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Cranberry Brie Puff Pastry Bites Appetizer Recipe
Create cranberry brie puff pastry bites in under 30 minutes for an easy holiday appetizer featuring flaky dough, creamy cheese and sweet-tart cranberries.
Cranberry Brie Puff Pastry Bites are a small-format appetizer that pairs buttery, pre-rolled puff pastry with creamy Brie cheese and a spoonful of sweet-tart cranberry sauce, often accented by chopped pecans or a sprinkle of fresh rosemary. Baked until the pastry is golden and the cheese is gently melted, each bite offers a contrast of crisp layers, rich dairy, and bright fruit. Requiring only a handful of widely available ingredients and about 15 minutes of oven time, these hors d’oeuvres are commonly prepared for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and other holiday gatherings, as well as cocktail parties where easy, hand-held options are preferred for serving a crowd.
Cranberry Brie Puff Pastry Bites Appetizer Recipe
Assemble the bites hours—or even days—ahead and keep them in the freezer, then slide the tray straight into the oven when guests arrive. The recipe is also a smart way to repurpose leftover holiday chutneys or jams, so you can switch up the filling without changing the method.
Prep Time
15 minutes
15 minutes
Cook Time
15 minutes
15 minutes
Total Time
30 minutes
30 minutes
Ingredients
Frozen puff pastry sheets, thawed – 1 box (2 sheets)
- Brie cheese, cut into 24 small cubes – about 8 oz
- Whole-berry cranberry sauce (canned or homemade) – ¾ to 1 cup
- Large egg, beaten with 1 Tbsp water (egg wash) – 1 egg + 1 Tbsp water
- Optional / suggested additions that elevate flavor:
- Chopped pecans or walnuts, lightly toasted – about ¼ cup
- Fresh rosemary, minced or as tiny sprigs – 1–2 tsp (or 4–6 small sprigs)
- Honey or maple syrup, warmed for a light drizzle – 1–2 Tbsp
Method
Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C)
- Grease a mini muffin tin with cooking spray or butter
- Unfold thawed puff pastry on a lightly floured surface
- Roll the pastry gently to seal seams and even the thickness
- Cut the pastry into roughly 24 equal squares
- Press one pastry square into each well of the muffin tin to form a cup
- Slice the brie into ½-inch cubes, trimming rind if preferred
- Place one brie cube in the center of each pastry cup
- Spoon about 1 teaspoon cranberry sauce over the brie in every cup
- Sprinkle chopped pecans or walnuts on top of the cranberry layer if desired
- Set a small rosemary sprig or a pinch of chopped rosemary on each bite
- Brush exposed pastry edges lightly with beaten egg for shine
- Bake the bites until the pastry is puffed and golden, about 15 minutes
- Remove the muffin tin from the oven and let the bites cool for 5 minutes
- Lift each puff pastry bite from the tin with a small knife or spoon
- Serve the cranberry brie puff pastry bites warm or at room temperature
Nutrition (whole recipe)
Calories
4285 kcal Protein
91 g Fat
273 g Carbs
366 g Fiber
16 g Sugar
147 g
4285 kcal Protein
91 g Fat
273 g Carbs
366 g Fiber
16 g Sugar
147 g
Notes
For the flakiest texture, keep everything cold—set the filled pastry cups on a pre-heated metal sheet straight from the freezer so the butter in the dough “shocks” and rises fast. A pinch of flaky sea salt or a whisper of orange zest over the cranberry just before baking sharpens the sweet-savory balance and makes the bites taste brighter.
why this recipe
These cranberry brie puff pastry bites are worth every minute in the kitchen because they deliver an elegant balance of flavors and textures with remarkably little effort—you get the buttery flakiness of puff pastry, the creamy richness of melted Brie, and the bright, tangy pop of cranberry sauce all in one irresistible, two-bite package. The recipe is brilliantly simple, yet the finished hors d’oeuvre looks and tastes as though it came from an upscale bakery, making it a foolproof way to impress guests during the holidays or elevate a quiet night in. Whether you need a quick appetizer for a party or a sophisticated snack to pair with a glass of wine, this dish turns just a handful of readily available ingredients into a show-stopping treat that vanishes from the platter almost as soon as it appears.
FAQs
FAQ acf
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I assemble these Cranberry Brie Puff Pastry Bites ahead of time and bake them straight from the freezer?
Yes—assemble the bites, nestle them in the muffin tin (or flash-freeze on a sheet pan until firm), then store tightly wrapped in the freezer. Bake them straight from frozen at 375 °F; just add 3–5 extra minutes to the normal baking time until the pastry is deeply golden and the Brie is molten.
Can I swap the Brie for another cheese, and if so, which varieties work best?
Yes—just choose another soft, melt-friendly cheese. Camembert, triple-cream Cambozola, fresh goat chèvre, or small cubes of Fontina, Taleggio, or young Gouda all deliver the same gooey texture and pair well with cranberry. Avoid very hard or aged cheeses, which won’t melt as smoothly.
How can I store and reheat leftover bites so the pastry stays crisp?
Let the bites cool completely, then store them in a single layer in an airtight container (or zip bag) lined with paper towel; refrigerate up to 2 days or freeze up to 1 month. Re-crisp by baking from chilled (or frozen) on a pre-heated sheet at 350 °F/175 °C until the pastry is hot and flaky again—about 8 minutes from the fridge or 12 minutes from frozen. Skip the microwave, which steams the pastry and turns it limp.