Flaky puff pastry cups filled with melty brie, sweet cranberry sauce, and a sprinkle of pecans. These elegant, bite-sized appetizers are the easiest showstopper for your holiday party.
Elegant, effortless, and exploding with flavor—these Cranberry Brie Bites are the holy grail of holiday entertaining. They combine all the beloved elements of a baked brie wheel (creamy, gooey cheese, sweet-tart cranberry, buttery pastry, and a nutty crunch) into perfectly portioned, mess-free finger food. Using store-bought puff pastry and cranberry sauce makes them incredibly simple to assemble, yet they bake up looking like they came from a gourmet caterer.
The warm, flaky pastry cups cradle the molten brie, which pairs magically with the bright pop of cranberry and the toasty pecan. Ready in under 30 minutes, these bites are guaranteed to be the first platter emptied at your Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year’s Eve gathering.
The Science of the Perfect Flaky Cup & Melted Cheese
The magic of this appetizer lies in the behavior of two key ingredients under heat: puff pastry and brie cheese. Puff pastry is a laminated dough with hundreds of alternating layers of dough and butter. In a hot oven, the water in the butter turns to steam, forcing the layers apart and creating a tall, airy, and shatteringly flaky cup.
Using a mini muffin tin is crucial—it contains the pastry’s dramatic rise, directing it upward to form a sturdy vessel. Brie, a soft-ripened cheese, has a high fat and moisture content. When baked, its proteins break down quickly, causing it to melt into a luxurious, creamy pool rather than turning oily or rubbery.
The rind is entirely edible and helps contain the melt, making it the perfect choice for a neat, contained filling. Baking them together allows the pastry to become crisp just as the cheese reaches its perfect molten state, creating an irresistible textural contrast in every bite.
Ingredients
For the Bites:
- 1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed (from a 17.3 oz box)
- 1 (8 oz) wheel or wedge of brie cheese
- ½ cup whole berry cranberry sauce (jellied or homemade)
- 24 pecan halves
- Fresh rosemary or thyme, for garnish (optional)
Optional Additions:
- 1 tablespoon honey, for drizzling
- A pinch of flaky sea salt
Instructions
1. Prep: Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Lightly grease a 24-cup mini muffin tin.
2. Cut the Pastry: On a lightly floured surface, roll the thawed puff pastry sheet out slightly to smooth any seams. Using a pizza cutter or sharp knife, cut the sheet into 24 equal squares (approx. 2×2 inches each).
3. Form the Cups: Gently press each pastry square into a cup of the prepared mini muffin tin, letting the corners point upwards. This creates the classic, rustic “cup” shape.
4. Prep the Brie: Cut the brie into 24 small cubes (about ½-inch). It’s easier to cube if the brie is cold. A small piece of the rind is fine on each cube—it adds flavor and structure.
5. Assemble: Place one cube of brie into each pastry cup. Top with about 1 teaspoon of cranberry sauce, then gently press one pecan half on top.
6. Bake: Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the puff pastry is deeply golden brown and puffed, and the brie is visibly melted and bubbly around the edges.
7. Garnish & Serve: Let the bites cool in the tin for 2-3 minutes. Use a small offset spatula or spoon to carefully transfer them to a serving platter. Garnish with fresh rosemary or thyme, and drizzle with honey or sprinkle with flaky salt if desired. Serve warm.
8. Make Ahead Tip: Assemble the bites in the muffin tin up to 4 hours ahead. Cover and refrigerate until ready to bake. Bake directly from the fridge, adding 1-2 minutes to the baking time.
Pro-Tips for Flawless, Impressive Bites Every Time
- Thaw Pastry Properly: Thaw puff pastry in the refrigerator overnight, or on the counter for about 40 minutes. It should be pliable but still cold to the touch for best results.
- Don’t Overfill: The brie will expand as it melts. Use a cube no larger than ½-inch to prevent overflow.
- Pecan Placement: Press the pecan lightly into the cranberry sauce so it adheres and toasts slightly during baking.
- Grease the Tin Well: A light coating of butter or non-stick spray ensures the golden pastry cups release easily without breaking.
- Serve Immediately: These bites are at their absolute peak within 10 minutes of leaving the oven, when the pastry is crisp and the cheese is gloriously gooey.
- Variations: Substitute the cranberry sauce with fig jam, apricot preserves, or a spicy pepper jelly. Swap pecans for walnuts or a sprinkle of chopped pistachios. For a savory twist, add a tiny piece of prosciutto under the brie.
These Cranberry Brie Bites are the perfect marriage of simplicity and sophistication, making you look like a hosting pro with minimal effort.
