Cranberry Brie Bites

Name: Cranberry Brie Bites
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 75 min
Ingredients: 1 17.3 ounce package frozen puff pastry sheets; 1, 7 ounce wedge of brie cheese; 1, 14 ounce can whole berry cranberry sauce; 1 whole shallot (peeled and diced fine, about 1/4 cup ); 1 tablespoon olive oil; 1 small package fresh basil; 1 sprig of fresh thyme (for garnish)

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Cranberry Brie Bites are an impressive appetizer with vibrant colors and the perfect combination of sweet and savory. Added bonus, they bake in just 15 minutes. The ingredients are easy to keep on hand during the holiday season. You can prepare these in a snap. Serve alongside Simple Artichoke Dip or Savory Cheesecake with crackers and you'll have a terrific appetizer round!

Close up shot of a cranberry brie appetizer — Look at that flaky crust. These are the perfect-sized portions to pop in your mouth.

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⭐ Why You'll Love Cranberry Brie Bites
📋 Ingredients to Have on Hand
💭Recipe FAQs
📋 How to Make Cranberry Brie Bites
🥗 Delicious Appetizer All Year Long
🍴More Appetizer Recipes
Recipe
Comments

⭐ Why You'll Love Cranberry Brie Bites

These will get everyone talking at your holiday party because they are the most delicious blend of creamy, sweet, savory and fresh. The tartness of the cranberries is a perfect complement to the creamy richness of brie cheese.

Every ingredient in the recipe for Cranberry Brie Bites is one that's easy to keep on hand in the pantry and freezer.

These are great starters for classic holiday meals or meals inspired by delicious holiday flavors like Rotisserie Chicken with Stuffing and Creamy Pumpkin Pasta Sauce.

📋 Ingredients to Have on Hand

frozen puff pastry
7-ounce wedge of brie cheese
whole berry cranberry sauce
shallot
fresh basil and thyme

Scroll to the recipe card below for details and measurements.

Cranberry brie bites with basil on top, spread out on a dish — While the flavor of **Cranberry Brie Bites** is what you'll love most, the bright color of the appetizer will also impress your guests.

💭Recipe FAQs

Should I cut the rind off the brie cheese before baking?

That's an option, but personally, I think the rind adds flavor and even a little texture to these bites.

The rind on brie is totally edible and after baking the flavor of the rind is even more subtle than when we enjoy brie cold from the refrigerator.

Can I use dried basil instead of fresh basil?

Yes, in a pinch. But the fresh basil adds a bright burst of color and fresh flavor to the baked cranberry brie bites.

If at all possible use fresh basil. As a substitute, use 1 teaspoon of dried basil.

📋 How to Make Cranberry Brie Bites

Step 1: Cook the shallots until they are soft and start to caramelize. By the time they've simmered with the cranberry sauce in the pan, they'll cook down to create the most delicious savory flavor in each and every cranberry brie bite.

Diced shallots cooking in olive oil in a pan. — **Shallots provide delicious savory flavor to Cranberry Brie Bites.** That savory, slight sweetness blends beautifully with the tartness of the cranberry sauce and the fresh basil.

One leaf of basil in cranberry sauce. — One little leaf of basil is all you need, just let it simmer in the cranberry sauce until it nearly dissolves.

Step 2: Add the cranberry sauce and simmer with the caramelized shallots.

Add a leaf of fresh basil to cook in the sauce.

Brie and pastry dough in a mini muffin pan — Brie cheese is distinctive and creamy. But it's the white rind from the cheese that adds the subtle and distinctive flavor to this appetizer.

Step 3: Cut defrosted puff pastry sheets into 2-inch squares. (Kitchen scissors are great for this.) Press one square of the dough into each mini muffin cup. You'll have just enough dough for a standard 24-cup mini muffin baking pan.

Step 4: Dice small wedges of brie. Place the cheese into each pastry-lined muffin cup.

Step 5: Place the muffin pan in the oven and bake for about 12 minutes. Remove from the oven and dollop a teaspoon of the cooked cranberry sauce on top of each puffed pastry. Top with a slice of fresh basil and serve.

🥗 Delicious Appetizer All Year Long

We often think of cranberries as something to enjoy during the holidays, but this appetizer is delicious any time of year.

Cranberry Brie Bites are a treat that spans the seasons and is a perfect starter before serving Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese or Crusted Chicken Romano alongside Twice-Baked Mashed Potatoes.

🍴More Appetizer Recipes

It's always a good idea to have several appetizer options on the buffet line. Here are a few more of my favorites.

If you tried Cranberry Brie Bites or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it goes in the 📝 comments below.

Recipe

Cranberry Brie Bites

An impressive appetizer with vibrant colors and the perfect combination of sweet and savory flavors. The ingredients are easy to keep on hand during the holiday season so you can prepare these in a snap.

5 from 112 votes

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Prep Time: 20

Cook Time: 15

Defrosting Time for Puff Pastry: 40

Total Time: 1 15

Servings: as an appetizer

Calories: 342kcal

Author: Melinda O'Malley Keckler

Ingredients

▢ 1 17.3 ounce package frozen puff pastry sheets
▢ 1, 7 ounce wedge of brie cheese
▢ 1, 14 ounce can whole berry cranberry sauce
▢ 1 whole shallot - peeled and diced fine, about ¼ cup
▢ 1 tablespoon olive oil
▢ 1 small package fresh basil
▢ 1 sprig of fresh thyme - for garnish

Instructions

Remove one puff pastry from the box (save the other one for the next time you make this) and defrost the puff pastry, it takes about 40 minutes.
While pastry is defrosting, toss the diced shallots in olive oil in a small saucepan and cook until softened and caramelized.
Add the can of whole berry cranberry sauce and one whole leaf of basil to the shallots and stir until thickened.
Salt and pepper as desired.
Continue simmering on medium heat and stir occasionally until the cranberry sauce thickens and the basil leaf has softened. If the basil doesn't melt into the sauce while simmering then just remove whatever remains of the leaf or stem before the next step.
Chop the remaining basil from the package and set aside.
Preheat oven to 400° F
Once the puff pastry is thawed, cut the dough into 2-inch squares and press one square into each mini muffin cup - you'll have just enough dough for a standard 24-cup mini muffin baking pan.
Dice small wedges of brie and place cheese into each pastry-lined muffin cup.
Place in the oven and bake for about 12 minutes. Remove from the oven and dollop a teaspoon of the cranberry sauce on each puffed pastry and top with a slice of fresh basil.
Serve with a sprig of thyme on the side and enjoy the accolades!

Notes

Simmering the sauce on the stove is an important step in creating a thick cranberry sauce that's bursting with flavor. As the moisture from the cranberries lifts away, the flavor brightens and intensifies. In the mood for another cranberry appetizer? Be sure to try Cranberry Jalapeno Meatballs next time.

Calories: 342kcalCarbohydrates: 32gProtein: 7gFat: 21gSaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 17mgSodium: 216mgPotassium: 66mgFiber: 1gSugar: 13gVitamin A: 112IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 36mgIron: 1mg

Please note, the nutrition details are estimated using a food database, so they’re just a rough estimate not an exact science.

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Comments

5 from 112 votes (104 ratings without comment)

Cranberry Brie Bites

⭐ Why You'll Love Cranberry Brie Bites

📋 Ingredients to Have on Hand

💭Recipe FAQs

📋 How to Make Cranberry Brie Bites

🥗 Delicious Appetizer All Year Long

🍴More Appetizer Recipes

Recipe