Description
Delightful Cranberry Brie Bites featuring flaky puff pastry, creamy brie cheese, and a sweet-tart homemade cranberry sauce, enhanced with warm spices and topped with crunchy walnuts and fresh rosemary. This easy holiday appetizer is perfect for entertaining and can be prepared in just 35 minutes.
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
Pastry
- 1 sheet puff pastry (thawed)
- 1 egg
- 1 tablespoon water (for egg wash)
Filling and Topping
- 1 small wheel brie cheese (about 8 oz), cut into small cubes
- 1 cup homemade cranberry sauce
- 4 tablespoons chopped walnuts
- Fresh rosemary sprigs (to garnish)
Instructions
- Prepare Cranberry Sauce: In a saucepan over medium heat, combine cranberries, granulated sugar, orange juice, orange zest, water, ground cinnamon, vanilla extract, and salt. Cook until the cranberries burst and the sauce thickens, about 10-12 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool.
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Prepare Puff Pastry: Unfold the thawed puff pastry sheet on a lightly floured surface. Cut the pastry into 24 squares suitable for mini bite-sized portions.
- Assemble Bites: Place each pastry square into a mini muffin tin or on the baking sheet. Add a cube of brie cheese onto each square, then a spoonful of the cooled homemade cranberry sauce on top.
- Apply Egg Wash: In a small bowl, whisk the egg with 1 tablespoon of water to create the egg wash. Brush the edges of the pastry squares with the egg wash to give a golden finish.
- Bake: Bake the assembled bites in the preheated oven for 15 minutes or until the pastry is puffed and golden brown and the brie is melted.
- Add Toppings: Remove the bites from the oven, sprinkle with chopped walnuts, and garnish with fresh rosemary sprigs for a festive touch.
- Serve: Let the bites cool slightly before serving warm or at room temperature for best flavor.
Notes
- Use fresh or frozen cranberries for the sauce; frozen work well and save time.
- Puff pastry needs to be properly thawed to avoid cracking.
- For a nut-free version, omit walnuts or substitute with seeds.
- These bites can be prepared ahead and baked just before serving.
- Ensure the brie is room temperature before cutting for easier handling.
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
