Cranberry Brie Bites are our go-to bite-size appetizer during the holidays!
They’re made with crescent dough, creamy brie, whole berry cranberry sauce, chopped pecans, and rosemary and bake in a mini muffin tin until golden, melty, and party-ready.
We love these for Thanksgiving, Christmas, holiday parties, and appetizer boards because they look fancy but are so simple to make. The combination of simple, festive flavors make every bite feel special.
They take just a handful of ingredients and about 15 minutes in the oven, making them a favorite for last-minute gatherings. If you love these, also try Baked Brie, Cranberry Salsa and Sausage Cream Cheese Crescent Rolls.
Why you’ll love it + Why it works:
- Quick Appetizer: These bites take only about 15 minutes to bake, making them helpful when you are short on time.
- Party Ready: Their small size makes them easy for guests to grab and enjoy without needing plates or utensils.
- Creamy Brie: Brie melts beautifully in the oven, giving every bite a rich, soft center.
- Sweet and Savory: Cranberry sauce, pecans, and rosemary balance the creamy cheese and buttery dough with sweet, tart, nutty, and herby flavors.
Cranberry Brie Bites Ingredients
- Crescent Dough (1 (8-ounce) tube): Creates the flaky, golden base for each bite. Refrigerated crescent dough makes this recipe especially quick and easy.
- Flour (for surface): Keeps the crescent dough from sticking as you roll it out and cut it into squares.
- Brie (1 (8-ounce) wheel): Melts into a creamy, buttery center that pairs beautifully with the cranberry topping. Remove the rind if you prefer a smoother filling, although it is completely edible.
- Whole Berry Cranberry Sauce (½ cup): Adds sweet-tart flavor that cuts through the richness of the Brie. Homemade or canned whole berry cranberry sauce both work well. Use store-bought or Homemade Cranberry Sauce, or try blueberry, strawberry, apricot, raspberry jam, orange marmalade, or pepper jelly.
- Chopped Pecans (¼ cup): Adds a little crunch and nutty flavor to contrast with the soft melted cheese.
- Rosemary (6 sprigs, cut into 1-inch pieces): Adds fresh herbal flavor and gives these bites their festive holiday look. Fresh rosemary works best here. You can also add a drizzle of honey.
How to Make Cranberry Brie Bites
PREP. Preheat oven to 375°F.
DOUGH. Roll out crescent dough on a lightly floured surface. Pinch together seams and cut into 24 squares. Place squares into greased mini muffin tin slots.
CHEESE. Chop brie into small pieces and place inside the crescent dough. Top with a spoonful of tart cranberry sauce, chopped pecans, and one small sprig of fresh rosemary.
BAKE. Bake for 15 minutes, or until golden.
Kristyn’s Recipe Tips
- Work fairly quickly with the crescent dough so it stays easy to handle and holds its shape in the mini muffin tin.
- Small pieces of Brie melt more evenly and make it easier to get cheese into every bite.
- Use just a spoonful of cranberry sauce so the filling stays inside the crescent cup as it bakes.
- Use small rosemary pieces so the herb adds flavor without overpowering the cranberry and Brie.
- If serving appetizers before dinner, plan about 6 total appetizer pieces per person.
- If appetizers are being served at a cocktail party, plan for people to eat 12 total appetizer pieces.
Cranberry Brie Bites Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- 1 (8-ounce) tube crescent dough
- flour for surface
- 1 (8-ounce) wheel brie
- ½ cup whole berry cranberry sauce
- ¼ cup chopped pecans
- 6 sprigs rosemary cut into 1" pieces
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- Roll out crescent dough on a lightly floured surface. Pinch together seams and cut into 24 squares. Place squares into greased mini muffin tin slots.
- Chop brie into small pieces and place inside the crescent dough. Top with a spoonful of cranberry sauce, chopped pecans, and one small sprig of rosemary.
- Bake for 15 minutes, or until golden.
Notes
- Work fairly quickly with the crescent dough so it stays easy to handle and holds its shape in the mini muffin tin.
- Small pieces of Brie melt more evenly and make it easier to get cheese into every bite.
- Use just a spoonful of cranberry sauce so the filling stays inside the crescent cup as it bakes.
- Use small rosemary pieces so the herb adds flavor without overpowering the cranberry and Brie.
- If serving appetizers before dinner, plan about 6 total appetizer pieces per person.
- If appetizers are being served at a cocktail party, plan for people to eat 12 total appetizer pieces.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe FAQ
Prepare these cranberry and brie bites up to 24 hours in advance, but don’t add the cranberry sauce until right before baking. Cover the mini muffin pan with plastic wrap and store the cranberry sauce separately.
Keep leftover brie appetizers in a single layer in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days. Heat them up in a warm oven for a few minutes or use the microwave.
Place on a baking sheet and flash freeze for at least 2 hours. Then, transfer to a freezer-safe bag and store for up to 2 months in the freezer.
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This recipe was first published in November, 2019.
Silly question…I don’t own a mini muffin pan–but I do own the traditional size muffin pan. Can I just use that instead?
Not a silly question at all! Yes, you can use a regular muffin pan instead of mini. Just expect fewer, bigger bites and longer bake time. Start checking them a few minutes after the original bake time and go from there. Enjoy!
If freezing, do you bake them first or freeze uncooked?
I haven’t tried freezing them unbaked so I’m not sure how well they would do, but you could bake them, cool, and then freeze.
Thanks, easy appetizer.
These look so festive and will definitely be going on our holiday list, but I do have a dumb question, are you to eat the whole sprig of Rosemary in each cup or is it just for decoration, as rosemary can be pungent.
Not a dumb question at all!! I typically include the small sprig of rosemary when cooking, for the flavor. Then you can certainly remove before eating though. Hope you enjoyed the bites!
Had these appetizers for Thanksgiving. They were amazing.