I never thought adding brie to puff pastry could be so easy until my neighbor brought these raspberry brie bites to our block party last summer. Growing up, fancy appetizers meant throwing some cheese and crackers on a plate and calling it done.
That’s because I always assumed working with puff pastry would be tricky and time-consuming. Turns out, I was totally wrong. These little bites need just a few ingredients and about 20 minutes of your time. Even my kids can help put them together, which makes them perfect for last-minute guests or holiday gatherings.
Why You’ll Love These Brie Bites
- Quick appetizer – With just 5 ingredients and less than 45 minutes, you can have an impressive appetizer ready for your guests.
- Simple ingredients – You only need puff pastry, brie, and a few pantry staples to create these elegant little bites – no fancy ingredients required.
- Make-ahead friendly – You can assemble these bites ahead of time and pop them in the oven just before your guests arrive, making entertaining stress-free.
- Perfect party food – These handheld bites combine creamy brie, sweet raspberry, and flaky pastry for a crowd-pleasing appetizer that disappears fast at gatherings.
What Kind of Brie Should I Use?
When shopping for Brie, you’ll find both double and triple cream varieties at most grocery stores – either type will work perfectly in these puff pastry bites. Double cream Brie has a milder, buttery flavor while triple cream is richer and creamier, so choose based on your preference. The white rind is totally edible and adds a nice texture, but you can trim it off if you prefer (though it’s not necessary for this recipe). For the best melting quality, make sure your Brie is at room temperature before using it, and try to select a wheel that feels soft when you gently press the center with your thumb.
Options for Substitutions
Need to make some swaps? Here are some helpful substitutions for this recipe:
- Puff pastry: While puff pastry gives the best flaky texture, you can use crescent roll dough in a pinch. Just know the texture won’t be quite as light and airy.
- Brie cheese: If Brie isn’t your thing, try Camembert for a similar creamy texture. You could also use cream cheese mixed with a little heavy cream, though you’ll lose some of that special Brie flavor.
- Raspberry preserves: Feel free to swap in any fruit preserves you like – strawberry, apricot, or fig jam all work great here. Just make sure to use preserves rather than jelly for the best texture.
- Brown sugar: Regular white sugar works fine, or try honey for a different kind of sweetness. Use about 1 tablespoon of honey instead of the brown sugar.
- Dijon mustard: Whole grain mustard can step in for Dijon, or leave it out if you’re not a mustard fan – it just adds a tiny kick that balances the sweet and creamy elements.
Watch Out for These Mistakes While Baking
The biggest challenge when working with puff pastry is temperature control – if it gets too warm while you’re assembling these bites, the butter layers will melt together and you’ll lose that perfect flaky texture, so keep the pastry chilled until right before use and work quickly. The second common mistake is overfilling the pastry cups – while it’s tempting to load them up with extra brie and preserves, too much filling will bubble over during baking and create a sticky mess, so stick to about 1-2 teaspoons of filling per bite. To ensure the crispiest bottom crust, avoid placing the bites on a dark-colored baking sheet which can cause burning – instead, use a light-colored pan lined with parchment paper and bake in the middle rack of your oven. For the best results, let these bites cool for 5-7 minutes before serving – they’ll be much easier to handle and the filling will have time to set slightly.
What to Serve With Brie Puff Pastry Bites?
These cheesy, sweet bites make a perfect appetizer for parties, and they pair really nicely with a few other nibbles to round out your spread. A bowl of mixed nuts like marcona almonds or candied pecans adds a nice crunch that complements the creamy brie. Since these bites lean toward the rich side, I like to balance them with some fresh fruit like green grapes or sliced pears on the platter. For drinks, try serving these with a crisp white wine like Sauvignon Blanc or even some sparkling apple cider if you’re keeping things alcohol-free.
Storage Instructions
Keep Fresh: These raspberry brie bites are best enjoyed right after baking when the pastry is crispy and the cheese is perfectly melted. If you have leftovers, place them in an airtight container and keep them in the fridge for up to 2 days. Just know that the pastry might lose some of its crispiness.
Make Ahead: Want to prep these ahead? You can assemble the bites and keep them unbaked in the fridge for up to 24 hours. Just cover them well with plastic wrap and bake them fresh when you’re ready to serve. The pastry might need an extra minute or two in the oven if you’re baking from cold.
Warm Up: To enjoy leftover bites, pop them in a preheated oven at 350°F for about 5-7 minutes. This helps bring back some of that lovely crispiness to the pastry and makes the cheese all melty again. I wouldn’t recommend microwaving them as this can make the pastry soggy.
| Preparation Time | 20-30 minutes |
| Cooking Time | 12-15 minutes |
| Total Time | 32-45 minutes |
| Level of Difficulty | Easy |
Estimated Nutrition
Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):
- Calories: 700-800
- Protein: 15-20 g
- Fat: 50-60 g
- Carbohydrates: 60-70 g
Ingredients
For the pastry bites:
- 2 tbsp raspberry preserves (I use Bonne Maman)
- 7.5 oz brie cheese (cut into 1-inch pieces)
- 1 puff pastry sheet (thawed according to package directions)
For the topping:
- 0.5 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1.5 tbsp light brown sugar
Step 1: Prepare the Baking Equipment and Puff Pastry
Begin by lightly greasing a 24-cup mini muffin tin with nonstick cooking spray and set it aside.
Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F.
If you are using darker coated pans, consider reducing the temperature to 350 degrees F to prevent over-browning.
Dust your counter with a light coating of flour.
Gently press the sheet of puff pastry out with your hands until it forms an even thickness measuring about 12X12 inches.
You want to flatten it slightly without thinning it out too much.
Step 2: Cut and Shape the Puff Pastry
Using a knife or pizza wheel, cut the puff pastry into 25 equal squares by slicing five strips in each direction.
Lightly press one square into each cup of the prepared mini muffin tin.
You will have one extra square, which you can toss or bake separately.
Bake the pastry-filled muffin tin for about 8-9 minutes, until the pastry is lightly golden and puffed up.
Step 3: Create Space for the Fillings
Once baked, remove the muffin tin from the oven.
Using the rounded, blunt edge of a spoon or spatula, or even your finger, gently press down the center of each puffed pastry cup to flatten out the middle, making room for the fillings.
Step 4: Add Filling Ingredients
Cut the Brie cheese into 24 approximately 1/2-inch cubes.
If you’re working with the rounded edge of a cheese wheel, you can combine two smaller pieces to make a cube if needed.
Divide the raspberry jam evenly among the pastry cups.
If the jam is too thick to drizzle, lightly warm it to make it easier to pour.
Place a piece of Brie on top of each portion of jam.
Step 5: Season and Melt the Cheese
Mix together a small amount of brown sugar and Dijon mustard, then sprinkle this mixture evenly over the tops of the Brie cheese cubes.
Return the muffin tin to the oven and bake for an additional 4-6 minutes until the cheese has melted.
Watch carefully to avoid burning the puff pastry.
Step 6: Serve and Enjoy
Once melted, remove the appetizer bites from the oven.
Serve immediately for the best texture and flavor, although these bites are also delicious at room temperature.
Enjoy your Brie and Raspberry Jam Puff Pastry Bites!
