In this post, I’m going to tell you a really nice appetizer to serve your guests for the holidays. You can obviously serve this at any time, but with the holidays coming up, I wanted to make something special using cranberry jam.
We are making Cranberry Brie Puff Pastry Bites.
These are my absolute go-to. I love making them in a mini muffin tin because they come out perfectly bite-sized. You get that flaky pastry, the creamy cheese, and the sweet-tart jam all in one mouthful. Plus, you can use store-bought puff pastry sheets to make your life easier—and during the holidays, we all need a little “easy!”
Why You’ll Love This
- So Cute & Poofy: Seriously, when they come out of the oven, they are so crispy and puffy. They look like little golden pockets.
- Gooey Goodness: You can see the cranberry and the cheese literally oozing out the top. The texture combination of the crispy shell and the melted brie is just delicious.
- Super Easy: It’s basically three ingredients. If you have a pack of puff pastry, you can easily make a whole tray (24 bites) or just save one sheet for later and make 12.
what you need
Special Equipment
- Mini Muffin Tin (24-cup capacity is best, though you can use a standard tin for larger bites)
- Cooking Spray (Crucial so the cheese doesn’t stick!)
- Pizza Cutter or Sharp Knife
Ingredients
- 1 sheet Frozen Puff Pastry (thawed according to package instructions)
- 3–4 oz Brie Cheese (cold)
- 1/3 cup Cranberry Sauce (homemade jam or whole-berry store-bought)
- Flour (for dusting the surface)
A Few Quick Tips
Because we’re using a mini muffin tin, these stay perfectly contained while they bake. Using store-bought puff pastry is a total pro-move here—it saves you a ton of time without sacrificing any of that buttery, flaky goodness.
When you see that cranberry and cheese starting to bubble over the top, you know they’re ready. There is nothing better than that first bite where the crispy pastry meets the melted brie.
Your guests are going to love these. Let’s get baking!
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Cranberry Brie Puff Pastry Bites
Course: AppetizersCuisine: American-FrenchDifficulty: Easy12
Bites15
minutes12
minutes85
kcal12
minutesThese bite-sized holiday appetizers feature flaky puff pastry filled with creamy melted brie and sweet tart cranberry sauce. They are crispy, gooey, and ready in under 25 minutes.
Ingredients
- Equipment Needed
Mini Muffin Tin
Cooking Spray
Sharp Knife
- Full ingredients list
1 sheet Puff Pastry, thawed (approx. 245g)
4 oz (115g) Brie cheese, cut into 12 small cubes (rind on or off)
1/3 cup (90g) Cranberry sauce or jam
Flour, for dusting
Directions
- Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C). Generously grease a mini muffin tin with non-stick spray.
- Unfold the thawed puff pastry sheet on a lightly floured surface. Using the fold lines as a guide, cut the pastry into 12 even squares.
- Place one square into each slot of the mini muffin tin, pressing down gently to form a cup.
- Place a cube of Brie into the center of each pastry cup.
- Top the cheese with approximately 1 teaspoon of cranberry sauce.
- Optional: Pinch the corners of the pastry together over the filling to create a small “pocket” shape.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the pastry is puffed and golden brown and the cheese is bubbly.
- Remove from oven and let cool for 2 minutes before transferring to a platter. Serve warm.
Notes
- Thawing Tip: Puff pastry usually takes about 40 minutes on the counter to thaw. Don’t let it get too warm, or it won’t puff up as nicely!
- The “Stick” Factor: Make sure to grease the pan. If a bite gets stuck (like one of mine did!), just use a butter knife to gently loosen the edges while it’s still warm.
- Scaling Up: Each box of pastry usually comes with two sheets. You can easily double this recipe to make 24 bites for a larger party.
