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Cranberry Brie Bites are the easiest little holiday appetizers made with just three main ingredients! Creamy brie cheese and sweet-tart cranberry sauce are wrapped in flaky puff pastry and baked until golden brown. They’re like individual mini baked brie pastries, and they’re perfect for Thanksgiving, Christmas or any holiday party.
Table of Contents
- Kellie’s Note Easy Brie-zy Appetizer
- Why You’ll Love my Cranberry Brie Bites
- Ingredients for Cranberry Brie Bites
- How to Make Cranberry Brie Bites
- Kellie’s Tips for the best Cranberry Brie Bites
- Easy Cranberry Brie Bites Variations
- How to Make Cranberry Brie Bites Ahead of Time
- What to Serve with Cranberry Brie Bites
- More Easy Holiday Appetizers
- Cranberry Brie Bites Recipe
Kellie’s Note
Easy Brie-zy Appetizer
I love entertaining, but I don’t love spending the entire party in the kitchen. These Cranberry Brie Puff Pastry Bites are one of my favorite shortcuts because they look fancy without a lot of work. Even better, you can assemble them ahead of time and freeze them until you’re ready to bake. They’re always one of the first appetizers to disappear!
Just like little mini Brie en Croute, or baked brie, these little brie bites are wrapped up in puff pastry for a mouthful of wonderfulness. They make the perfect holiday appetizer.
Why You’ll Love my Cranberry Brie Bites
- Just 3 main ingredients. Puff pastry, brie and cranberry sauce are all you need for the filling and pastry. A little flour and egg wash help with assembly and baking.
- Easy but impressive. Golden, flaky pastry with a gooey brie center makes these little bites look like they came from a bakery.
- Perfect for holiday parties. They’re an easy appetizer for Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Eve or any special occasion.
- Make-ahead friendly. Assemble and freeze them in advance, then bake when you’re ready to serve.
- No muffin tin required. Unlike most cranberry brie bites, mine are wrapped and sealed into individual puff pastry pockets and baked on a sheet pan.
Ingredients for Cranberry Brie Bites
You only need three main ingredients to make these easy cranberry brie puff pastry appetizers!
- Puff Pastry: Frozen puff pastry sheets make the flaky, buttery outside. Thaw according to the package instructions, but keep the pastry cold until you’re ready to use it. Crescent roll dough can be substituted, although the texture and baking time may be different.
- Brie Cheese: Soft, creamy brie melts beautifully inside the puff pastry. You can leave the rind on because it’s completely edible, but I usually remove it to make the cheese easier to portion. Goat cheese is another delicious option.
- Cranberry Sauce: Homemade cranberry sauce, whole berry cranberry sauce or thick cranberry jam all work well. This is a great way to use up leftover Thanksgiving cranberry sauce! Orange marmalade or fig jam are great substitutes.
- Egg: A lightly beaten egg helps seal the edges and gives the pastry a golden finish.
- Flour: Just a little for dusting your work surface so the pastry doesn’t stick.
For the full ingredient measurements, scroll down to the recipe card.
How to Make Cranberry Brie Bites
These easy Cranberry Brie Bites are almost like individual mini Brie en Croûte, with creamy cheese and cranberry sauce tucked inside flaky puff pastry.
- Prepare the pastry. Preheat the oven to 400°F. Roll each thawed puff pastry sheet into a roughly 12-inch square on a lightly floured surface.
- Cut the squares. Cut each sheet into 9 equal squares for a total of 18.
- Add the filling. Place a small piece of brie in the center of each pastry square and top with about a teaspoon of cranberry sauce.
- Seal the pastry. Brush the edges with beaten egg, bring the corners together and pinch the seams closed to seal the filling inside.
- Bake. Arrange on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake for 18–20 minutes, or until puffed and golden brown.
- Cool and serve. Let the bites rest for 4–5 minutes before serving so the melted cheese has a chance to settle.
Tip: Keep the cranberry sauce in the center of each pastry square and don’t overfill. A little filling goes a long way!won’t be any leftovers.
Kellie’s Tips for the best Cranberry Brie Bites
- Keep the puff pastry cold. Puff pastry bakes up best when it’s still cool. If it becomes too soft or sticky while you’re working, pop it back into the refrigerator for a few minutes.
- Chill the brie before cutting. Brie is soft and can be tricky to cut into small pieces. I like to put it in the freezer for about 10–15 minutes to make slicing easier.
- Don’t overfill. Use a small piece of brie and about a teaspoon of cranberry sauce per bite. Too much filling can cause the pastry to burst.
- Seal the edges well. Brush the edges with egg wash and pinch the seams firmly to help keep the cheese and cranberry sauce inside.
- Use thick cranberry sauce. A thicker cranberry sauce or jam is easier to work with and less likely to leak.
- Bake until golden. The pastry should be puffed, flaky and golden brown, with melted brie inside. Let the bites cool slightly before serving.
Why did my cranberry brie bites leak?
The pastry may not have been sealed tightly enough, or there may have been too much filling. Keep the brie and cranberry sauce in the center of each pastry square, brush the edges with egg wash and pinch the seams firmly together. A little cheese escaping isn’t a disaster, though. They’ll still taste delicious!
Why is my puff pastry soggy?
