Cranberry Brie Bites Appetizer That Steals The Show (Only 4 Ingredients)

Cranberries, brie, and golden puff pastry, yes please!

These tasty cranberry brie bites look elegant but take almost no effort. So, if you’re searching for the ultimate holiday appetizer, they’ll be your new best friend. The little two-bite wonders are buttery, gooey, and bursting with festive flavor. Making them just as welcome at a cozy Thanksgiving dinner as they are at a sparkling Christmas party.

Best of all? These cranberry brie bites are budget-friendly and come together in minutes. They’ll disappear even faster!

What’s In Them?

Ready in less than 30 minutes, these bites are the ideal last-minute appetizer. They’re so good they just might steal the show at your Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner.

• Crescent Dough: This makes the most fuss-free appetizers. It is buttery, flaky, easy to work with, and easy to find.
• Brie: There’s just something about the way brie melts and combines with cranberry sauce that makes these the perfect choice.
• Cranberry Sauce: Of course, it’s perfect for the holidays. But the sweet, tangy sauce also cuts right through the rich brie. It’s culinary balance in every bite.
• Walnuts: These give it a nutty flavor and crunchy element. (Plus, walnuts were what I had in the pantry.) If you sprinkle on top before baking they have a chance to get toasty in the oven.

• 1 (8-oz.) tube crescent dough
• Cooking spray or parchment paper
• 1 (8-oz.) wheel of brie
• 1/2 cup whole berry cranberry sauce (I used canned)
• 1/4 cup chopped roasted unsalted walnuts

Estimated Cost: ~$7-$9 per tube of cresent roll dough, which made about 30 bites for me. But the cost varies if you switch out the cheese. Brie is the most expensive part of this appetizer, but it’s worth it. The gooey way it melts brings this simple dish to life.

Variations Are Easy!

If you’re making it for the holidays, the cranberry sauce gives the most festive flair to these bites. But you have lots of options if you’re looking to switch it up. The best part about this recipe is that you could do many combinations that will turn out delicious.

Here are just a few ideas that would work:

Brie	Preserve	Nuts
Cheddar	Cherry preserves	Walnuts
Goat cheese	Apricot preserves	Pecans
Cream cheese	Hot pepper jelly	Almonds

Looking to make this recipe look even fancier? Grab sprigs of fresh rosemary! Cut them into 1″ pieces and place them on top right before baking.

Step-by-Step Directions

First, preheat your oven to 375 degrees.

Next, Spread out your dough on parchment paper or a cutting board. You can also roll it out with a rolling pin lightly covered in flour to make your dough thinner. I just used my hands and pinched together the seams. Then, I cut the dough into square-like shapes.

Next, cut your brie wheel into pieces and place them on the dough squares. Then, dollup your cranberry sauce with a spoon on top. Finally, add your toasted nuts to the very top and bake in the oven for about 15 minutes. And that’s it!

The first batch turned out so yummy that I added even more toppings to the second batch! The flavor combination is dreamy!

Quick Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375°. Put a piece of parchment paper over a pan. Or grease a pan or mini muffin tin with cooking spray.
2. Pull out your cresent dough and spread it out on a cutting board or sheet of parchment paper. Pinch together the seams. Cut into squares.
3. Place your squares spread out on your baking pan.
4. Cut brie into small pieces and place on top of dough. Top with a spoonful of cranberry sauce and walnuts.
5. Bake bites in the oven until pastry is golden brown, about 15 minutes.

Can I make these ahead? Absolutely! Prep them the night before and keep in the fridge until you’re ready to bake the next day.

Related: Best Thanksgiving Appetizers on a Budget

Smart Money Saving Tips For Cranberry Brie Bites

While these cranberry brie bites are already easy and budget-friendly, these tips help you keep your costs down even more.

Start with what you have

Check your pantry for items you might already have like nuts or cranberry sauce. If you have another nice cheese (like goat cheese) that needs to be used up in the fridge, swap that out too and see what you think.

Leave out the nuts

The walnuts are a wonderful add in to this holiday appetizer, but the dish will still be delightful without them.

Use store brands

I used generic crescent roll dough for this recipe because it was almost a dollar cheaper than Pillsbury at my nearby store. It was just as delicious.

Stretch your ingredients

If you’re on a budget and have a big group to feed, cut your brie squares smaller, so that your cheese (the most expensive part) goes further for the same price.

Buy in bulk

Warehouse clubs and bulk bins stretch your dollar when making large batches. (The walnuts I used were bought in bulk from Costco.)

Love easy, last-minute Thanksgiving or Christmas appetizer ideas? Don’t miss these Charcuterie Skewers >>

What’s Next?

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