Description
Cranberry Brie Pecan Bites are an elegant appetizer featuring creamy Brie cheese, tart-sweet whole-berry cranberry sauce, and crunchy pecans nestled in crispy puff pastry squares and garnished with fresh thyme. Perfect for holiday entertaining, dinner parties, or any occasion where you want to impress your guests with minimal effort and maximum flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
- 320 g puff pastry, thawed if frozen, then cut into 12 squares
- 240 g Brie cheese, cut into 12 pieces for easy portioning
- 180 g whole-berry cranberry sauce, the tanginess pairs perfectly with creamy Brie
- 40 g chopped pecans, toasted for deeper flavor if desired
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves, adds an earthy, sophisticated note
- 1 egg, beaten, for brushing the pastry
- 1 teaspoon butter, for greasing your baking sheet
Instructions
- Preheat and Grease: Heat your oven to 200°C (400°F). Lightly butter a baking sheet and set aside.
- Cut the Pastry: If using thawed puff pastry, gently cut it into 12 equal squares, roughly 5 cm by 5 cm each. Transfer them to the prepared baking sheet.
- Create Edges: Using a knife, lightly score a border about 0.5 cm from the edge of each square without cutting all the way through. This helps the pastry puff up and creates a little well for your toppings.
- Brush with Egg: Use a pastry brush to coat each scored pastry square with beaten egg, focusing on the outer edges to ensure even browning.
- Add the Brie: Place one piece of Brie in the center of each pastry square, staying within the scored border so it doesn't slide off during baking.
- Top with Cranberry: Spoon about 1 tablespoon of cranberry sauce on top of each Brie piece, distributing it evenly.
- Garnish and Bake: Sprinkle the chopped pecans and fresh thyme leaves over the cranberry layer on each bite. Bake for 12-15 minutes until the pastry is golden brown and the Brie is starting to soften.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes