Cranberry Brie Bites

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These elegant Cranberry Brie Puff Pastry Bites look like you spent hours in the kitchen, but they take just 15 minutes to prep! They're the perfect make-ahead appetizer for your holiday parties - fancy enough to impress your guests, but so easy you'll actually enjoy hosting.

Prep Time15

Cook Time17

Total Time33

Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: American

Keyword: appetizer recipes, Christmas appetizer, cheese appetizer, finger foods, cranberry recipes, puff pastry recipes, Thanksgiving appetizer

Servings: bites

Calories: 182kcal

Author: Renae Gerhardstein

Equipment

Ingredients

2 sheets frozen puff pastry thawed (17.3 oz package)
8 oz brie cheese cut into small cubes, approximately 48 cutes
¾ cup cranberry sauce see recipe notes for homemade recipe. Either whole berry or jellied work.
½ cup chopped pecans
2 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon fresh rosemary finely chopped (or 1 teaspoon dried)
1 egg beaten (for egg wash)
rosemary sprigs for garnish or thyme sprigs, optional

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
Unfold thawed puff pastry sheets on a lightly floured surface. Cut each sheet into 12 rectangles (make a 3x4 grid), for 24 total rectangles.
Place two small cubes of brie in the center of each rectangle. Top with about 1 teaspoon of cranberry sauce and a few chopped pecans. Sprinkle with a tiny pinch of rosemary.
Bring all four corners of each rectangle up to the center and pinch together to seal, creating a little pouch. The seams don’t need to be perfect - rustic looks charming!
Place bites on prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart. Brush the tops with egg wash.
Bake for 15-17 minutes, until puff pastry is golden brown and puffed up beautifully.
Remove from oven, place on a platter, and immediately drizzle with honey and sprinkle with rosemary. Garnish with fresh herb sprigs if desired.
Serve warm or at room temperature.

Notes

Cranberry Sauce: Use our homemade cranberry sauce recipe. Or your favorite store bought brand- whole berry and jellied cranberry sauce work great.
Brie Rind: You can leave the rind on or remove it - totally your preference. The rind is edible and adds flavor.
Keep your puff pastry dough cold while working with it. If it gets too soft or sticky, place it back in the fridge for 10–15 minutes before continuing. Cold dough gives you that beautiful, flaky rise. Also keep it covered to avoid drying it out.
For a prettier presentation, use a fork to gently crimp the edges of each puff pastry bite before baking. It adds charm and helps seal in the filling. And don’t forget to garnish with a fresh sprig of rosemary for a festive touch!

Thawing Tips:

Best Method: Thaw in the refrigerator overnight. This keeps the butter layers in the pastry cold and intact for maximum puff.
Quick Method: Let it sit at room temperature for 40 minutes. The pastry should be cold but pliable enough to unfold without cracking.

Important: Don't let it get too warm or it becomes sticky and hard to work with. If it gets soft while you're working, pop it back in the fridge for 10 minutes.

Recipe Variations:

Raspberry goat cheese bites: Swap out the brie and cranberry sauce for creamy goat cheese and a dollop of raspberry jam. The tangy-sweet flavor is heavenly and still gives you that bite-sized app everyone loves.
Fig jam and brie crescent bites: Use crescent dough instead of puff pastry for a softer texture, and fill each bite with fig jam and brie. These little pockets are rich, sweet, and the perfect holiday appetizer.
Savory onion and goat cheese bites: Skip the cranberry and add a spoonful of caramelized onions with goat cheese in each cup. The savory depth of flavor will win over anyone who doesn’t love fruit in their appetizers!

Make-Ahead, Storing, and Reheating Instructions:

Assemble the bites up to 4 hours ahead, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate. Brush with egg wash just before baking.
For longer storage, freeze unbaked bites on a baking sheet, then transfer to a freezer bag. Bake directly from frozen, adding 2-3 extra minutes to the baking time.
Storing Leftovers: These are best enjoyed within 2 hours of baking while the pastry is still crispy. If you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
Reheating: Reheat in a 350°F oven for 5-7 minutes to restore some crispness. Avoid the microwave as it will make the pastry soggy.

Serving: These are delicious served warm (when the brie is melty) or at room temperature. They're perfect for parties because you can prep them ahead and bake right before guests arrive.

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