It happened again... somehow, December just snuck up on me, stealthy and sneaky-like, bringing with it the usual round of parties and potlucks and baking and shopping and gift-giving and merry-making.
That doesn't exactly leave much time for baking, which is where these Cranberry Brie Bites come in.
At this time of year I'm all about the easy appetizer recipes... probably because at our house, the holidays are synonymous with our big holiday Open House party. And when it comes to appetizers, it doesn't get easier than this.
Four ingredients. Twenty minutes. That's literally all you need.
Holiday Entertaining Made Easy
Our holiday open house has been an annual tradition for as long as we've lived in here. It's an excuse to cram our house full with as many friends, family and neighbours as we can possibly fit, and to cover every available surface in the house with various nibbles.
And while some folks are all about the cookie platters, I think it's the savoury nibbles that are the star of the show. Forget the sweets - give me a fancy cheese board, some saucy meatballs, an assortment of dips and a few crostini, and I'm a happy camper.
The trick, as I've learned, is to choose appetizers that deliver maximum flavour with minimum effort.
Meat and cheese boards are a favourite because they can be quickly assembled at the last minute. Dips and spreads are also a good choice, because they can be made ahead and actually taste better after a few days in the fridge. Same goes for cheese balls.
And obviously, these easy-peasy puff pastry bites with cranberry and brie.
Why These Brie and Cranberry Bites are the Perfect Holiday Appetizer
I've been baked up dozens of batches of these bite-sized pastries over the years, and they've been a huge hit every single time.
They bake up quick, so they're great as a last minute appetizer for impromptu guests.
And they travel well, which makes them equally great for a holiday potluck at work, or to tote along to a friend's house for a casual get-together.
And best of all, they're a great way to use up those cranberry sauce leftovers from Thanksgiving. (And if you don't have any leftovers, then it's the perfect excuse to get a head start on the cranberry sauce for your Christmas dinner... think of it as multi-tasking.)
The only downside is that these little bites will disappear in half the time they take to make, so I'd strongly suggest popping a second batch into the oven before you put the first one out.
I mean, that is why most puff pastry packages include two sheets, isn't it? :)
A Few Variations on This Recipe
The beauty of this recipe is that it's actually a pretty basic formula - puff pastry, cheese, fruit, and some optional flavourings.
From there, the only limit is your imagination (and your appetite).
For example, I used it to make these equally delicious and equally easy Fig and Cheese Tartlets using a combination of fig jam, grated semi-soft cheese, and a sprinkling of fresh thyme leaves.
Other options you could try include sundried tomato pesto and cubes of soft feta. Or caramelized onions and grated Swiss cheese. Or pear jam and blue cheese.
Feeling like something sweet instead? Then turn these into mini cheesecakes using your favourite pie filling and a dollop of sweetened ricotta.
More Easy Holiday Appetizers
Need a few more quick and easy appetizers to add to your party menu? Look no further... I've got you covered!
- Ridiculously Easy Roast Red Pepper Dip
- Pineapple-Pecan Cheese Ball
- Killer Artichoke Cheese Bread
- Baked Goat Cheese Dip with Balsamic Fig Compote
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Print
Brie and Cranberry Bites
- Total Time: 20 mins
- Yield: 24 1x
Description
These little bite-sized puff pastry brie and cranberry bites have all the goodness of a fancy baked brie en croute, but come together in a fraction of the time.
Ingredients
- 1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed
- ½ cup cranberry sauce, preferably homemade
- 1 green onion, very thinly sliced
- 100g (3.5 oz) brie, cut into ½" cubes
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400F. Lightly spray the cups of a mini-muffin tin with cooking spray, and set aside.
- Unroll the puff pastry sheet onto a clean work surface, and cut into 24 equally-sized squares. Gently press the pastry into the cups of the prepared muffin tin.
- Nestle a cube of brie into each pastry cup, then top with a pinch of green onion. Using a teaspoon measure, drop a spoonful of cranberry sauce to top of the brie.
- Bake in preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the pastry is puffed and golden-brown on the edges. Let stand in the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a pretty plate and serve.
Notes
If you're not a fan of cranberry sauce, you can substitute a fruity jam of your choice - tart cherry, apricot or fig are all perfectly lovely choices!
