There’s something magical about serving warm, melty brie at a party. I’ve noticed how guests’ eyes light up when they spot anything with this creamy cheese on the appetizer table. These Puff Pastry Brie Bites have become my go-to when hosting, and not just because everyone loves them. They’re actually pretty simple to put together, which means less stress for me before company arrives.
I usually prep these little bites while I’m getting other party dishes ready. The pastry can be cut and filled ahead of time, then popped in the oven right before guests show up. That wonderful smell of buttery pastry fills the kitchen, and suddenly my house feels ready for a celebration. Best part? They disappear so quickly that there’s hardly any cleanup afterward.
Whether you’re planning a fancy get-together or just want to make movie night feel special, these brie bites fit right in. Trust me, once you see how easy they are to make, they’ll become your party standby too.
Why You’ll Love These Brie Bites
- Perfect party appetizer – These bite-sized treats are ideal for holiday gatherings or cocktail parties – they’re easy to grab and eat while mingling.
- Make-ahead friendly – You can prep these bites in advance and pop them in the oven just before your guests arrive, making entertaining stress-free.
- Simple ingredients – With just puff pastry, brie, and your choice of jam, plus a few garnishes, you can create these impressive-looking appetizers without any fancy ingredients.
- Customizable flavors – While this recipe uses cranberry sauce, you can easily swap in your favorite jam or preserve to create different flavor combinations that suit your taste.
What Kind of Brie Should I Use?
For these puff pastry bites, you’ll find that most types of brie will work beautifully, whether it’s a regular supermarket brie or something from a specialty cheese shop.
The key is choosing a brie that’s firm and cold, which makes it much easier to cut into small pieces without making a mess.
If your brie is too ripe and runny, it’ll be harder to work with and might leak out during baking.
You can keep the rind on (it’s totally edible and adds a nice texture) or cut it off if you prefer – though leaving it on helps the cheese hold its shape better while baking.
For the best results, pop your brie in the freezer for about 15 minutes before cutting it, which makes it much easier to get clean, neat pieces.
Options for Substitutions
Need to switch things up with these cheese bites? Here are some helpful swaps you can try:
- Puff Pastry: Store-bought puff pastry is a must here – it’s not really something you can substitute. Just make sure to thaw it properly in the fridge overnight.
- Brie cheese: While brie is perfect for this recipe, you can try camembert for a similar texture. Goat cheese or cream cheese will work too, though they’ll give a different flavor profile.
- Cranberry sauce: Feel free to swap the cranberry sauce with any fruit jam or preserve you like – fig jam, raspberry preserves, or apricot jam all work great here. You could even try honey or maple syrup for a different twist.
- Pecans: Not a fan of pecans? Try walnuts, almonds, or pistachios instead. You can even leave them out if you’re dealing with nut allergies.
- Fresh rosemary: If you can’t find fresh rosemary, you can use fresh thyme instead. Dried herbs aren’t the best choice here since they’re used as a garnish, but in a pinch, you could skip the herbs entirely.
- Flaky sea salt: Regular kosher salt works fine if you don’t have flaky sea salt, just use a bit less since it’s more concentrated.
Watch Out for These Mistakes While Baking
The temperature of your puff pastry is crucial – working with pastry that’s too warm will make it sticky and difficult to handle, while too cold pastry will crack and break when you try to fold it. For best results, let your pastry thaw in the refrigerator overnight and work with it when it’s just pliable enough to fold but still cool to the touch.
A common mistake is overfilling these bites – too much brie or cranberry sauce will cause the filling to leak out during baking, so stick to about 1 teaspoon of each filling per bite. The third key mistake to avoid is forgetting to seal the edges properly – use a fork to crimp the edges firmly, and make sure there are no gaps where the filling can escape.
For the crispiest results, don’t skip the step of cutting small vents in the top of each bite, as this allows steam to escape and prevents the pastry from becoming soggy, and always make sure your oven is fully preheated to the right temperature before baking.
What to Serve With Brie Bites?
These cheesy puff pastry bites are perfect for serving at parties alongside other finger foods and appetizers.
A crisp white wine like Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio makes an excellent drink pairing, helping to cut through the richness of the brie.
I love setting these out with a mix of sweet and savory nibbles – think fresh fruit like grapes and sliced pears, or some mixed olives and marcona almonds.
For a more substantial spread, add some sliced prosciutto or other cured meats to create an easy appetizer board that your guests can graze on throughout the evening.
Storage Instructions
Keep Fresh: These tasty brie bites are best enjoyed fresh from the oven, but if you have leftovers, place them in an airtight container and keep them in the fridge for up to 3 days. The puff pastry might lose some of its crispiness, but they’ll still be yummy!
Make Ahead: Want to prep these ahead? You can assemble the bites up to 24 hours in advance – just keep them covered in the fridge until you’re ready to bake. This is super handy when you’re planning a party or gathering and want to save some time on the day of.
Warm Up: To bring back that fresh-baked goodness, pop refrigerated bites in a 350°F oven for about 5-7 minutes. They’ll get warm and slightly crispy again. Just keep an eye on them to make sure they don’t brown too much!
How to Know When the Brie Bites are Done
The key to perfectly baked puff pastry brie bites is watching for that golden-brown color on the outside – they should look like little puffy pillows with a rich, warm tone.
You’ll know they’re ready when the pastry has risen significantly and feels crisp to the touch, which typically takes about 15-20 minutes in the oven.
If you peek inside one bite, the brie should be completely melted and gooey, while the pastry should be cooked through with no doughy patches.
Let them cool for just a few minutes before serving, as the melted cheese inside will be extremely hot.
Puff Pastry Brie Bites FAQ
Why isn’t my puff pastry rising properly?
The key to getting perfectly puffed layers is making sure your puff pastry stays cold until it hits the hot oven. If your pastry feels warm or sticky while you’re working with it, pop it back in the fridge for 15 minutes. I also recommend keeping the second sheet refrigerated while working with the first one.
Do I need to remove the rind from the brie?
No, you don’t need to remove the rind from the brie for these bites. The rind is completely edible and actually helps hold the cheese together as it melts. I find that keeping the rind on also prevents the cheese from oozing out too much during baking.
Why are my rosemary sprigs burning?
To prevent the rosemary from burning, I recommend adding it about halfway through the baking time. If you put it on at the beginning, the delicate leaves can get too dark and bitter. Just quickly open the oven and pop them on top when you’re about 7-8 minutes into baking.
| Preparation Time | 20-30 minutes |
| Cooking Time | 18-20 minutes |
| Total Time | 38-50 minutes |
| Level of Difficulty | Easy |
Estimated Nutrition
Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):
- Calories: 800-900
- Protein: 15-20 g
- Fat: 50-60 g
- Carbohydrates: 70-80 g
Ingredients
- 2 sheets thawed frozen puff pastry (refrigerated overnight)
- 8 ounces brie cheese
- 1 cup cranberry sauce (homemade or choice of jam)
- 1 teaspoon flaky sea salt (like maldon or fleur de sel)
- 1/2 cup chopped raw pecans
- 4 sprigs of fresh rosemary (each cut into 6 parts)
Step 1: Prepare the Oven and Brie
Position the oven racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven and preheat to 375 degrees F.
Place the Brie in the freezer for 15 minutes to firm up.
Meanwhile, very generously coat two 24-cup mini muffin pans with nonstick spray.
If you only have one pan or have two 12-cup pans, plan to make the Brie bites in batches.
Step 2: Prepare the Puff Pastry Cups
Unroll one sheet of puff pastry on a lightly floured work surface, leaving the second sheet in the refrigerator until ready to use.
Roll the puff pastry into a 10 x 14-inch rectangle.
Cut the sheet lengthwise into four even strips, then cut crosswise into six even strips, to make 24 squares total.
Gently separate the squares and press each one into a mini muffin cup to form a cup shape.
Prick the bottom of each pastry cup with a fork in 2 to 3 places.
Step 3: Assemble the Brie and Cranberry Bites
Cut the Brie in half, then return one half to the freezer.
Dice the remaining half into 24 small pieces, approximately between 3/4 and 1/2-inch on each side.
Place one Brie piece in the center of each puff pastry cup.
Top each with 1 teaspoon of cranberry sauce and sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon of salt, followed by half of the chopped pecans.
Place the assembled tray in the refrigerator while repeating this process with the second puff pastry sheet, the remaining Brie, salt, and pecans.
Step 4: Bake the Brie Bites
Position each muffin pan on a rimmed baking sheet to catch any overflow.
Bake in the preheated oven on the upper and lower thirds for 18 to 20 minutes until the pastry is puffed and the corners are golden brown.
Remember to switch the pan positions halfway through the baking time to ensure even cooking.
Step 5: Final Touches and Serve
Allow the Brie bites to cool in the pans for about 3 minutes.
If any Brie or cranberry sauce has bubbled out, use a fork to nudge it back into the center of the bites.
Transfer the bites gently to a serving plate using a fork to lift them from the pans.
Garnish each bite with a small piece of fresh rosemary.
These can be enjoyed hot or at room temperature.
Bon appétit!
