Description
Delicious Cranberry Brie Bites featuring flaky puff pastry, creamy brie cheese, and a sweet-tart homemade cranberry sauce. This easy-to-make appetizer is perfect for holiday gatherings, combining buttery textures and festive flavors in one bite-sized treat.
Ingredients
Scale
Cranberry Sauce
- 2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup fresh orange juice
- 1 tsp orange zest
- ⅓ cup water
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- ⅛ tsp salt
Main Ingredients
- 1 sheet puff pastry (thawed)
- 1 small wheel brie cheese (about 8 oz), cut into small cubes
- 1 cup homemade cranberry sauce
- 1 egg
- 1 tablespoon water (for egg wash)
- 4 tablespoons chopped walnuts
- fresh rosemary sprigs (to garnish)
Instructions
- Prepare the cranberry sauce: In a saucepan over medium heat, combine cranberries, granulated sugar, fresh orange juice, orange zest, water, ground cinnamon, vanilla extract, and salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the cranberries burst and the sauce thickens, about 10-15 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool.
- Preheat the oven: Set your oven to 375°F (190°C) to prepare for baking the bites.
- Prepare the puff pastry: On a lightly floured surface, roll out the thawed puff pastry sheet to smooth creases. Cut the pastry into 24 equal squares sized to fit a mini muffin tin.
- Assemble the bites: Place each pastry square into the cavities of a mini muffin tin. Add a small cube of brie into each pastry cup, then spoon about one teaspoon of the homemade cranberry sauce on top of the brie.
- Apply egg wash: In a small bowl, beat the egg with 1 tablespoon of water. Brush the edges of the pastry squares with the egg wash to help them brown and seal.
- Bake the bites: Place the mini muffin tin in the preheated oven and bake for 15 minutes, or until the pastry is golden and puffed, and the cheese is melted.
- Add toppings and serve: Remove the bites from the oven and let cool slightly. Garnish each bite with chopped walnuts and a small rosemary sprig for a festive touch. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Notes
- Use frozen cranberries if fresh ones are not available; just rinse them before use.
- The homemade cranberry sauce can be made ahead and refrigerated for up to 3 days.
- For extra crunch, toast the walnuts lightly before adding them as garnish.
- Make sure the puff pastry is fully thawed and cold before handling to prevent tearing.
- These bites are best served the day they are baked but can be kept warm in a low oven before serving.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bite
- Calories: 141 kcal
- Sugar: 9 g
- Sodium: 100 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0.001 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 16 mg
