Cranberry Brie Bites are a go-to recipe in my list of easy appetizers. I love that I can make these delicious brie cheese bites in less than half an hour and bring them to any party, game day, or holiday get-together without spending much time in the kitchen.
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There’s just something so appetizing and enticing about the shape of these little flaky brie cranberry bites. Trust me, your guests will want one! The flavor is wonderful– a mix of buttery, tender, melt-in-your-mouth pastry paired with creamy, slightly salty cheese and zesty cranberry.
These pair well with some of our other popular appetizer recipes like my cheesy ham crescent rolls, sausage cream cheese crescent rolls, and these savory bacon wrapped smokies.
Why You’ll Love These Brie Cranberry Bites
- Impressive Flavor: These brie and cranberry bites pack so much flavor into one crispy, creamy, and cheesy bite!
- Fast and Easy to Make: This is a beginner-friendly recipe and is so simple to throw together.
- Only 5 Ingredients: Your trip to the grocery store is going to be quick for these cranberry and brie bites. It’s also a great way to use up leftover cranberries after Thanksgiving.
Ingredients
- Refrigerated Crescent Dough: I like to use crescent dough sheets for this recipe, but pre-made rolls would work too! Similar to puff pastry and croissant dough, crescent dough is laminated with layers of butter and irresistibly light, fluffy, and flaky.
- Brie Cheese: Brie cheese is the star here and it's a mild, creamy cheese with a smooth texture that melts in your mouth. The older the brie, the more flavorful it tends to be. You can also substitute a different soft, creamy cheese with a spreadable consistency like Camembert, cream cheese, goat cheese, or Cambozola.
- Whole Berry Cranberry Sauce: Look for the can that says whole berry on it (not jellied). Visible berries in the sauce give the right texture and appearance for this dish.
- Apple: You’ll only be using ¼ cup of diced apple for this cranberry brie bites recipe but it’s enough to add a subtle crunch and a little bit of sweetness that pairs well with the cranberry.
- Fresh Rosemary: Fresh rosemary adds an earthy, woodsy touch. If you prefer, you can leave this out or substitute brown butter sage.
See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.
Variations
- Use Jam: If you're not a cranberry fan, you could also use apricot, fig, blueberry, raspberry, or strawberry jam or even orange marmalade.
- Add Nuts: A little sprinkle of chopped walnuts, pecans, or slivered almonds before baking will add some crunchiness to this appetizer.
- Use Phyllo Cups: Instead of crescent dough, you could use premade phyllo pastry cups and fill them.
- Gluten-Free: For a gluten-free option, look for gluten-free crescent dough and double check that the cranberry sauce is gluten free.
How to Make Cranberry Brie Bites
Before you get started, preheat your oven to 375℉ and spray a 24-count mini muffin pan with nonstick cooking spray.
- Step 1: Mix the Cranberry Sauce and Apples. Add them both to a small bowl and stir.
- Step 2: Cut the Dough. Lightly flour a flat surface and use it to roll out the crescent dough, then cut it into 24 equal-sized square pieces.
- Step 3: Start Assemble. Place one piece of dough in each muffin cup and put a piece of cheese inside.
- Step 4: Add the Cranberry. Then top it with the cranberry and apple sauce and a small piece of rosemary.
- Step 5: Bake. Bake for 13-15 minutes or until the cheese is soft and the dough is golden brown and starting to get crispy. Let them cool a bit before serving. Enjoy!
Hint: Don't Have a Muffin Tin?
You can also bake these on a lined baking sheet. Place the crescent roll squares down, add the brie and spoon in the fruit mixture, then pinch the opposite corners of the dough together to form little square pastry pouches.
Expert Tips
- Storing: We recommend making and serving these fresh! Technically you could keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 1-2 days, but the pastry might get soggy. We do not recommend freezing this recipe, as the leftovers don’t freeze well, and change texture when thawed and reheated.
- Choose a High-Quality Brie: This will give you the best rich, luxurious flavor and texture. Look for double or triple cream.
- Keep the Brie Cold Before Cutting It: Wait to take the brie out when you’re ready to cut it so it stays firm and is easier to cut into neat pieces.
- When Cutting the Dough: Use a pizza cutter or sharp knife and make sure the dough pieces are evenly sized.
- Egg Wash: For a little extra crusty, golden exterior, you can do an egg wash before baking.
Serving Suggestions
Brie bites with cranberry are a favorite festive holiday starter in our family, but you can serve them any time of year! They are great for entertaining or bringing to a potluck.
- Pair these with fresh fruits like pear or apple slices, pomegranate seeds, or fresh or dried figs. Add savory snacks like mixed nuts, a charcuterie board, or olives alongside the brie cranberry bites.
- Serve with a fresh arugula or spinach salad, brown sugar glazed ham, and freshly baked garlic knots.
- These would also go well with this easy chicken tetrazzini or my creamy chicken with mushrooms recipe as the main course.
- For a version that's even sweeter and more like dessert, drizzle honey over the top. Make a batch of homemade cranberry bread to go along with them. The mix of sweetness and tartness is so good!
Recipe FAQs
Yes, you can make these ahead of time. Just store them in the fridge or freezer until you’re ready to bake them. Let frozen ones thaw to room temp before baking, or add more time in the oven.
Yes, you can make yours from scratch or use canned whole berry sauce, either way works!
Yes, you can freeze brie or camembert cheese which makes it easy to buy it on sale and save it for when you want to make these brie bites! It freezes for up to 2 months, just thaw it in the fridge overnight prior to using it.
You can, but you don't have to. The rind is edible but some people prefer brie without the texture of the rind, so you can decide if you want to cut it off or not.
More Delicious Appetizer Recipes
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Cranberry Brie Cheese Bites
Ingredients
- 8 ounce refrigerated crescent dough sheet refrigerated crescent rolls will work too
- 8 ounces brie cheese Cut into 1-inch squares
- ¾ cup whole berry cranberry sauce
- ¼ apple diced
- 2-3 fresh rosemary sprigs
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375℉. Spray a 24-count mini muffin pan with a nonstick cooking spray.
- In a small bowl, mix cranberry sauce and apples until well combined.
- Lightly flour a flat surface. Then roll out the crescent dough, and cut it into 24 equal-sized pieces.
- Place cut dough into the muffin cups and put a piece of cheese inside.
- Top with cranberry and apple sauce. Then, add a small piece of rosemary to each cup.
- Bake for 13-15 minutes or until the cheese is soft and dough golden brown. Let cool for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Serve fresh for the best results!
- Use whole berry cranberry sauce for the most visually appealing filling.
- If you prefer a different fruit than cranberry, customize the recipe with your favorite jam.
- For a shiny, golden finish, brush the crescent dough with egg wash.
Nutrition
*All nutrition information provided is automatically calculated and is an estimate and will vary based on ingredients, brands, and changes in cooking methods listed in the recipe. If you need exact numbers on your ingredients, I would recommend calculating them with your prefered nutrition calculator.
Ryan Allen
These are my new go to appetizer for any occassion.