You only need three simple ingredients to make these irresistible Cranberry Brie Bites. Warm, creamy brie tucked into buttery crescent dough and finished with bright whole-berry cranberry sauce—an effortless, crowd-pleasing appetizer for holiday gatherings or any party. Swap the cranberry sauce for fig spread, bacon jam, apple butter, or other jams to match the season and create new flavor combinations.
“Easy to assemble. Came out of the oven looking 👌”
– Phillip
There’s something special about warm, gooey brie wrapped in golden crescent dough and accented by a touch of tart-sweet cranberry. This three-ingredient appetizer hits all the right notes—sweet, savory, creamy, and crisp—and takes just minutes to assemble. With a 15-minute prep and about 12 minutes in the oven, you can have two dozen bite-sized brie cups ready in under 30 minutes.
These Cranberry Brie Bites are ideal for Christmas or holiday parties, but they’re versatile enough for any season when you swap the topping. Below you’ll find a clear ingredient list, step-by-step instructions, topping ideas, storage and reheating tips, plus helpful notes so your batch turns out perfect every time.
Ingredients
These amounts yield about 24 brie bites.
- 8 ounces brie cheese — cut into small ½ inch cubes; leaving the rind on is fine and helps hold the cheese as it melts.
- 1 cup whole berry cranberry sauce — canned whole-berry cranberry sauce gives bright color and a sweet-tart finish.
- 8 ounces crescent roll dough — crescent dough sheets are easiest to slice into squares; canned crescent roll dough also works if you press the seams together into a single sheet.
Instructions
Prep time: 15 minutes • Cook time: 12 minutes • Total time: 27 minutes • Servings: 24 brie bites
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Prepare the dough. Unroll a sheet of crescent dough. If your dough is perforated, press the seams together to form a single sheet.
- Cut into squares. Slice the sheet into 4 long strips, then cut each strip into 6 small squares to yield 24 pieces of dough.
- Line a mini muffin tin. Lightly spray a mini muffin tin with nonstick spray. Gently press each square into an individual cup, creating a small dough cup.
- Add the brie. Place one ½-inch cube of brie into the center of each dough cup.
- Top with cranberry sauce. Spoon about 2 teaspoons of whole-berry cranberry sauce on top of each brie cube so the jam covers the cheese.
- Bake. Bake in the preheated oven for 12 minutes, or until the crescent dough is golden brown and the brie is bubbling.
- Cool slightly and serve. Remove from the oven and let the brie bites cool in the tin for about 5 minutes before transferring to a serving plate.
Other Toppings to Try
These brie bites are a great canvas for seasonal flavors. Swap the cranberry sauce for any of the following for different occasions:
- Apple butter — ideal for fall and Thanksgiving gatherings.
- Fig spread or fig jam — rich and slightly sweet, great for winter parties.
- Strawberry or raspberry jam — a bright option for summer entertaining.
- Bacon jam — savory and sweet for guests who love a bacon-and-cheese pairing.
- Hot pepper jelly — for a sweet-and-spicy contrast to the creamy brie.
- Salted caramel and chopped pecans — a dessert-style twist; add caramel and nuts before baking.
- Cinnamon pear jam — a cozy, autumnal topping with warm spice notes.
Storage and Reheating
If you have leftovers (they’re often gone fast!), store any cooled brie bites in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
To reheat and restore crispness, reheat in an air fryer at 400°F for 3–4 minutes. If you don’t have an air fryer, place them on a baking sheet and warm in the oven at 350°F for 10–15 minutes, until the cheese is melted again.
Notes & Tips
- Make ahead prep: Dice the brie up to two days ahead and store in an airtight bag in the fridge. Assembly only takes 10–15 minutes before baking.
- Alternative dough: You can use puff pastry squares instead of crescent dough for a flakier texture.
- Add nuts: Sprinkle about 1/4 cup of chopped pecans or walnuts over the cranberry sauce before baking for extra crunch.
- Scaling: The recipe makes 24 bites; double the ingredients and use two mini muffin pans or bake in batches for larger crowds.
- Best served warm: Baked brie is at its best fresh from the oven—warm and gooey—so plan to bake close to serving time when possible.
Nutrition (per brie bite, approximate)
- Calories: 83 kcal
- Carbohydrates: 9 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Fat: 5 g
- Sodium: 134 mg
- Sugar: 5 g
These Cranberry Brie Bites are a quick, flavorful party appetizer that’s simple to prepare and endlessly adaptable. Whether you keep the classic cranberry topping or experiment with jams, bacon jam, or caramel and nuts, they’re sure to disappear fast. Enjoy!