These cranberry brie bites are easy to make with a homemade cranberry sauce, creamy brie and flaky puff pastry. A unique bite-sized appetizer for the holiday season!
Sweet and tart cranberries are a favorite at the holidays. After making these brie bites, use extras to make cranberry banana bread or cranberry fluff salad.
Table of Contents
Cranberry Brie Bites Appetizer
This cranberry brie bites recipe is one of my favorite hors d’oeuvres recipes to whip up during the holidays! They’re made with a light and flaky buttery puff pastry topped with creamy melted brie and a topping of sweet and tart cranberry sauce.
They present so classy and elegant but they’re really just a simple finger food that people can’t get enough of just like my spinach puffs recipe or baked brie. I love to serve this as a Thanksgiving appetizer or as part of my Christmas dinner menu.
Why This Recipe Works
- Customizable. Customize them with a variety of jams and jellies for your Thanksgiving menu, holiday parties or as a New Year’s appetizer.
- Flavorful textures. Cranberry brie bites are creamy, flaky, juicy, tart, sweet, and buttery in one bite! Brie and cranberry pairs well for an easy Christmas appetizer.
- Simple and fancy. Simply add puff pastry, top with cheese and jam, and bake until golden brown. So easy but so elegant on a Christmas charcuterie board!
Recipe Ingredients
Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.
- Puff pastry: Use 1 sheet of ready-made frozen puff pastry. You could also use crescent roll dough or a phyllo cup for the baked brie bites.
- Brie cheese: This is a soft, rich, and creamy cheese, held together by an edible rind. It usually comes in a wheel, and when baked, the center of the cheese becomes melty and runny. Goat cheese would be the best substitute.
- Cranberry sauce: Use store-bought canned cranberry sauce or homemade cranberry sauce, either works. It’s great for using up any leftover cranberry sauce.
- Garnish: Optional garnish can include chopped pecans, flaked sea salt and fresh thyme or rosemary for a pop of green for the holidays. You can also use chopped walnuts, pistachios, or almonds.
How to Make Cranberry Brie Bites
Flatten puff pastry sheet then cut into 6 vertical strips and then cut across 4 times horizontally. This will create 24 squares or rectangles. Remove brie from freezer and cut into 24 1/2-inch cubes of brie.
Place 1 square of puff pastry into each of the sprayed muffin tin cups. Press the sides up so they are flush against the walls. Add 1 piece of brie to each one, followed by a spoonful of cranberry sauce. This is about 1 teaspoon of cranberry sauce.
Sprinkle a couple of pieces of chopped nuts if desired, but hold off on any salt or sprig of rosemary until the end.
Bake in a preheated 400°F oven for 15 minutes until the puff pastry is golden and the creamy brie cheese has melted. Allow them to cool slightly before serving. If desired, garnish with some flaked sea salt and rosemary or thyme!
Tips and Variations
- Flavor combinations: Swap with pepper jelly, orange marmalade, peach jam, raspberry or strawberry jam! Apricot or fig jam with a drizzle of honey is delicous.
- Spray the muffin tins. You don’t want to take the chance of ruining the presentation by having them stick to the pan.
- A simple way to cut the strips of dough is to use a pizza cutter. A sharp knife works too.
- Puff pastry works best when it’s cold. You want it thawed, but not warm. Keep it in the fridge until you’re ready to use it and bake it.
Need more easy appetizers recipes? You’ll love homemade pretzel bites, jalapeno poppers, and pigs in a blanket!
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Cranberry Brie Bites
Video
Equipment
- Mini muffin tin
Ingredients
- ½ (17-ounce) package frozen puff pastry (1 sheet)
- 4 ounces brie cheese
- 1/3-1/2 cup cranberry sauce , homemade or canned
- chopped pecans , optional
For serving (optional): Flake sea salt, Thyme or rosemary
Instructions
- Prep pastry and brie. Thaw 1 sheet puff pastry according to package directions. Place 4 ounces Brie in the freezer 15 minutes before baking.
- Preheat the oven to 400°F. Spray a mini muffin pan with non stick spray.
- Roll the puff pastry if needed to flatten. Cut into 6 strips vertically and then 4 horizontally, creating 24 squares. Cut the Brie into 24 1/2-inch pieces.
- Assemble. Place puff pastry squares into the pan, pressing up the sides. Add 1 Brie piece into the center of each. Spoon 1 teaspoon cranberry sauce over the top of the Brie. Sprinkle a couple nuts on top if desired.
- Bake 15 minutes, or until the puff pastry is golden. Remove from oven and let cool slightly before serving. Top with flake sea salt and thyme or rosemary, if desired.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Recipe FAQs
You can! Assemble them up until the point of baking them. Cover the muffin tin with plastic wrap and keep them in the refrigerator for up to 3 days before you’re ready to bake them. This takes easy entertaining to a whole new level.
Keep any leftover baked cranberry brie bites in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Yes, keep them individually wrapped in plastic to prevent freezer burn, then transfer them to a freezer-friendly zip-top bag. Store them for up to 2 months and then reheat straight from frozen.
Technically no, there’s nothing wrong with eating them cold straight out of the fridge, or even at room temperature, however you may notice a change in crispness. To get back a bit of their texture, pop them in the air fryer or on a baking sheet in the oven at 350 degrees.
Fresh fruit is always a great addition to any cheese platter. Slices of pear, grapes, apples, and fresh figs. You could also have a variety of crackers, nuts, and olives, and decorate your serving tray with more fresh thyme or rosemary.
Categorized as: 5 Ingredients Or Less, American, Appetizers, Christmas, Mini appetizers, Nut-Free, Super Bowl, Thanksgiving, Vegetarian
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook and shares easy family-friendly recipes and desserts for every occasion.
These were SO easy and absolutely delightful too! Everyone raved about them and I felt so good, haha! Thank you for making me look good at the party!
I always take a double batch if I am taking these to a party. There never seems to be enough! So glad they were a success, Jessica. Thanks for sharing.
Loved how easy these were to make! Simple but oh so delicious.
These are a definite crowd pleaser. So glad to hear you liked them, Abby. Thanks for sharing.
I had fun making these cute cranberry brie bites! They’re so easy to make and satisfyingly delicious! Love to have these again for our next family gathering. Must-try!
I love hearing this, Sharina. So glad you loved them. You will have to let me know what your family thinks if you you make them again!
What other cheese can you use I am not a fan of Brie cheese?
You could use goat cheese, cream cheese or mozzarella :)