Cranberry Brie Bites

Cranberry Brie Bites are the perfect appetizers for dinner or brunch.  If you are looking to use up leftover cranberry sauce or a festive holiday snack this is the recipe for you. 

Over Thanksgiving week, we made this twice.  The first time was as an appetizer on Thanksgiving Day and the 2nd time was for brunch the day after Thanksgiving.  I used homemade cranberry honey sauce that I made the night before.  If you’re in a time crunch you can use canned sauce.  Pillsbury crescent rolls are my go to for this recipe because of their buttery goodness.  Puff pastries could be used in place of the crescent rolls.   

Here is what you will need: 

• 1 (8oz) tube crescent dough

• 8 oz brie cheese

• 1/2 cup cranberry sauce

• 1/4 cup chopped pecans

• 1/4 cup honey

• 1/4 cup flour for surface

Begin by preheating the oven to 375°F.  As the oven preheats sprinkle a little flour on a clean surface to roll the crescent rolls out on.  Pillsbury crescent rolls typically have seams cut into them.  Gently pinch the seams together and cut 24 squares.  I used a pizza cutter to cut my squares out.  Place each square in a greased mini muffin or mini tart pan.

Next, cut or scoop out small cubes of brie cheese.  Sometimes brie is extra soft and difficult to cut.  Simply use a cheese knife and scoop a small piece out and add it to the top of the crescent square. 

Then, add a spoonful of cranberry sauce.  I used cooled honey cranberry sauce from the night before, but canned sauce will work just as well.

After the sauce top with a pinch of crushed pecans.  When choosing the pecans, I grabbed Praline pecans.  Praline nuts are slightly sweeter and crunchier than plain nuts, but any will be fine.

Place in the 375°F oven for 10-15 mins or until golden brown.  It took mine 12 mins.  

Finally, top each square with a drizzle of honey.   These Cranberry Brie bites are great served warm or at room temperature. 

Cranberry red color is beautiful on its own or pair it with a small sprig of rosemary for an iconic red and green presentation.  A white icing would also taste and look great on these little bites.