Description
Buttery cranberry brie bites featuring flaky puff pastry, creamy brie cheese, and a sweet-tart cranberry sauce. This easy appetizer combines festive flavors and crunchy walnuts, perfect for holiday gatherings and quick entertaining.
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
Puff Pastry Bites
- 1 sheet puff pastry (thawed)
- 1 small wheel brie cheese (about 8 oz, cut into small cubes)
- 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 cranberries, granulated sugar, orange juice, orange zest, water, cinnamon, vanilla extract, and salt. Bring to a simmer over medium heat and cook until the cranberries burst and the sauce thickens, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool.
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Pastry: Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190 degrees Celsius). Roll out the thawed puff pastry sheet on a lightly floured surface and cut it into 24 equal squares.
- Assemble Bites: Place a cube of brie cheese in the center of each puff pastry square. Add about a teaspoon of the homemade cranberry sauce on top of the brie. Fold the corners of each square toward the center to partially cover the filling, creating small parcels.
- Apply Egg Wash: In a small bowl, whisk together the egg and 1 tablespoon of water. Brush the puff pastry parcels lightly with the egg wash to promote a golden color during baking.
- Bake: Arrange the prepared bites on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, spacing them evenly. Bake for 15 minutes or until puff pastry is golden brown and puffed.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove the bites from the oven and garnish each with chopped walnuts and a small sprig of fresh rosemary for added flavor and festive presentation. Serve warm.
Notes
- Use fresh or frozen cranberries interchangeably depending on availability.
- Allow the cranberry sauce to cool for better assembly and to prevent puff pastry sogginess.
- The brie can be substituted with camembert for a similar creamy texture and flavor.
- For a nut-free version, omit the walnuts and garnish with extra rosemary or chopped dried cranberries.
- Ensure the puff pastry is well chilled before rolling and cutting for best puffing results.
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
