These cranberry brie puff pastry bites are a simple, delicious holiday appetizer that always disappears fast. Flaky puff pastry, creamy brie, and sweet-tart cranberry sauce bake into perfect bite-sized treats you can serve for Christmas, Thanksgiving, or any holiday gathering.
If you love easy appetizers like this, you might also enjoy my Easy Christmas Appetizers roundup and my Crescent Roll Apple Dumplings. Both are great for holiday entertaining.
Table of contents
Why I Love This Recipe
These cranberry brie puff pastry bites are an easy holiday appetizer with just a few simple ingredients and fast prep.
They bake into flaky puff pastry brie bites with melted brie and sweet cranberry sauce, making them perfect for Christmas parties or Thanksgiving gatherings.
This recipe is a great way to use leftover cranberry sauce and create a festive bite-sized appetizer everyone loves.
They work with homemade or canned cranberry sauce, so you can make these anytime during the holiday season.
They’re a quick puff pastry appetizer that looks elegant but takes minutes to prepare.
You can serve these warm or at room temperature, making them perfect for entertaining.
Ingredients
One sheet puff pastry, thawed (store-bought is perfect)
Brie cheese, cut into small cubes (triple cream brie melts best)
Cranberry sauce, leftover or canned whole berry, works best
Optional walnuts or pecans, finely chopped
Optional rosemary, one short decorative sprig per bite for garnish (remove before eating)
Instructions
Step 1
Preheat your oven to 375°F. Lightly spray a mini muffin pan.
Step 2
Unfold the cold puff pastry (You want to keep it cold - thaw if frozen). Cut into 24 squares using a knife or pizza cutter. Press each square gently into a mini muffin cup to form a small pastry shell.
Step 3
Cut the brie cheese into cubes. I cut some of the outer edge of the rind off (leaving the top and bottom). Place a cube of brie into each puff pastry cup. Add about 1 teaspoon of cranberry sauce on top of the brie
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Step 4
Bake 12–15 minutes or until the puff pastry is golden and the brie is melted.
Step 5
Let cool for 5 minutes. Garnish with a tiny rosemary sprig if desired and serve warm or room temperature.
Tips for Perfect Puff Pastry Brie Bites
Let the puff pastry thaw in the refrigerator so it stays cold and flaky.
Cut the brie into small cubes so the melted cheese stays contained inside the puff pastry cups. Yes, you can eat the rind! But as mentioned above, I do roughly trim most of the outside edges of rind off. Personally, a piece of brie with the rind on 3 sides is too much for me.
Whole-berry cranberry sauce gives the best texture for these cranberry brie bites.
If using homemade cranberry sauce, reduce any excess liquid so the puff pastry doesn’t get soggy.
Bake until the pastry is deeply golden for the best flavor and crispness.
Using Leftover Cranberry Sauce
If you’re wondering what to do with leftover cranberry sauce after Thanksgiving or Christmas, these puff pastry cranberry brie bites are the perfect solution.
Leftover cranberry sauce works exactly the same as canned cranberry sauce and adds great texture and sweetness. If your sauce is very chunky, lightly mash it before adding it to the pastry cups.
This section naturally targets:
- leftover cranberry sauce recipes
- what to do with leftover cranberry sauce
- recipes using leftover cranberry sauce
FAQs
Yes, but the texture is different. Pie crust makes a sturdier tart, while puff pastry creates light, flaky brie bites.
You can assemble them a few hours ahead and refrigerate before baking. Bake just before serving.
Absolutely. Just drain extra liquid and spoon a small amount onto each brie cube.
Can I use pie crust instead of puff pastry?
Yes, but the texture is different. Pie crust makes a sturdier tart, while puff pastry creates light, flaky brie bites.
Can I make these ahead?
You can assemble them a few hours ahead and refrigerate before baking. Bake just before serving.
Can I reheat them?
Yes. Reheat at 350F for 5–7 minutes to re-crisp the puff pastry.
Can I use homemade cranberry sauce?
Absolutely. Just drain extra liquid and spoon a small amount onto each brie cube.
Storage
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven to restore the crisp puff pastry. Freezing is not recommended because the puff pastry becomes soggy once thawed.
Printable Recipe Card
Cranberry Brie Puff Pastry Bites (Easy Holiday Appetizer)
Ingredients
- 1 Cup Whole Berry Cranberry Sauce Canned or homemade
- 1 Package Puff Pastry I use Jus-Rol brand. It very easy to cut into 24 pieces from the one puff pastry sheet.
- 8 oz Brie wheel I have used different brands and never had an issue.
- Optional - fresh rosemary sprigs garnish. Remove prior to eating.
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F. Lightly spray a mini muffin pan.
- Unfold the thawed puff pastry. Cut into 24 squares using a knife or pizza cutter. Press each square gently into a mini muffin cup to form a small pastry shell.
- Cut brie cheese into cubes. I cut some of the outer edge of the rind off (leaving the top and bottom). Place a cube of brie into each puff pastry cup. Add about 1 teaspoon of cranberry sauce on top of the brie
- Bake 12–15 minutes or until the puff pastry is golden and the brie is melted. I remove the bites from the muffin wells while they are still warm. It's easier to do if the cheese has melted outside of the well.
- Let cool for 5 minutes. Garnish with a tiny rosemary sprig if desired and serve warm or room temperature.
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