Cranberry Brie Bites Recipe - Three Ingredients | gritsandpinecones.com (2024)

Date: · Updated: Author: Sharon Rigsby

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Easy Cranberry Brie Bites are a quick, easy, make-ahead Thanksgiving and Christmas appetizer with only three ingredients. And the best part, these luscious bites of heaven take less than 15 minutes to prepare. Serve them next to my Christmas Tree Charcuterie Board for a festive and fun holiday gathering.

Cranberry Brie Bites Recipe - Three Ingredients | gritsandpinecones.com (1)

Light crispy premade fillo (sometimes spelled phyllo) shells are filled with a cube of creamy brie cheese and topped with a dollop of tart festive cranberry sauce. These elegant and delicious cranberry brie appetizers will wow your family and friends, and they will never guess how easy they are to make.

My best advice, make twice as many of these cranberry brie tartlets as you think you will need because they will go fast.

Here’s what you will need:

Cranberry Brie Bites Recipe - Three Ingredients | gritsandpinecones.com (2)

  • Cranberry sauce: a holiday staple, you can use either purchased or homemade.
  • Brie cheese: melted, creamy brie cheese and cranberry topping are a match made in heaven.
  • Premade frozen filo (or sometimes spelled phyllo) shells: light, flaky layers of dough are formed into mini pastry cups, then fully baked andfrozen. These delectable tart shells are versatile and the perfect vessel to hold the brie and cranberry sauce.

How to make them:

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
  2. Cut the brie into one-half inch squares. Cranberry Brie Bites Recipe - Three Ingredients | gritsandpinecones.com (3)
  3. Place a square of brie in each of the filo cups.Cranberry Brie Bites Recipe - Three Ingredients | gritsandpinecones.com (4)
  4. Top the brie with one-half teaspoon of cranberry sauce.Cranberry Brie Bites Recipe - Three Ingredients | gritsandpinecones.com (5)
  5. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet.Cranberry Brie Bites Recipe - Three Ingredients | gritsandpinecones.com (6)
  6. Bake for seven to eight minutes or until the brie is melted and bubbly, and serve warm or at room temperature.

Cranberry Brie Bites Recipe - Three Ingredients | gritsandpinecones.com (7)

Sharon’s Tips:

  • To make Cranberry Brie Bites ahead, make them according to the directions, but do not bake. Place the filled filo shells back in the tray they came in and cover tightly with plastic wrap. Place the tray back in the box and freeze for up to three months. Allow the bites to thaw before baking and bake as directed.
  • Pepper jelly, fig preserves, honey, or your favorite jam or preserves can be substituted for the cranberry sauce.
  • You can make a delicious homemade cranberry sauce by combining one cup of water, one cup of sugar, and a 12 oz bag of fresh cranberries in a saucepan over high heat. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to medium, and cook for 10 minutes. Cool and store covered in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
  • You can substitute puff pastry or crescent roll dough for the mini filo shells. Simply cut the pastry into small squares, and place it into mini muffin cups. Then, follow the rest of the recipe. You may need to add a few minutes to the cooking time.
  • Brie rind is edible, and you can leave it on or remove it before cutting the brie into cubes.
  • Leftovers can be stored covered in the refrigerator for two to three days. To reheat, place them in a 350-degree oven for a few minutes. Do not reheat them in the microwave.

Related recipes:

If you like holiday appetizers like this, you might also be interested in these recipes: Cranberry Pecan Mini Goat Cheese Balls, Bourbon Pecan Brie Bites, Cranberry Jalapeno Cream Cheese Dip, Caprese Skewers with Pesto Dressing, and Blue Cheese Spread. And if you are a fan of cranberries, I hope you will also try my Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad. Come to think about it, you could also fill the filo shells with the chicken salad too!

If you would like even more holiday-themed recipes, check out these roundups of quick and easy recipes from top bloggers around the country: 25 Best Christmas Breakfast/Brunch Recipes, 25 Best Christmas Dessert Recipes, and 31 Easy Homemade Edible Christmas Gifts.

