Cranberry brie bites are my absolute favorite holiday appetizer to make. With a buttery, baked crescent dough cup that holds rich, melted brie, tart cranberry sauce and crunchy pecans, these brie bites look so gourmet that everyone instantly gravitates toward its serving platter. Little do they know, though, that these snacks only need four ingredients and follow directions that are so simple that you’ll memorize the assembly after the first go.
Perfect for serving from Thanksgiving to Christmas, or any festive get-together that falls in between, our cranberry brie bites recipe might become a yearly request, just like it is in my family.
Ingredients for Cranberry Brie Bites
- Crescent rolls: Grab a can of the best crescent rolls from the store, or challenge yourself to bake a batch of buttery crescent rolls at home.
- Brie: There are lots of different wheels of brie at different price points. Buy the best one that fits in your budget.
- Cranberry sauce: Whole-berry cranberry sauce, not jellied, is what we’re looking for. Our cranberry sauce recipe is perfect, plus it will leave you with extras for your holiday feast. Win-win! Otherwise, buy a high-quality cranberry sauce from the store. My absolute favorite jam and jelly company is Bonne Maman.
- Pecans: You’ll only need a 1/2 cup of chopped pecans for our cranberry brie bites recipe. Some stores sell singular chopped pecan packages that measure to a 1/2 cup exactly, so be on the lookout for those if you don’t want extra pecans. If you want to use candied pecans instead of raw, wait to garnish the brie bites with the chopped candied pecans until after baking, or the candied pecans will burn.
Directions
Step 1: Cut the crescent dough
Preheat the oven to 375°F. Unroll one tube of crescent dough into one long rectangle. Press the perforations to seal them together. With a sharp chef’s knife, cut the crescent dough into 24 pieces.
Step 2: Fill into muffin cups
Lightly press each piece of crescent dough onto the bottom and up the sides of an ungreased mini-muffin cup. Repeat with the remaining crescent dough.
Editor’s Tip: You’ll need two 24-cup mini muffin pans to bake all 48 cranberry brie bites at once. If you only have one pan, bake this recipe in two batches.
Step 3: Fill the cups
Place about 1 rounded teaspoon of brie cheese in each cup. Spoon cranberry sauce on top of each and sprinkle the pecans evenly on top.
Step 4: Bake
Bake the cranberry brie bites until golden brown, 10 to 15 minutes. We like to serve them while they’re still warm and fresh from the oven, but you could serve them at room temp, too.
Recipe Variations
- Explore other cheese options: You’re not just limited to brie here. Camembert, feta, goat and gruyere are excellent contenders. You want a cheese that melts, though, so stay away from hard cheese like pecorino or parmesan. Once you’ve landed on a new cheese, take some advice from our cheese board pairings guide for flavor combinations.
- Try different jams: Our brie bites recipe opts for cranberry jam because it’s a wintery jam, which fits the holiday season. Really, though, you could use almost any jam, like fig, strawberry, cherry, apricot or raspberry. Even savory fillings, like red pepper jelly, a tangy chutney, pesto, caramelized onions or roasted red pepper could work.
- Get creative with herbs: Once these brie bites are baked, garnish with a few small leaves of rosemary, thyme or sage on top. The pop of green and herbaceous flavor enlivens the brie cranberry bites.
- Use another type of nut: Almonds, walnuts or pine nuts make easy substitutes for pecans if desired.
How to Store Cranberry Brie Bites
First, let the brie cranberry bites cool to room temperature. Then transfer them to an airtight container and stash them in the refrigerator for up to four days.
How do you reheat cranberry brie bites?
To reheat the bites from the refrigerator, arrange the brie bites on a baking sheet and bake at 350° until warm, about three to five minutes.
Can you freeze cranberry brie bites?
Yes, you can freeze baked cranberry brie bites to save for later. Place them on a baking sheet and flash-freeze them for an hour. Transfer the frozen bites to an airtight container or resealable container and store them in the freezer for up to two months. Reheat at 350° until warm, about 8 to 10 minutes.
Can you make cranberry brie bites ahead of time?
Yes, in fact, brie and cranberry bites are one of our favorite make-ahead holiday recipes! Fully prep them up to three days in advance, cover the pan tightly with storage wrap so the dough doesn’t dry out and stick them in the fridge. When you’re ready to bake and serve, simply follow this recipe’s baking instructions.
Cranberry Brie Bites Tips
Can I use puff pastry dough instead of croissant dough?
You absolutely can swap in puff pastry dough for croissant dough. One sheet of puff pastry can be used to make 36 cranberry brie bites.
Start by unfolding the thawed puff pastry and rolling it into a 10-inch square. With a sharp knife, cut the sheet into 36 squares. Gently press them into greased miniature muffin cups. Bake at 375° for 10 minutes. After you pull them out, make a 1/2-inch indentation in the center of each, using the end of a wooden spoon handle. Add the cranberry sauce and chopped pecans. Finally, slide the cranberry brie bites back into the oven until they’re golden brown, which should take another six to eight minutes.
Should I take the rind off the brie before baking?
Our brie cranberry bites recipe recommends cutting the rind off the brie before baking. The brie bites are easier to eat without the rind on there. Don’t feel like you absolutely must remove the rind, though. The rind helps the brie keep its shape during baking, so the brie doesn’t spread and ooze as much. And, yes, you can eat the rind on brie.