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 10 mins
- Category: Appetiser
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Don't forget to check out the rest of the Christmas treats by the Holiday Food Blog Party gang! Each photo is linked to a different post.
Maggie Gillespie says
Can i make these a few days ahead?
Isabelle Boucher says
Great question, Maggie! I generally don't recommend making these more than a day ahead, because the puff pastry just don't hold up very well and will start to go a little mushy in spots from the moisture in the cranberry sauce.
I have made them the day before to take to parties or work potlucks, though, and they were perfectly delicious even after hanging out overnight at room temp in an airtight container.
EISCHENS, LEEANN says
Could you make these ahead? Or prep them ahead at all?
Douglas Spencer says
"Simple yet Superb"
Advise first timers to scrimp on sauce to prevent overflow.
I found only the very tip 1/2 " section of rosemary was soft enough. Anything further down the sprig tasted like eating a tooth pick. Is there another softer herb you'd recommend? Also found best time to be closer to 8 mins vice 10-12.
Laney Scheck says
Question, can you make these a day ahead, how would you approach that exactly?
Bonnie F. says
I love brie and puff pastry but usually make one large one but thought this would be a more convenient way to serve it, so I thought I’d give it a try. Here are my thoughts. I cut my pastry up into 24 squares before I got out my mini muffin pan, only to discover a moment later, when I got out the pan, that one sheet of standard puff pastry (Pepperidge Farms) is waaaay too small to cut into 24 pieces. Now maybe you have a micro mini muffin pan or an exceptionally large sheet of puff pastry, but I wound up with squares that do not drape into the mini muffin tin but fall to the bottom and only come a little way up the sides. Consequently the the brie and cranberry runs out and you have a mess (a tasty mess that’s difficult to get out of the tin. Next time, I’ll cut pastry into 12-15 squares, so they nestle nicely into the pan (like in pix). I’d also cut down on the amount of cranberry/jelly used. A teaspoon is too much.
★★★
Isabelle Boucher says
Oh dear! Thanks for the feedback, Bonnie. It sounds like the pastry sheets I'm used to are a different size than the Pepperidge Farm ones. I'll take some measurements and update the recipe the next time I have a chance - that way, you can choose to roll out your pastry to the right size so that you can still get the full 24 tarts!
Francie Skinner says
I have made something similar for my wedding 6 1/2 years ago. I used apricot fruit spread, feta cheese and caramelized onions. I just tried this with brie, cranberries and used the caramelized onions. I prefer them to green onions. Fabulous!!!
★★★★★
Jane says
sprinkled with pecans...
★★★★★
Bethany O'Neil says
I used goat cheese instead and love it! Rave reviews from all my tennis friends!!!
Georgina says
I made these last night and they were delicious! I used fig jam instead of cranberry and instead of the onion I topped with a few pieces of candied pecans. Yummy!!! Thanks for the recipe :)
PolaM says
Lovely and easy too! I have to get a mini muffin pan so I can make these tiny, cute bites!
Eva says
I love the combination of fruit and cheese. I'll keep these in mind for New Years.
Dina says
these are great for a party!
Diane (createdbydiane) says
I just LOVE brie and cranberries, these look delicious!
Robyn says
OMG i could eat a whole tray of those myself!
Carla says
We usually do a cheese plate for the holidays, so I can see adding these to the menu!
Dionne Baldwin says
These bites are so cute and they sound perfect for our party. I'll take your advice on the second batch since I know everyone will gobble these up. We are pretty big brie fans...who isn't? :D
Km Beaulieu says
I want the whole plate of these. Then more. These look amazing Izz. I may try these over the holidays. I don't do enough appetizers. These would be a big hit.
Susan says
Individual baked brie all to myself? I'm sold. p.s. I tend to go more for the savory during this time of year too. I love small bites.
Jen @ Jen's Favorite Cookies says
I love brie! These sound fantastic!
Christiane ~ Taking On Magazines says
I ALWAYS head for the appetizers over the desserts! Chances are good that I'd be duking it out with Liz over that dozen she wants.
Anita at Hungry Couple says
I tasted brie with cranberries for the first time this season and got hooked. These wouldn't last an hour in my house! :)
Renee says
Anything with brie gets my attention especially when puff pastry is involved. Great appetizer!
Liz says
I think I could eat a dozen of these myself! Fabulous!!!