Cranberry Brie Bites

By Amy Dong
Updated Dec. 18, 2024

5 from 1 vote
4 comments
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Need a quick yet impressive holiday appetizer? These Cranberry Brie Bites are super easy and festive. They’re crunchy, creamy, and packed with holiday flavors.

cranberry brie bites freshly baked. — Cranberry Brie Bites are a show-stopping holiday appetizer that everyone adores!

Why This Recipe Stands Out

These Cranberry Brie Bites are by far one of our favorite party appetizers for the holidays. Here’s why we love this recipe:

Four Simple Ingredients: This recipe transforms 4 simple ingredients into a mouthwatering treat that tastes like it took way more effort than it did.
Creamy Brie Cheese: Brie has a magical ability of staying wonderfully melt-in-your mouth delicious at room temp. It’s the simplest way to elevate almost anything – just check out this Apple Brie Prosciutto Crostini!
Bite-Sized Finger Food: We make Cranberry Brie Bites in mini muffin tins, so they’re perfectly bite-sized and easy-to-enjoy while socializing.
Salty and Sweet: The sweetness of our Fresh Homemade Cranberry Sauce compliments the salty creaminess of the Brie perfectly.

Key Recipe Ingredients

Crescent Dough – Refrigerated crescent dough makes this appetizer seriously easy-to-prepare while still having all the flaky, butteriness of fresh dough.
Cranberry Sauce – Homemade cranberry sauce is recommended for this recipe, but in a pinch, you can opt for jarred cranberry sauce made with whole cranberries.
Brie – Creamy, dreamy Brie cheese is truly the star of this appetizer. We simply can’t get enough of it.
Pistachios – Chopped, roasted pistachios are sprinkled on top of Cranberry Brie Bites for added crunch and festive colors.

Substitutions And Variations

Here are some of our favorite swaps for fun variations:

Change the Preserves: To change the flavor profile of this bite-sized treat, try swapping the cranberry sauce with raspberry jam, blackberry jam, orange marmalade, or fig preserves like we use in this recipe for Brie and Fig Crostini.
Adjust the Topping: In addition to the pistachios, we also think chopped and roasted pecans, walnuts, or roasted almond slices would go great on Cranberry Brie Bites. Try adding these Candied Pecans for even more flavor!
Make them Savory: Make this appetizer completely savory by omitting the cranberry sauce and using Basil Lemon Pesto or crispy crumbled bacon instead.

Step-By-Step Recipe Instructions

cranberry brie bites crescent dough cut into squares.

crescent dough pressed into mini muffin tin for cranberry brie bites.

Roll out crescent dough with seams closed in. Cut dough into 1 inch squares.
Press squares firmly into the bottom and corners of nonstick mini muffin tin. Bake at 350F for 8-9 minutes.

a bowl of homemade cranberry sauce with fresh cranberries.

Once baked, remove crusts from pan and immediately place brie cubes in center of warm crusts. Top with a spoonful of cranberry sauce.
Sprinkle chopped pistachios on Cranberry Brie Bites and serve immediately. Enjoy!

For full list of ingredients and instructions, see recipe card below.

How To Prep Ahead

Here’s some simple tips for making Cranberry Brie Bites in advance:

Make Cranberry Sauce in Advance: If you’re opting for homemade cranberry sauce, it will stay fresh in the fridge for up to 5 days. So, feel free to make this a few days ahead of time.
Pre-cut and Chop: Brie cheese can be cut several days in advance and stored in an airtight container in fridge until ready to use. Nuts can be chopped several days ahead and stored in an airtight container at room temperature.
Assemble Ahead of Time: Feel free to assemble brie bites the night before. Allow them to cool completely before placing in an airtight container in the fridge. Warm them at 350F in the oven until barely heated through.

cranberry brie bites sprinkled with chopped pistachios.

Commonly Asked Questions

What is a good substitute for crescent dough?

Puff pastry dough is your best bet as a substitute for crescent dough.

Do I need to remove the rind from the Brie?

Because Brie is so soft, there’s no need to remove the rind. If you prefer to, you can slice it off, but it’s not necessary.

What is a good substitute for Brie cheese?

Our favorite substitutes for Brie cheese are goat cheese, cream cheese, and Camembert cheese. Most soft cheese will work well in this recipe.

What does Brie cheese taste like?

Brie has a very mild taste and a rich, creamy, buttery texture. It can easily blend with sweet or savory ingredients and is also great enjoyed on its own.

What is a good nut-free topping for Cranberry Brie Bites?

Fresh herbs like rosemary or chives, as well as crumbled bacon, also make great toppings for Brie bites.

Did you make this?

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