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Golden puff pastry cranberry brie bites topped with cranberry sauce and nuts, served as an elegant appetizer.

Cranberry Brie Bites

Olivia Carter
These little guys are dangerously good. Think flaky puff pastry, gooey brie, a hit of tangy cranberry sauce, crunchy walnuts, and a tiny pinch of sea salt on top. Sweet, salty, creamy, crunchy—basically a party in one bite. And the best (worst?) part: they’re super easy to make, so yeah, prepare to “taste test” half the tray yourself.
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20 minutes
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
chill time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
COST Around $10–15
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American
Keyword cranberry brie bites
Servings 24 mini bites
Calories 110 kcal

Equipment

  • Mini muffin pan 24 cups
  • Cooking spray
  • Rolling Pin
  • knife
  • Small bowl
  • Spoon
  • oven

Ingredients
  

  • 1 sheet frozen puff pastry
  • 1 round brie cheese 8 oz
  • ½ cup cranberry sauce
  • ½ cup chopped walnuts
  • 1 pinch sea salt
  • Cooking spray

Instructions
 

  • Get the brie ready (trust me on this): Slice off the rind and toss it (or keep it if you like that funky, earthy vibe—it's edible and totally your choice). Pop the brie in the freezer for about 20 minutes. Why? Because cutting soft brie is chaos—slightly frozen brie means clean cuts and way less mess.
    A wheel of brie cheese being trimmed and prepared before chilling to make slicing easier and cleaner.
  • rep the pan and pastry: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Lightly grease the mini muffin pan so nothing sticks (future you will be very happy). Roll out the puff pastry on a floured surface into a rectangle, then cut it into 24 small squares. Press each square into the muffin cups—don’t worry about perfect edges; “rustic” is the aesthetic.
    Puff pastry squares being shaped into a mini muffin tin to form bite-sized appetizer cups.
  • Fill them up: Grab the brie from the freezer and cut it into 24 pieces. Now build each bite: About 1 teaspoon of cranberry sauce, 1 piece of brie, A sprinkle of walnuts, Tiny pinch of salt. Try not to overfill them—these puff up in the oven and can be a little dramatic.
    Small cubes of brie cheese placed inside puff pastry cups before baking.
  • Chill (yes, for real): Slide the whole pan into the fridge for at least 30 minutes. Waiting can be a little bothersome, but this process results in a flaky, golden pastry reminiscent of those from a bakery, rather than just flat dough. Totally worth the patience.
    Cranberry sauce being spooned onto brie in puff pastry cups, creating a sweet and savory combination.
  • Bake to golden perfection: Straight from the fridge into the oven. Bake 18–20 minutes, until they’re puffed, golden, and the brie is beautifully melty. At this stage, your kitchen will have an incredible aroma, so try not to burn your mouth by sampling one too soon.
    Unbaked cranberry brie bites topped with chopped nuts, arranged before going into the oven.
  • Serve (and watch them disappear): Let them cool for a few minutes, then pop them out and serve. Want to look fancy? Sprinkle a little rosemary or thyme around the plate. Want to keep it real? Eat them straight from the pan over the counter—zero judgment.
    Freshly baked cranberry brie bites with melted cheese and cranberry topping ready to serve.

Notes

  • Make-ahead magic: Assemble up to 3 days in advance, then bake when needed—perfect for pretending hosting is “no big deal.”
  • Rind or no rind: No rind means extra creamy; rind on adds more flavor—do whatever your taste buds like.
  • Avoid soggy pastry: If your cranberry sauce is very runny, chill it first to thicken.
  • Switch it up: Not into walnuts? Use pecans, almonds, or skip the nuts completely—still delicious.
  • Reheating tip: The oven keeps them crisp and amazing; the microwave makes them soft and a bit sad—go for the oven if you can.
 

NUTRITION (Per Bite – Approx.)

  • Calories: 110 kcal
  • Fat: 8 g
  • Carbs: 7 g
  • Protein: 3 g