Why You’ll Love Cranberry Brie Bites Recipe
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It’s quick and easy — ready in about 30 minutes.
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Each bite delivers a perfect contrast: creamy cheese, tart cranberry, and crunchy nuts (and optional herbs) for a satisfying texture.
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It’s extremely versatile — you can easily swap sauces, jams, or toppings for different flavors.
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These bite-sized morsels are ideal for parties: easy to serve, easy to eat, and almost always disappear fast.
Ingredients
(Tip: You’ll find the full list of ingredients and measurements in the recipe card below.)
crescent roll dough (or puff pastry as an alternative)
Brie cheese (a wheel, cut into small pieces — rind left on)
whole-berry cranberry sauce (or your favorite preserve or jam)
finely chopped pecans (or another nut like walnuts, if preferred)
rosemary sprigs (or a herb of your choice for garnish/added flavor)
Directions
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Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and grease a mini (24-cup) muffin tin with nonstick spray.
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On a lightly floured surface, roll out the crescent dough and pinch together any seams. Cut the dough into 24 even squares.
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Press each square into a muffin tin cup so the dough rises evenly up the sides, forming a little “nest.”
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Cut the Brie into small pieces (keeping the rind on). Nestle a piece of Brie into each pastry cup.
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Spoon a bit of cranberry sauce (or jam/preserve) over the Brie in each cup.
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Sprinkle chopped pecans and add a small piece of rosemary (or other herb) on top of each.
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Bake in the preheated oven until the pastry is golden and the cheese is melted — about 15 minutes.
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Remove from oven and let cool slightly before serving warm or at room temperature.
Servings and timing
Makes 24 bites (serves approximately 8 people)
Prep time: about 10 minutes
Total time: about 30 minutes
Variations
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Use puff pastry instead of crescent dough for a slightly different texture and flavor.
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Swap cranberry sauce for other jams or preserves like fig, raspberry, or apricot to change the flavor profile.
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Replace pecans with walnuts, pistachios, or even candied nuts for a unique crunch.
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Add a drizzle of honey or a sprinkle of flaky salt after baking for extra flavor depth.
Storage/Reheating
Store leftover bites in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3–4 days.
For best texture, reheat in the oven or an air fryer until warmed through and the pastry is crisp again.
You can also freeze baked bites once cooled. Store in a freezer-safe bag for up to 3 months. Defrost in the refrigerator before reheating.
FAQs
Can I use puff pastry instead of crescent roll dough?
Yes — puff pastry is a great alternative and gives the bites a light, flaky shell.
Should I leave the rind on the Brie or remove it?
Leave the rind on. It helps contain the cheese during baking and adds flavor.
Can I prepare these ahead of time?
Yes — assemble them ahead and refrigerate unbaked. Bake fresh just before serving.
What if I don’t have pecans?
You can use walnuts, pistachios, or skip the nuts entirely if preferred.
Can I use homemade cranberry sauce?
Absolutely. Homemade cranberry sauce works great—just use the same amount.
Are these bites okay to serve at room temperature?
Yes, they’re delicious warm or at room temperature, though freshly baked is best.
Can I freeze leftovers?
Yes — let them cool, then freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw and reheat before serving.
How do I reheat to preserve crispiness?
Use an oven or air fryer to keep the pastry crisp and the Brie melty.
Can I make smaller or larger bites?
Yes — just adjust the dough size and use a different muffin tin. Adjust baking time as needed.
What can I substitute for cranberry sauce if I want a different flavor?
Try fig jam, apricot preserves, raspberry jelly, pepper jelly, or a honey-nut combo.
Conclusion
Cranberry Brie Bites are the perfect mix of elegance and ease. Whether you’re hosting a holiday gathering, contributing to a potluck, or simply indulging at home, these crowd-pleasing appetizers offer bold flavor in a compact, make-ahead-friendly form. Customizable and quick to prepare, they’re sure to become a staple in your festive recipe rotation.
Cranberry Brie Bites
- Total Time: 25 mins
- Yield: 24 bites
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
These Cranberry Brie Bites are a simple yet elegant appetizer, perfect for holiday gatherings. They combine creamy brie cheese, tart cranberry sauce, and buttery crescent dough in a bite-sized treat.
Ingredients
- 1 (8-oz.) tube crescent dough
- Cooking spray, for pan
- Flour, for surface
- 1 (8-oz.) wheel of brie
- 1/2 cup whole berry cranberry sauce
- 1/4 cup chopped pecans
- 6 sprigs rosemary, cut into 1-inch pieces
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F and grease a mini muffin tin with cooking spray.
- On a lightly floured surface, roll out crescent dough and pinch seams together. Cut into 24 squares.
- Place squares into the mini muffin tin slots.
- Cut brie into small pieces and place inside the crescent dough squares.
- Top each with a spoonful of cranberry sauce, a few chopped pecans, and a small sprig of rosemary.
- Bake until the crescent dough is golden and the brie is melted, about 15 minutes.
- Let cool for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
- You can use puff pastry as an alternative to crescent dough.
- These bites can be made ahead and reheated before serving.
- Try substituting cranberry sauce with fig or raspberry preserves for a twist.
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 15 mins
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bite
- Calories: 95
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 125 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 7 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 12 mg
