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These little pastry Brie and Cranberry Bites are THE taste of Christmas. They’re delicious, so easy to make and ideal for serving up as a starter or as canapés at a party.
You can also mix this recipe up a bit with different fillings. I use whatever cheeses I have leftover and make a batch of these in a similar way – the perfect way to finish off your festive cheeseboard.
Cheese and pastry are two of the great joys in life, I think we can all agree. This is a super simple way to bring them together!
All you have to do is add your filling ingredients to a bed of (ready-made) puff pastry, pop them in the oven and you’ve got a perfectly formed Christmas Canapé.
These are ideal for serving as a starter if you’re cooking for a crowd, or just while serving drinks, opening presents or with a glass of mulled wine.
And if you’re catering to a number of tastes, there are plenty of easy filling options (see below).
Why you’ll love this Brie and Cranberry Bites recipe
⭐️ Ready in just 30 minutes
⭐️ Hardly any prep needed
⭐️ A great way to use leftover cheese
Sarah’s Notes
I love to make my own easy canapés and nibbles at Christmas because they’re…
a) more impressive
b) more delicious
c) way more cost effective – and
d) fun to make!
If you can make time in the usual chaos that is the festive season to make a few of your own creations, I promise you’ll never look back.
More filling ideas
As well as the Brie and Cranberry classic combo for these canapés, you could also try:
- Leftover chunks of Christmas ham
- Pecan nuts
- Crispy bacon bits – Fry them off before sprinkling on top
- Pine nuts
- Chorizo chunks – Fry until crispy before sprinkling on top
- A drizzle of honey after cooking
- Leftover cooked turkey chunks
- Chunks of leftover cooked stuffing
- Stilton and chutney instead
- Leftover pigs in blankets
Brie and Cranberry Bites ingredients
- Olive oil – This is for greasing a 12 hole muffin tin
- Puff pastry sheet – I like ready rolled sheets
- Cranberry sauce – Either shop-bought or your own homemade Cranberry Sauce
- Brie – I leave the rind on as it helps to keep the shape of the cheese
- Egg – This is to brush on the pastry
- Sea salt
- Runny honey – Optional. To drizzle on at the end
TYpe of Brie and Cranberry Sauce
This is purely down to personal preference on which kinds you use.
For the brie, I go for whatever I fancy from the shops! While it’s a classically French cheese, I also like to experiment at Christmas and the British bries are lovely too.
I would recommend making sure it’s got plenty of flavour so you can taste it when it’s melted.
For the sauce, I like to make a homemade batch at Christmas. See my Cranberry Sauce recipe here, but shop bought from a jar also works just as well.
How to make Brie and Cranberry Bites
1. Cut the pastry sheet into 12 squares and push into a muffin tin that’s been brushed with olive oil.
2. Spoon the cranberry sauce and then brie into each pastry case. Brush with egg, sprinkle salt and drizzle with honey, then bake according to the recipe below.
Substitutions
- Leftovers – Have a go at adding any leftovers into the parcels that you think will work. Anything from Baked Camembert or cheeses and chutneys to olives and nuts would be delicious
Leftovers
In the fridge You can keep these in the fridge for 3 days. You can eat them cold or reheat fully in the microwave or oven before serving.
In the freezer This recipe freezes well. Just wait until they are totally cold and then put into a freezer proof container and freeze for up to 3 months.
How to make ahead
Keep these in the fridge uncooked, and covered, for up to 3 days in advance.
When you’re ready, remove them from the fridge and bake.
Top Tips
Pastry
If you’re time rich, feel free to make your own puff pastry. BUT if you’re like me and need the extra time, ready-made puff pastry is the answer! I like to use fresh puff pastry (from the chiller aisle), but you could also use frozen puff pastry. Just make sure it is fully defrosted before you come to use it.
Remove the pastry from the fridge about 10 minutes before you intend to use it for best results.
Serve these warm
These can be served cold but honestly you’re missing a trick if you don’t serve these while they’re still warm and oozing gooey brie – just the best.
More homemade festive treats…
Christmas Recipes
Puff Pastry Mince Pies {Just 4 Ingredients!}
Christmas Recipes
Smoked Salmon Canapés
Christmas Recipes
Nutella Christmas Tree
Light Bites
Prawn Cocktail
FAQ
This makes 6 servings, depending on how many people will want to eat, so if you want more you’ll need to adjust the ingredients accordingly.
The good news with this recipe is, apart from the pastry, you can be a bit free and easy with how much of everything you can put in each one.
Let me know how you got on and what you thought of these recipes. Please rate the recipe using the ⭐️ below.
Also I’d LOVE to see your cooking creations. If you’d like to share yours with me, you can tag me on Instagram (@tamingtwins).
Brie and Cranberry Bites {The BEST Christmas Canapés}
Ingredients
- 320 g (11 oz) Ready-rolled puff pastry sheet
- 100 g (3.5 oz) Cranberry sauce, From a jar or homemade
- 150 g (5 oz) Brie, Cut into 12 pieces
- 1 Egg, Beaten
- Olive oil, For greasing
To serve:
- Sea salt
- Runny honey
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 200℃/400F fan, 220℃/425F or Gas Mark 7 and brush the inside of the 12 holes of the muffin tin with the olive oil.
- Unroll the puff pastry sheet, cut it into 12 squares and push into each muffin hole. Spoon a little of the cranberry sauce into each pastry square, then sit a piece of brie on top. Brush the pastry with beaten egg.
- Bake in the oven for about 20-25 minutes or until crisp and golden.
- Remove from the oven, sprinkle with salt and drizzle with honey to serve.
Notes
- Pecan nuts
- Crispy bacon bits – Fry them off before sprinkling on top
- Pine nuts
- Chorizo chunks – Fry until crispy before sprinkling on top
- A drizzle of honey after cooking
- Leftover cooked turkey chunks
- Chunks of leftover cooked stuffing
- Stilton and chutney instead
- Leftover pigs in blankets
- Leftover chunks of Christmas ham
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This post was originally published on December 14, 2017 and updated later to make improvements.
all printed out and ready for the Big Day !! Thank you Sarah (and Team) for taking the Stress and Worry out of, what is essentially a bloody big Sunday Lunch (which I do every week but I still get frantic !!)
These look great! How long would you reheat for in the oven?
Can you freeze the uncooked brie and cranberry – if so do you defrost or cook from frozen and how long for please.
I made these for visiting family last year and they’re definitely going on my list again this year. So easy but impressive and taste amazing!
Love your recipes.
Hello! These look so yummy! Can I use a 24 mould mini muffin tin – how do I need to adjust the temperature and baking time please? Thanks!
Got some cranberry sauce that needs using, bought pastry. Job done . Would you cook from frozen.