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Cranberry Brie Bites Recipe - Three Ingredients | gritsandpinecones.com (8)

Easy Cranberry Brie Bites Recipe

Sharon Rigsby

Easy Cranberry Brie Bites are a quick and easy, make-ahead, Thanksgiving, and Christmas appetizer with only three ingredients. And, the best part, these luscious bites of heaven take less than 15 minutes to prepare.

4.89 from 9 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 8 minutes mins

Total Time 13 minutes mins

Course Appetizer

Cuisine American

Servings 15 bites

Calories 54 kcal

Ingredients

  • 4 oz Brie cheese ½ of an 8 oz wheel of brie
  • ½ cup cranberry sauce purchased or homemade
  • 1.9 oz pkg frozen mini filo shells 15 shells, sometimes spelled phyllo

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

  • Cut the brie into ½ inch squares. You can remove the rind first if you prefer, or leave it on.

  • Place a square of brie in each of the filo shells.

  • Top the brie with ½ teaspoon of the cranberry sauce.

  • Place the filo shells on a small parchment paper-lined baking sheet.

  • Bake for 7-8 minutes and serve warm or at room temperature.

Notes

  • To make Cranberry Brie Bites ahead, make them according to the directions, but do not bake. Place the filled filo shells back in the tray they came in and cover tightly with plastic wrap. Place the tray back in the box and freeze for up to three months. Allow the bites to thaw before baking and bake as directed.
  • Pepper jelly, fig preserves, honey, or your favorite jam or preserves can be substituted for the cranberry sauce.
  • You can make a delicious homemade cranberry sauce by combining one cup of water, one cup of sugar, and a 12 oz bag of fresh cranberries in a saucepan over high heat. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to medium, and cook for 10 minutes. Cool and store covered in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
  • You can substitute puff pastry or crescent roll dough for the mini filo shells. Cut the pastry into small squares, and place it into mini muffin cups. Then, follow the rest of the recipe. You may need to add a few minutes to the cooking time.
  • Brie rind is edible, and you can leave it on or remove it before cutting the brie into cubes.
  • Leftovers can be stored covered in the refrigerator for two to three days. To reheat, place them in a 350-degree oven for a few minutes. Do not reheat them in the microwave.

Nutrition

Calories: 54kcalCarbohydrates: 5gProtein: 2gFat: 3gSaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 5mgSodium: 30mgFiber: 0.1gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 100IUVitamin C: 0.8mgCalcium: 30mgIron: 0.4mg

Tried this recipe? Tag me today! Mention @gritspinecones or tag #gritspinecones!

**This recipe was originally published on December 1, 2018. It was republished on November 20, 2020, with new photos, expanded directions, and tips.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

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  1. Cranberry Brie Bites Recipe - Three Ingredients | gritsandpinecones.com (13)Brianna

    Hi Sharon! Can I use Phyllo dough and cut it? None of the grocery stores have them in stock!

    Reply

    • Cranberry Brie Bites Recipe - Three Ingredients | gritsandpinecones.com (14)Sharon Rigsby

      Hey Brianna, yes, you can use puff pastry but the preparation is a little different. You will need to cut the pastry sheets into small squares. Then, place them in a mini-muffin pan and press down to fit them in. Use a fork to poke a few holes in the bottom of each one. Add the brie and cranberry sauce and bake for 18-20 minutes at 375 degrees F. Let them cool in the pan for a few minutes and then enjoy!
      I hope you enjoy them!
      Sharon

      Reply

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Cranberry Brie Bites Recipe - Three Ingredients | gritsandpinecones.com (2024)

FAQs

Do you take the top off brie before baking? ›

No, you don't have to remove the rind before baking brie. The rind is edible and I don't even think you can taste it after the brie is baked. If you want to remove the rind, you can use a sharp knife to carefully cut off the thin rind of the cheese at the top of the wheel. This is easier to do when the brie is cold.

What fruit and brie go together? ›

Brie loves being paired with sweet fruit, particularly stone fruits like peaches, figs, apricots and plums. The sweetness and juiciness of stone fruit is a lovely combination with the Brie's creamy texture, making for an easy yet indulgent treat. If stone fruit is out of season, pair Brie with grapes and berries.

