When it comes to holiday entertaining, cranberry brie bites are my go-to starter. They’re simple, delicious, and perfectly festive for Thanksgiving or Christmas. The best part? I only need a handful of ingredients to put them together in minutes. packed with flavor.
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Cranberry Brie Bites Recipe
Cranberry brie bites are popular bite-sized appetizers. They feature a golden crust (made from crescent dough, puff pastry) filled with brie cheese and a spoonful of tart cranberry sauce.
These bites are quick to prepare, visually inviting, and deliver a combination of textures: flaky exterior, gooey melted cheese, and bursts of cranberry. You can often find them during the fall and winter months. Whether for brunch, afternoon tea, or happy hour, cranberry brie bites bring a festive sparkle to any spread.
These appetizers match well with harvest-inspired sides like roasted root vegetables, butternut squash soup, or creamy mashed potatoes. Bread lovers will enjoy them alongside artisanal baguette slices or herbed focaccia.
When served at a dinner party or wine night, these bites complement robust, flavorful cheeses on a cheese board, cured meats like prosciutto or salami, and savory dips such as caramelized onion or spinach artichoke.
For brunch menus, these cranberry bites can be offered beside fluffy scrambled eggs, smoked salmon, and colorful fruit compotes or berry parfaits.
On the drinks front, cranberry brie bites work smoothly with sparkling wines like Champagne, Prosecco, or Pinot Noir. Mulled cider, pomegranate spritzers, and cranberry mimosa work well, too. They also fit hot chocolate or a chai latte.
Here’s how to make the cranberry brie bites:
Cranberry Brie Bites
Nutrition
Ingredients
- 1 sheet puff pastry thawed
- 6 oz Brie cheese rind on or off, as preferred
- ½ cup cranberry sauce homemade or store-bought
- 1 tbsp chopped fresh rosemary optional
- Cooking spray or butter for greasing mini muffin tin
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 24-cup mini muffin pan.
- Cut puff pastry sheet into 24 equal squares. Press each square into a muffin mold.
- Cut brie into small 1-inch cubes and place one piece in each pastry cup.
- Spoon ~1 tsp cranberry sauce over each brie cube.
- Place in oven for 12–15 minutes, until pastry is golden and cheese is melted.
- Sprinkle with rosemary if desired. Serve warm.
Notes
- These can be assembled ahead of time and baked just before serving.
- Work with phyllo dough or crescent roll dough as a more affordable option.
Variations
You can take this dish in several delicious new directions by changing just one or two key components. Below are some popular versions of cranberry brie bites.
- Wonton Wrapper Bites feature baked wonton wrappers pressed into mini muffin tins to create a crunchy bowl for the filling.
- Phyllo Shell Cranberry Brie Bites swap in store-bought phyllo shells for extra crispness and convenience.
- Nutty Cranberry Brie Bites include chopped pistachios, pecans, or walnuts sprinkled over the top for added flavor and crunch.
- Orange Marmalade Version blends a spoonful of orange marmalade into the cranberry sauce for citrusy brightness.
- Fig Jam Variation replaces cranberry sauce with fig jam or preserves for a deeper, honeyed sweetness.
- Spiced Addition add a touch of ground cinnamon or cardamom to the cranberry sauce for warm spice notes.
- Herb-Infused Version uses a chiffonade of fresh sage or thyme in place of rosemary for an earthy, aromatic twist.