Easy Cranberry Brie Bites: The Perfect 30-Minute Appetizer
Flaky puff pastry cups filled with creamy melted brie and sweet-tart cranberry sauce, finished with fresh herbs. This 4-ingredient appetizer comes together in just 30 minutes and is always a crowd-pleaser at parties and holiday gatherings.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 24 bites (12 servings of 2 bites each) 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed
- 4 ounces brie cheese, rind removed
- ¼ cup whole berry cranberry sauce
- 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary or thyme, finely chopped
- Optional garnish: flaky sea salt and honey
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Lightly spray a mini muffin tin with baking spray or rub each cup with softened butter.
- On a lightly floured surface, unfold the thawed puff pastry sheet. Cut into 24 equal squares (about 1.5-inch squares).
- Gently press each square into a mini muffin cup, letting the corners stick up slightly. If the pastry feels too warm, refrigerate the tray for 5 minutes.
- Cut the brie (rind removed) into 24 small pieces, about ½ teaspoon each.
- Place one piece of brie into each pastry cup. Top with about ½ teaspoon of cranberry sauce.
- Sprinkle a tiny pinch of fresh rosemary or thyme over each bite.
- Bake for 12-15 minutes, until the pastry is puffed and golden brown and the brie is melted and bubbly.
- Let the bites rest in the pan for 2-3 minutes. Use a small spoon or offset spatula to gently lift them out.
- While still warm, sprinkle a tiny pinch of flaky sea salt over the top. Serve warm.
Notes
Remove the brie rind before using—it doesn’t melt. Keep pastry cold for best puff. Assemble up to 4 hours ahead and refrigerate; bake straight from fridge adding 1-2 minutes. For extra golden pastry, brush with egg wash (1 egg + 1 tablespoon water) before baking. Freeze unbaked bites for up to 3 months; bake from frozen at 400°F for 15-18 minutes.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 bites
- Calories: 170200
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 180
- Fat: 12
- Saturated Fat: 6
- Carbohydrates: 14
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 5
Keywords: cranberry brie bites, puff pastry appetizer, easy holiday appetizer, 30-minute appetizer, brie bites, cranberry appetizer