Description
Cranberry Brie Puff Pastry Bites are an elegant and easy holiday appetizer, combining flaky puff pastry, creamy brie cheese, and tart cranberry sauce. Ready in under 30 minutes, these bite-sized treats are perfect for festive gatherings and impress guests with minimal effort.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed
- 1 wheel (about 8 oz) brie cheese, rind on or off
- ½ cup cranberry sauce (homemade or store-bought)
Optional Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary or thyme
- 1 egg (for egg wash)
- Chopped pecans, walnuts, or a drizzle of honey for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Prepare a mini muffin tin by greasing or spraying it to prevent sticking.
- Prepare Puff Pastry: Roll the thawed puff pastry sheet into a 10×10 inch square on a lightly floured surface. Cut this square into 12 to 24 equal squares, depending on desired bite size.
- Form Pastry Cups: Press each puff pastry square gently into the cups of the muffin tin, shaping them to create little pastry bases that will hold the fillings.
- Add Brie Cheese: Cut the brie into cubes approximately ½ inch in size. Place one cube into the center of each pastry cup.
- Top with Cranberry Sauce: Spoon about ½ to 1 teaspoon of cranberry sauce over the brie in each cup for a perfect balance of sweet and tart flavors.
- Add Optional Toppings: If desired, sprinkle chopped fresh rosemary or thyme herbs, and/or nuts such as pecans or walnuts on top to add extra flavor and texture.
- Bake: Place the muffin tin in the preheated oven and bake for 15 to 18 minutes, or until the puff pastry is golden brown, puffed, and the brie is melted and bubbly.
- Cool and Serve: Let the bites cool in the tin for about 5 minutes to firm up slightly. Serve warm or at room temperature, optionally drizzled with honey for added sweetness.
Notes
- Use either store-bought or homemade cranberry sauce according to preference.
- Keeping the brie rind on adds flavor, but you can remove it if you prefer a milder taste and smoother texture.
- An egg wash can be applied to the pastry edges before baking to achieve a shiny golden finish.
- These bites can be made ahead and gently reheated before serving.
- Adjust the number of cranberry sauce spoonfuls based on your preferred sweetness and tartness level.
