Elevate Your Appetizer Game with These Ooey-Gooey Cranberry Baked Brie Bites

Seeking a show-stopping starter for your holiday feast? Baked brie is a much-beloved option — but did you know that you can actually improve upon the timeless classic by pre-portioning the cheesy snack into exquisitely rich bite-sized pieces?

Culinary creator Caitlin Prettyman — the brains behind the blog Kalefornia Kravings — lent us her recipe for cranberry baked brie bites that somehow make an already great appetizer even more outstanding. Here’s what you’ll do: Freeze a block of brie for just 10 to 15 minutes. Meanwhile, cut a sheet of puff pastry (the kind you can pick up in the freezer section of the supermarket) into 16 squares. Cut that chilled cheese into cubes, place each onto its designated piece of puff pastry, then spoon just a touch of cranberry sauce on top. Pop them in the oven for less than 20 minutes, and you’ve got a party’s worth of bite-sized perfection.

Prettyman likes to push this dish over the top by adding some fun garnishes, too. Though optional, a handful of candied pecans will certainly be a welcome addition to your serving tray. Plus, Prettyman elegantly tosses fresh rosemary sprigs around the brie bites to create a subtle woodland vibe. Yes, you’ll automatically impress your guests, but that extra charm is a little gift to yourself, too.

Kalefornia Kravings’ Baked Cranberry Brie Bites

Ingredients

• 1 sheet puff pastry, defrosted
• 4 oz. brie cheese
• ½ cup cranberry sauce (store bought or homemade)
• Candied pecans (optional)
• Fresh rosemary sprigs (optional)

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees and spray a mini muffin tin with cooking spray. (Place the
   brie in the freezer for 10-15 minutes for easy cutting.)
2. Unroll one sheet of puff pastry and cut the sheet into 16 squares. (I did 4 rows by 4
   rows.) Place each puff pastry square in the prepared muffin tin.
3. Remove the brie from the freezer and cut it into cubes. Place one cube in the center of each
   muffin tin and spoon a small amount of cranberry sauce over the top. (Be careful not to add too
   much sauce. These bites puff up a lot and they’ll spew out if they’re overfilled.)
4. Place the pan in the oven and bake for 15-18 minutes or until the puff pastry is golden
   brown.
5. Once done, take the pan out of the oven and let the bites cool for a 2-3 minutes. Run a sharp
   knife around the edge of each cup and pop the bites out of the tin.
6. Garnish with chopped candied pecans and fresh rosemary if desired. Serve immediately.

Recipe courtesy of Caitlin Prettyman, creator of the food blog Kalefornia Kravings.