How to make brie runny? ›

Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 180°C/350°F (all oven types).
  2. Unwrap brie and place in a small, shallow ovenproof dish slightly larger than the brie (to be used for serving) OR a piece of crumbled baking / parchment paper (for transference). ( ...
  3. Oven: Bake for 15 to 20 minutes (for 250g/80z), or until melted through.
Dec 29, 2021

How long should you leave brie out to soften? ›

Leave cheese for at least 1 hour

Ripe and runny bries for example would appreciate a longer warm-up: even as long as two hours, whilst harder cheddars benefit from an hour out of the fridge. The exception to this rule is fresh cheeses where 30 minutes should be sufficient.

What jam goes best with brie? ›

Brie cheese is the perfect partner to jam! It pairs beautifully with jam varieties, such as: fig, apricot, blackberry, boysenberry or cherry jam.

What do you eat with brie bites? ›

Cranberry jam is another delicious option to use with this, and everyone loves cranberry brie bites (these taste especially well during the holiday season). Of course, you can use tart cranberry sauce if you don't have cranberry jam on hand. Apple butter or apple jam is also delicious with these.

What meat tastes best with brie? ›

Salumi (Fancy Word or Umbrella Term for the Vast Realm of Prepared Italian Meats)
  • Salami.
  • Salami Calabrese.
  • Soppressata.
  • Prosciutto.
  • Coppa.
  • Bresaola.
  • Pepperoni.

What is the eating etiquette for brie? ›

To eat Brie, first remove it from your refrigerator and let it rest at room temperature for about 30 minutes. This allows the brie to become softer and more flavorful as it warms. Once softened, simply slice your brie into small wedges, without removing the edible, flavorful rind.

How do the French eat brie? ›

If you want to serve cheese as the French do, you should serve it to your dinner guests as an individual course before your dessert. Doing this allows the Brie to have a moment in the spotlight. However, many people also serve Brie as an appetizer with fruit, meat, and crackers.

What tastes best with brie? ›

As mentioned, brie's mild, yet buttery and nutty flavor pairs well with so many things. Some examples are salami, prosciutto, pickles, apricots, apples, pears, dates, almonds, candied walnuts, and pecans.

Do you have bread or crackers with brie? ›

Almost all of them can be served with baked brie but in my opinion saltines and water crackers are too bland.
  • baguette - either toasted or not.
  • crusty bread.
  • toast points.
  • buttery crackers like Ritz.
  • whole grain crackers.
  • flax crackers.
  • Wheat Thins.
  • Triscuit.
Jul 31, 2022

What is the best way to enjoy brie? ›

You can eat it at room temperature, hot, spread it on a cracker, slice it in a sandwich, melt it, top it, and the list goes on. What is this? Should brie be served warm or cold? It's best if you serve it at room temperature or warm for the best taste and texture.

What to do with a wheel of brie? ›

Use a knife or the back of a spoon to coat the brie with honey or jam. Don't be scared to smear some along the sides as well. Mix more jam or honey with your prepared toppings of choice, then pile the toppings onto the brie wheel. Bake the cheese in an oven heated to 350°F for about 10 minutes.

Can you overcook brie? ›

Second, don't overcook the brie. Twenty to 25 minutes in a 350°F (180°C) oven without the puff pastry crust, or up to 35 minutes with it, should be enough to heat the cheese through. In fact, overcooking it, especially if you haven't cut the rind, may actually re-harden the cheese and make it tough and unappetizing.

Are you supposed to take the top off of brie cheese? ›

The rind is also edible, so you can enjoy it with the melted cheese, or simply remove the top layer after baking and dunk in crusty bread like a fondue.

Does the cheese skin stay on when serving baked brie? ›

In this baked brie recipe, I do not remove the rind because I need the surface to spread my jam and to add my beautiful nuts and toppings. The rind keeps the wheel of cheese together, and once you take it out of the oven and slice into it, all the gooey deliciousness oozes out like a nice surprise!

Does a brie Baker need a lid? ›

Do You Cover Brie When Baking? No! Bake the brie uncovered, even if you're using the wooden box or a brie baker. Bake with the lid off, and then you can put the lid on after baking to keep it warm before serving.

What happens if you bake brie too long? ›

Be careful not to overbake the brie. The cheese can go from a melty lava-like texture to hard in the middle if it's in the oven for too long.

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