of filling for each wrapper. Then you’ll spray the inside of your air fryer, place the wontons inside in a single layer, spray again with cooking spray, and cook for about 8 minutes at 375F.

Can these be made in wonton or egg roll wrappers?

Egg roll wrappers are larger than wonton wrappers. This recipe can be used using either. The photos, above, are made in an egg roll wrapper and can be rolled into a firecracker shape. Smaller wonton wrappers will need to be folded in a simple triangle.

Are there any other good shrimp wonton recipes?

Yes. Once you get the hang of making wonton appetizers, you can start experimenting with different flavors and fillings. To make a good, basic shrimp wonton filling, you can mix cream cheese with diced cooked shrimp, and add some garlic powder and a tiny amount of sugar. This is a good, basic cream cheese-based filling for wontons.

Can these be made ahead of time?

For this recipe, you can make the filling ahead of time but you’ll want to assemble and fry the wontons when everything is fresh. Wrappers have a tendency to dry out if not covered with a damp paper towel – or if left out to sit too long.