Cranberry-Brie Bites with Puff Pastry

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Festive for any holiday gathering yet simple enough for a weeknight dinner party, these cranberry-brie bites are the perfect appetizer. Made with just three ingredients, these bites come together quickly and present beautifully.

a recipe photo of the Cranberry Brie Bites with Puff Pastries served on a platter
Credit: Sara Haas
Active Time:
20 mins
Total Time:
45 mins
Servings:
12
  • With just three ingredients, this appetizer is simple and quick to prepare.
  • Cranberries contain antioxidants, which lower the risk of heart disease.
  • To make these bites gluten-free, try Schär gluten-free puff pastry dough.

These Cranberry-Brie Bites with Puff Pastry will become your most-requested holiday appetizer. Warm, melty brie pairs perfectly with the sweet-tart cranberry sauce, while golden-crisp puff pastry is the vessel that holds it all together. The brie also sneaks in a little protein to help keep your party-goers satisfied longer. Keep reading for our expert tips, including what to serve with your bites.

Tips from the EatingWell Test Kitchen

These are the key tips we learned while developing and testing this recipe in our Test Kitchen to make sure it works, tastes great and is good for you too! 

  • The expiration date for puff pastry can vary by brand, typically six months to a year, making it a fantastic staple to keep on hand.
  • Consider doubling this recipe and storing it in the freezer for holidays or when friends and family visit, regardless of the season.
  • These pastry appetizers can be enjoyed warm or at room temperature. You can keep a batch warm in the oven by wrapping some in foil and placing them in a 200°F oven, or if you have an oven-warming drawer, you can use that. Whatever you do, avoid heating these in the microwave—they'll get soggy.
  • This recipe is a great base for getting creative with extra flavors such as crushed toasted walnuts, pecans or bits of bacon. Feel free to add a touch of green, like a sprig of thyme or other herb.

Nutrition Notes

  • Besides bringing light, fluffy layers to this appetizer, puff pastry adds some carbohydrates, which our bodies love for energy. If you want to make this app gluten-free, look for Schär gluten-free puff pastry dough—it even made our "best of" list for puff pastry.
  • Cranberry sauce doesn't add much nutrition beyond some carbohydrates. But cranberries themselves are loaded with antioxidants, including the antioxidant quercetin, which is associated with a reduced risk of heart disease.
  • Brie cheese, in all of its creamy glory, is considered a bloomy-rind cheese, making the rind completely edible. Brie adds some protein and calcium to this app, which your muscles and bones will love.
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Ingredients

Original recipe (1X) yields 12 servings

  • 1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed according to package instructions

  • 4 ounces brie cheese, chilled and cut into 24 pieces

  • 1 cup cranberry sauce

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Coat a 24-cup mini muffin tin generously with nonstick cooking spray.

  2. Lightly flour a work surface; roll puff pastry dough into a 10-by-15-inch rectangle. Cut the dough into 24 (2½-inch) squares using a knife or pizza wheel (you'll end up with 4 rows of 6 squares each).

  3. Press a square of dough into each cup of the prepared muffin tin. Add 1 brie piece to each cup. Top each with 2 teaspoons cranberry sauce. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 15 minutes.

  4. Remove plastic wrap. Bake until the cheese is melted and the pastry is golden, 16 to 18 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes in the tin before removing.

To make ahead

Assemble the Cranberry-Brie Bites right in the muffin tin, cover in plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to bake.

Equipment

24-cup mini muffin tin

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Is this recipe gluten-free?

    If you make this recipe with a traditional puff pastry, it is not gluten-free. However, our test kitchen tried several puff pastries and came up with a short list of three of their top favorites—one of which is gluten-free. And while store-bought cranberry sauce typically contains no gluten, if you're super sensitive to it, you want to be sure the cranberry sauce is not made in a factory that processes foods containing gluten. If you prefer, you can make your own cranberry sauce for this recipe.

  • Do I need to cut the rind off the brie before baking?

    No, you don't need to remove the rind. We keep the rind on the brie because it's completely edible and fairly mild. If you prefer, you can cut the rind off and discard it.

  • What can I serve with Cranberry-Brie Bites with Puff Pastry?
  • How should I store leftovers?

    Refrigerate the leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat them in a 375°F oven until warmed through.

EatingWell.com, December 2022

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

183 Calories
11g Fat
19g Carbs
4g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 12
Serving Size 2 bites
Calories 183
% Daily Value *
Total Carbohydrate 19g 7%
Dietary Fiber 1g 4%
Total Sugars 8g
Protein 4g 8%
Total Fat 11g 14%
Saturated Fat 3g 15%
Cholesterol 10mg 3%
Vitamin A 64IU 1%
Vitamin D 2IU 1%
Folate 24mcg 6%
Vitamin K 4mcg 3%
Sodium 113mg 5%
Calcium 20mg 2%
Iron 1mg 6%
Magnesium 6mg 1%
Potassium 34mg 1%
Omega 3 1g

Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate.

* Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.)

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.

Additional reporting by
Carrie Myers, M.S.,
Carrie Myers
Carrie Myers is a portfolio entrepreneur with more than 30 years of experience in the health and wellness space. As a writer and editor, Carrie has worked for both consumer and trade print and online publications. She's been quoted in several articles as a health and fitness expert. Carrie is also a certified life and wellness coach and exercise physiologist, and the founder of CarrieMichele Co., a lifestyle company that helps women create lives they love where they can be authentic.
Jan Valdez,

Jan Valdez has years of experience working in test kitchens, primarily in research and development and product development. Her experience in the Good Housekeeping test kitchen in New York City launched a career in professional test kitchens.

and
Linda Frahm
Linda Frahm has been a copy editor and fact checker working with food and nutrition content for the past 30-plus years for consumer print and online publications.