Description
Savory cranberry brie puff pastry delights combine elegant French pastry with tangy cranberry sauce for a festive appetizer. Holiday gatherings welcome these golden, flaky parcels that promise rich flavor and delightful texture for guests.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 sheet puff pastry, thawed
- 4 oz (113 g) Brie cheese, cut into small cubes (rind removed)
- 1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup orange juice
- 1 egg (for egg wash)
- 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves (optional)
- ½ tsp cinnamon (optional)
- ¼ tsp salt
Instructions
- Compote Creation: Merge cranberries, sugar, orange juice, and cinnamon in a saucepan. Simmer over medium heat until berries burst and sauce transforms into a rich, glossy consistency. Cool completely.
- Pastry Preparation: Warm oven to 375°F and line baking sheet with parchment. Unfurl pastry on flour-dusted surface, cutting into precise 3-inch rounds using circular cutter.
- Filling Assembly: Center a Brie cube on each pastry circle, crowning with a lavish spoonful of cranberry compote. Scatter fresh thyme leaves across the surface to elevate flavor complexity.
- Egg Wash & Finishing: Whisk egg until silky, then delicately brush pastry edges. Arrange pastry bites on prepared sheet, ensuring minimal spacing between morsels.
- Baking Process: Slide sheet into preheated oven, baking 15-20 minutes until pastry achieves a golden-bronze hue and cheese melts completely. Rest briefly after removing to stabilize filling.
- Storage Guidance: Preserve remaining delicacies in sealed container. Refrigerate up to 3 days, reheating at 350°F for 5-7 minutes to restore original crispness and warmth.
Notes
- Prep Ahead Strategy: Cranberry compote can be prepared 3-4 days in advance and stored in refrigerator, saving crucial preparation time before serving.
- Cheese Selection Tip: Choose a soft, creamy Brie that melts smoothly and complements the tangy cranberry sauce for optimal flavor balance.
- Pastry Handling Hack: Keep puff pastry chilled until ready to use, preventing butter layers from breaking down and ensuring a beautifully flaky texture.
- Serving Temperature Insight: Serve these appetizers slightly warm for maximum cheese meltiness and most pronounced flavor complexity, typically 5-10 minutes after removing from oven.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 13
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 9 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg