Cranberry Brie Appetizer Bites with Puff Pastry

These cranberry brie bites combine creamy brie cheese, sweet cranberry sauce, and flaky puff pastry for a delicious holiday appetizer. Baked with a touch of pecans, they’re an easy and elegant option for Thanksgiving or Christmas. Impress your guests with the best holiday tarts that are quick to make and full of flavor. Pin this recipe now to simplify your holiday entertaining with a crowd-pleasing appetizer!

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Why these are the best cranberry brie appetizer bites

These bite-sized appetizers are very easy! This recipe is as easy as cutting and layering the ingredients.

These appetizer bites use common, simple ingredients. I recommend making your own cranberry sauce, but even that uses only a few common ingredients that you can find at virtually all grocery stores.

These cranberry brie bites taste amazing! The sweet tartness of the cranberry sauce blends with the creamy richness of the brie for an out of this world flavor combination. Add in the flaky puff pastry, crunchy pecans, and a sprig of rosemary and you have a combination that your guests will go crazy over!

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This recipe is freezer-friendly. You can freeze the unbaked appetizer bites ahead of time and bake them when you need them.

This recipe is versatile. I have made my cranberry and brie appetizers in a standard-sized muffin pan, but you can also make them in a mini muffin pan to yield twice as many.

What you'll need to make brie and cranberry appetizer bites

Equipment

• Muffin tin - You can use a standard-sized muffin pan or a mini muffin pan, depending on how big you want your appetizers to be and how many you need.

Ingredients

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See the printable recipe card at the bottom of the page for all measurements and nutritional information.

• Frozen puff pastry - This will need to be thawed but very cold.
• Brie - There are many different kinds of brie, and any of them will work well in this recipe.
• Homemade cranberry sauce - Okay, I'll admit that I am a cranberry sauce snob, but I always make my own. Here are super easy Instant Pot instructions and almost as easy stovetop instructions. If you feel you must, you can use cranberry sauce from the store, but it won't taste as good. My cranberry sauce recipes both contain cinnamon, so you may want to add a pinch if you're using store-bought cranberry sauce.
• Chopped pecans - These are optional but really nice.
• Fresh rosemary sprig - Also optional, but very nice. If you don't like rosemary but want to use an herb, try thyme instead.

How to make cranberry brie puff pastry bites

1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) and lightly grease a muffin tin (or a mini muffin tin).
2. Cut the brie into 12 (or more) small rectangle blocks, all about the same size. The rind is completely edible, so leave it on.
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3. Unfold the sheet of puff pastry dough on a floured surface and cut it into 12 equal squares. Press each puff pastry square into a muffin cup, allowing the corners to stick out slightly.
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4. Place a block of brie in the center of each pastry cup. Top each block with a small spoonful of cranberry sauce, and a sprinkle of pecans.
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5. Bake for 12–15 minutes until the pastry is golden and puffed. Remove from the oven and let cool for 5-10 minutes before serving. Garnish with a pinch of rosemary.
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6. If you have leftover ingredients, but not enough to make another pan of muffin-sized bites, you can cut the pieces smaller and make mini appetizer bites in a mini muffin pan.
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Variations & substitutions

While Brie is traditional, you can swap it for Camembert or even goat cheese for a different flavor profile, or add crumbled blue cheese or gorgonzola for a tangy, bold flavor.

You can use crescent roll dough or phyllo dough instead of puff pastry for a lighter, crispier option. Adjust the cooking time as needed as indicated on the package.

If you're not a cranberry fan, try cherry jam, hot pepper jelly, apricot preserves, or raspberry sauce. You could use almost any fruit spread or preserves and get great results.

Swap the cranberry sauce for fig jam. Add a small slice of prosciutto on top of the Brie before adding the fig jam for a savory-sweet combination.

You can also use caramelized onions in place of the cranberry sauce.

You can use walnuts in place of the pecans.

If you have an allergy to gluten, egg, dairy, or soy, you can find recipes online to make your own dough instead of using store-bought puff pastry, which often contains all four allergens. You can also use another type of dough, including crescent dough, biscuit dough, or another variety of dough that fits your dietary needs.

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Cook's tips for the best puff pastry appetizer bites

If you have any leftover puff pastry, cranberry sauce, and brie cheese you can make mini cranberry brie bites in a mini muffin tin (as shown in one of the images) or make bigger ones for a more substantial appetizer.

Keep the puff pastry cold until you’re ready to use it. If it gets too warm, pop it in the fridge for 5-10 minutes to firm up again.

For extra texture and flavor, add a drizzle of honey before serving or sprinkle with flaky sea salt.

If you don't have a muffin pan or mini muffin pan, place the puff pastry squares on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Fold the edges up slightly to keep the toppings in place.

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Can you make cranberry brie bites ahead?

You can assemble the bites up to 2 hours in advance and store them in the fridge, but don't bake them until you're ready to serve. Bake them fresh just before serving for the best results.

You can also freeze unbaked cranberry and brie tarts. Place the assembled bites on a tray to freeze solid, then transfer to an airtight container. Bake directly from frozen, adding 2-3 minutes to the cooking time.

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Storing leftovers

Storage: Store leftover cranberry Brie bites in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

To reheat, place the bites on a baking sheet and warm them in a 350°F (175°C) oven for 5-7 minutes until the pastry is crisp and the cheese is melty again. Avoid using the microwave, as it will make the puff pastry soggy.

To freeze: You can freeze cranberry and brie tarts before baking. Place the assembled bites on a tray to freeze solid, then transfer to an airtight container and store in the freezer up to 3 months. Bake directly from frozen, adding 2-3 minutes to the cooking time.

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Try these other delicious hot appetizers while you're here:

• Mild Frank's RedHot Buffalo Chicken Dip
• Hot Taco Dip
• Spicy Baked Brie with Apricot Jam
• Hot Pepperoni Dip
• Hot Swiss Onion Dip
• Cream Cheese Garlic Dip
• Prosciutto-Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers
• Jerk Chicken Sheet Pan Nachos
• Loaded Tater Tots Nachos
• Buttered Lemon Shrimp with Old Bay
• Classic Cheddar Cheese Sausage Balls
• Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp
• Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks
• Philly Cheesesteak Egg Rolls

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