Description
These Cranberry Brie Bites are a delightful appetizer featuring flaky puff pastry filled with creamy brie cheese and sweet cranberry sauce, topped with toasted pecans and fresh rosemary. Perfect for holiday gatherings or special occasions, they bake up golden and delicious in under 40 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Puff Pastry
- 16 oz. puff pastry dough (2 sheets)
Filling
- 1 lb. brie cheese
- 1 cup cranberry sauce (homemade or canned)
- 1 tsp. salt (to taste)
Topping
- ½ cup pecans (finely chopped)
- 2 sprigs rosemary (fresh)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit to ensure it reaches the perfect temperature for baking the puff pastry evenly.
- Prepare Brie: Remove the rind from the brie cheese carefully, then cut the brie into 48 equal-sized pieces to fit into the mini muffin pan cavities.
- Cut Puff Pastry: Lightly flour a cutting board and lay one 8-ounce sheet of puff pastry dough flat. Cut the dough into either 25 or 24 equal-sized squares depending on the shape (square or rectangle) to yield 48 squares total across two sheets.
- Prepare Muffin Pan: Spray a mini muffin pan liberally with non-stick cooking spray to prevent sticking and make removal easier.
- Line Muffin Cavities: Place one square of puff pastry dough into each cavity, pressing it down so that the dough covers the sides at least halfway up to prevent filling spills during baking.
- Add Filling: Place one piece of brie and about 1 teaspoon of cranberry sauce into each dough-lined cavity. Repeat the process until all 48 cavities are filled.
- Season: Sprinkle 1 teaspoon of salt evenly over all the bite-sized pieces to enhance the overall flavor.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 15 to 18 minutes, or until the edges of the puff pastry turn golden brown and crisp.
- Toast Pecans: During the last 5 minutes of baking, place the finely chopped pecans on a baking sheet and roast them in the oven until they are lightly toasted and fragrant.
- Garnish and Serve: Just before serving, sprinkle the toasted pecans over the cranberry brie bites and garnish with fresh rosemary sprigs. Serve warm and enjoy the burst of flavors.
Notes
- Removing the rind from brie creates a creamier texture and prevents a bitter taste.
- Use either homemade or canned cranberry sauce based on preference and availability.
- To easily remove puff pastry from the pan, make sure the muffin tin is well greased.
- Fresh rosemary adds a lovely aroma and flavor; you can substitute with thyme if preferred.
- These bites are best enjoyed warm but can be served at room temperature.
