Description
Delightful cranberry brie bites featuring flaky puff pastry, creamy brie cheese, and a sweet-tart homemade cranberry sauce. This easy-to-make appetizer is perfect for holiday gatherings and parties, combining buttery, fruity, and savory flavors in every bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Cranberry Sauce
- 2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup fresh orange juice
- 1 tsp orange zest
- ⅓ cup water
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- ⅛ tsp salt
Bites
- 1 sheet puff pastry (thawed)
- 1 small wheel brie cheese (about 8 oz), cut into small cubes
- 1 cup homemade cranberry sauce (prepared above)
- 1 egg
- 1 tablespoon water (for egg wash)
- 4 tablespoon chopped walnuts
- Fresh rosemary sprigs (to garnish)
Instructions
- Prepare Cranberry Sauce: In a medium saucepan, combine the cranberries, granulated sugar, orange juice, orange zest, water, ground cinnamon, vanilla extract, and salt. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the cranberries burst and the sauce thickens, about 10-15 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool.
- Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Prepare Puff Pastry: Roll out the thawed puff pastry sheet on a lightly floured surface. Cut into approximately 24 small squares, about 2x2 inches each.
- Assemble Bites: Place a cube of brie cheese onto each puff pastry square. Top each with about 1 teaspoon of homemade cranberry sauce and a sprinkle of chopped walnuts.
- Apply Egg Wash: In a small bowl, beat the egg with 1 tablespoon water to make an egg wash. Brush the edges of each puff pastry square to help seal and give a golden finish.
- Bake: Arrange the assembled bites on the prepared baking sheet and bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes or until the pastry is puffed and golden brown.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove from the oven, garnish each bite with a small rosemary sprig for a fresh, aromatic touch, and serve warm.
Notes
- Use fresh cranberries for best flavor, but frozen cranberries work well too.
- To make prep easier, you can prepare the cranberry sauce a day ahead and refrigerate it.
- Cut brie into small cubes to ensure even melting and easy bite-sized portions.
- Ensure puff pastry is cold but pliable when cutting to maintain flaky layers.
- Substitute walnuts with pecans or almonds for a different nutty flavor.
- Brush egg wash carefully to avoid dripping onto the cranberry sauce which may burn.
- Let baked bites cool slightly before serving to avoid burning your mouth from hot cheese.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bite
- Calories: 141 kcal
- Sugar: 9 g
- Sodium: 100 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0.001 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 16 mg