Puff pastry can become soggy if the cranberry sauce is too watery or the pastry isn’t baked long enough. Use a thick cranberry sauce, avoid overfilling and bake until the pastry is puffed and golden brown.
Why didn’t my puff pastry puff up?
Puff pastry needs to stay cool before baking. If the dough becomes too warm and soft, the layers may not rise as well. Keep it refrigerated until you’re ready to assemble the bites and bake in a fully preheated oven.
Easy Cranberry Brie Bites Variations
- Fig and Brie Bites: Swap the cranberry sauce for fig jam for a slightly sweeter appetizer.
- Raspberry Brie Bites: Use raspberry preserves for a pretty, fruity variation.
- Orange Cranberry Brie Bites: Add a little fresh orange zest to the cranberry sauce for extra holiday flavor.
- Goat Cheese Bites: Substitute creamy goat cheese for the brie if you prefer a tangier filling.
- Add Some Crunch: Sprinkle finely chopped pecans or walnuts over the filling before sealing the pastry.
- Make Them Festive: Garnish the finished bites with a tiny sprig of fresh rosemary just before serving.
How to Make Cranberry Brie Bites Ahead of Time
These little puff pastry appetizers are one of my favorite things to make ahead for holiday entertaining. Having a batch in the freezer makes party planning so much easier!
- Make Ahead: Assemble the cranberry brie bites, arrange them on a parchment-lined baking sheet and refrigerate until you’re ready to bake. For longer storage, freeze them instead.
- Freezing Unbaked Brie Bites: Arrange the assembled pastries in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze until firm, approximately 4 hours. Transfer to a freezer-safe container or bag and freeze for up to 2 months for the best quality.
- Baking From Frozen: Arrange the frozen bites on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake in a preheated 400°F oven until puffed and golden. They will need longer than fresh pastries. See the recipe card for the full frozen baking instructions.
- Storing Leftovers: Keep baked cranberry brie bites in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Reheating: Reheat in a 350°F oven until warmed through and the pastry is crisp again. I prefer the oven over the microwave because it helps keep the pastry flaky.
They’re almost as easy as these Brown Sugar Pecan Bites and make a great addition to any party spread.
What to Serve with Cranberry Brie Bites
I love serving these Cranberry Brie Bites warm from the oven when the cheese is soft and melty, but they’re also delicious at room temperature.
They’re a great addition to a holiday appetizer spread with:
- A festive charcuterie board
- Fresh grapes, apple slices and pears
- Spiced nuts or candied pecans
- Antipasto Skewers
- Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms
- Easy Goat Cheese Balls
For Christmas parties, I like to add a little fresh rosemary to the serving platter for a simple, festive touch.
More Easy Holiday Appetizers
If you love these Cranberry Brie Bites, you’ll also love these easy Pigs in a Blanket that are also made with store-bought puff pastry dough. Or try these easy Antipasto Skewers that require no cooking at all and these cheesy tomato Palmiers.
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If you make these Cranberry Brie Bites, I’d love to hear how they turned out! Leave a star rating and comment below. And let me know if you made them for Thanksgiving, Christmas or just because you were craving a little baked brie!
Cranberry Brie Bites Recipe
Equipment
- 1 baking sheet
- 1 pastry cutter
Ingredients
- 2 sheets frozen puff pastry, thawed
- flour for dusting
- 1 cup cranberry sauce or cranberry jam
- 8 ounces brie cheese
- 1 egg, lightly beaten
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- On a lightly floured surface, roll each thawed puff pastry sheet into an approximately 12-inch square.
- Cut each pastry sheet into 9 equal squares, for a total of 18 squares.
- Cut the brie into 18 approximately equal pieces. Place one piece in the center of each pastry square and top with 1 teaspoon of cranberry sauce.
- Lightly brush the pastry edges with beaten egg. Bring the corners together over the filling and pinch the seams to seal.
- Arrange the pastries on the prepared baking sheet, leaving space between each bite.
- Bake for 18–20 minutes, or until puffed and golden brown.
Notes
- Puff Pastry: Thaw according to package instructions and keep refrigerated until ready to use. Cold pastry is easier to work with and bakes up flakier.
- Brie: The rind is edible and can be left on or removed. For easier cutting, chill the cheese in the freezer for 10–15 minutes before slicing.
- Cranberry Sauce: Use a thick cranberry sauce or jam. Whole berry cranberry sauce works particularly well.
- Prevent Leaking: Don’t overfill the pastries. Brush the edges with egg wash and pinch the seams tightly to seal.
- Make Ahead: Assemble the pastries in advance and keep refrigerated until ready to bake.
- Freezing: Freeze unbaked pastries on a baking sheet until firm, then transfer to a freezer-safe container for up to 2 months.
- Baking From Frozen: Bake directly from frozen at 400°F until the pastry is puffed, golden and baked through. Frozen pastries require additional time; verify the exact timing for your recipe.
- Storage: Refrigerate baked leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Reheating: Warm in a 350°F oven until heated through and crisp.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I came online looking for a recipe for brie and found your site. These were teriffic! I used good old whole cranberry sauce from a can (that was all I had) and I only had a quarter sheet of puff pastry left over from another recipe. I was able to make 4 puffs and we would have eaten more! My puffs pulled apart and I will work harder on sealing them up next time. Thanks for this recipe and how easy it was.
Thank you so much! I’m so glad you enjoyed them!