Cranberry Brie Bites
Flaky puff pastry, creamy Brie and sweet-tart cranberry sauce come together in these buttery, bite-sized appetizers. These Cranberry Brie Bites are little cups that bake up golden and gooey with just the right mix of savory and sweet, perfect for holiday gatherings or cozy cocktail nights.
Each one is perfectly portioned and pairs beautifully with sparkling wine or festive mocktails. These mini Brie bites are always a hit, with golden, flaky layers and melty Brie that make them disappear from the platter in no time.
A solid appetizer menu makes any get-together better. Serve these alongside our Bacon Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers or Big Mac Egg Rolls for the ultimate combo.
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Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Perfect Party Appetizer: Elegant yet easy, ideal for entertaining.
- Sweet and Savory: Creamy cheese, buttery pastry and tangy cranberry sauce.
- Quick to Make: Uses frozen puff pastry for convenience.
- Beautiful Presentation: Bite-sized and golden brown with jewel-like cranberry tops.
- Customizable: Add nuts or herbs for texture and flavor.
Ingredients
This recipe uses simple, festive ingredients for a buttery, flavorful bite.
See the recipe card below for the exact quantities of each ingredient.
- Puff Pastry: Creates a flaky, golden crust.
- Brie Cheese: Melts into a creamy, rich filling.
- Cranberry Sauce: Adds tart-sweet contrast to the buttery cheese. Try our Homemade Cranberry Sauce.
- Pecans (Optional): A crunchy finish for extra texture and nutty flavor.
Get yourself a mini muffin pan or two and a tart tamper to make this simple appetizer even easier.
Variations
- Cranberry Sauce Swap: Use a cranberry jam or any favorite flavor.
- Cheese Options: Try Camembert or goat cheese for a twist.
- Pastry Swap: Crescent roll dough works if puff pastry isn't available.
- Topping Ideas: Add a sprig of rosemary or a drizzle of honey before serving.
- Nut-Free: Skip the pecans or use toasted breadcrumbs for texture.
How to Make Cranberry Brie Bites
Follow these simple steps to make perfectly golden, flaky cranberry brie bites every time.
Preheat oven to 375F and rearrange oven racks to upper and lower thirds of the oven if putting two trays in at the same time, otherwise leave it in the middle.
Freeze the Brie for at least 15 minutes to make it easier to cut.
Spray two 24-mini muffin trays very well with non-stick spray.
Working with 1 sheet of puff pastry at a time, lightly flour a surface and roll out to about 10"x14".
To make 24 squares make 3 vertical cuts and 5 horizontal cuts, using a sharp knife or pizza cutter. To make 20 squares (which is what I prefer because the cups are more uniform in size, and each cup gets a little more cheese), make 3 vertical cuts and 4 horizontal cuts.
Place each square on the muffin pan and depress with a tart tamper into the cavity creating a little cup.
Working with half of the Brie at a time, put into 20 or 24 pieces, and place them into each cup.
Add a ½-1 teaspoon of cranberry sauce on top of the brie.
If using, sprinkle some pecans and flaky sea salt on top.
Repeat for the second tray, then bake for about 8 minutes then swap racks that the trays are on. Bake for an additional 8 minutes or until light golden brown.
Cool just for a couple minutes, then carefully twist each cup to make them easier to remove from the tray.
Hint: Freezing the brie briefly makes cutting clean and easy. Alternatively, you can butter a sharp knife in a pinch.
Recipe Tips
- Don't Skip the Spray: Mini muffin tins stick easily without a thorough coating.
- Even Baking: Rotate trays halfway through for uniform browning.
- Cool Slightly: Let them rest a few minutes before removing to avoid tearing.
Our Baked Jalapeno Popper Dip is another simple appetizer for your next gathering.
More Appetizers
Storage Instructions
- Room Temperature: Best served fresh; can sit out for up to 2 hours.
- Refrigerator: Store in an airtight container for 2-3 days. Reheat at 325F until warm in an oven or air fryer for a couple minutes.
- Freezer: Flash freeze baked bites on a sheet pan, then transfer to a freezer-safe container for up to 1 month.
- Make Ahead: Prep them in advance, cover with plastic wrap then keep in the fridge up to 1 day in advance.
Serving Suggestions
- Cocktails: Love Potion Cocktail, Cranberry Shrub, Cranberry Martini or Cranberry Sangria.
- Appetizers: Bacon Wrapped Sausage, Mini Cheese Balls or Baked Spinach and Artichoke Dip.
Cranberry Brie Bites Recipe FAQs
Absolutely, both homemade and canned work well. In a pinch, you can also use a flavoured jam too.
They're best warm, but also delicious at room temperature for easy entertaining.
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Cranberry Brie Bites
Equipment
- 2 24-Mini Muffin Trays
- Measuring Cups and Spoons
- Tart Tamper
Ingredients
- 2 sheets frozen puff pastry thawed overnight, divided
- 8- ounces Brie cheese divided
- 1 cup cranberry sauce divided
- ½ cup pecans finely chopped, optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375F and rearrange oven racks to upper and lower thirds of the oven if putting two trays in at the same time, otherwise leave it in the middle.
- Freeze the Brie for at least 15 minutes to make it easier to cut.
- Spray two 24-mini muffin trays very well with non-stick spray.
- Working with 1 sheet of puff pastry at a time, lightly flour a surface and roll out to about 10"x14".
- To make 24 squares make 3 vertical cuts and 5 horizontal cuts, using a sharp knife or pizza cutter. To make 20 squares (which is what I prefer because the cups are more uniform in size, and each cup gets a little more cheese), make 3 vertical cuts and 4 horizontal cuts.
- Place each square on the muffin pan and depress with a tart tamper into the cavity creating a little cup.
- Working with half of the Brie at a time, put into 20 or 24 pieces, and place them into each cup.
- Add a ½-1 teaspoon of cranberry sauce on top of the brie.
- If using, sprinkle some pecans and flaky sea salt on top.
- Repeat for the second tray, then bake for about 8 minutes then swap racks that the trays are on. Bake for an additional 8 minutes or until light golden brown.
- Cool just for a couple minutes, then carefully twist each cup to make them easier to remove from the tray.
Notes
- Freeze your Brie: Freezing the brie briefly makes cutting clean and easy. Alternatively, you can butter a sharp knife in a pinch.
- Don't Skip the Spray: Mini muffin tins stick easily without a thorough coating.
- Even Baking: Rotate trays halfway through for uniform browning.
- Cool Slightly: Let them rest a few minutes before removing to avoid tearing.
Nutrition
Tried this recipe? Leave a star rating and comment below, I'd love to hear how it turned out for you!
These were a perfect "clean out the fridge" recipe after Thanksgiving! I ended up having all of the ingredients on hand already which made everything a breeze. Plus, these were so delicious! Definitely making these again for Christmas 🙂
So glad you enjoyed them- they are a great app to whip up quickly (even without company)!
I love the combination of flaky puff pastry, creamy Brie, and sweet-tart cranberry. They are the perfect little savory and sweet bite!
So glad you enjoyed them- great for entertaining or just an at-home treat!
We love how simple these are to make and they have so much flavor!