Cranberry Brie Bites
Crispy wonton cups, melty brie, and a spoonful of cranberry in every bite.
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I love an appetizer that looks like you worked really hard even when you didn’t. These Cranberry Brie Bites are exactly the kind of starter that definitely always impresses but is still easy on you. Just a few ingredients: creamy, melty brie and tart, jammy cranberry sauce that nestle inside of a crispy little wonton cup that bakes right in a mini muffin tin. They’re golden and crunchy and oh so festive! (Oh, and they’ll only take you about a half hour from start to finish.)
What Ingredients Do You Need for Cranberry Brie Bites?
- Wonton wrappers.
- Brie cheese.
- Whole-berry cranberry sauce.
- Pecans.
- Orange zest.
- Honey and fresh thyme.
How Do You Make Cranberry Brie Bites?
First, press the wonton wrappers into a greased mini muffin tin and bake them for a few minutes until they’re just starting to turn golden. That quick first bake is what makes them crispy instead of chewy. Then add a piece of brie, a little cranberry sauce stirred with orange zest, and some chopped pecans, and bake them again until the cheese is melted. (You can keep the rind on the brie, it melts right in and it’s totally edible.)
Let them cool for a few minutes, then drizzle with honey and add a little fresh thyme. All that’s left to do is serve them!
Why Bake the Wonton Wrappers First?
Wonton wrappers are thin, so if you fill them raw the bottoms can end up soft. A short first bake sets the cups so they stay crisp even with the cranberry and cheese inside. It’s an extra step, but it’s well worth it.
Can I Make Cranberry Brie Bites Ahead of Time?
Yes! Bake the empty cups, let them cool, then fill them and keep them covered in the fridge for up to a day. Bake them right before serving. It’s a great trick to make hosting a little bit easier the day of.
Can I Use Homemade Cranberry Sauce?
Absolutely! If you have leftover homemade cranberry sauce from Thanksgiving, this is a great way to use it. Just make sure it isn’t too runny so it doesn’t soak through that wrapper.
Can I Use Phyllo Shells or Puff Pastry Instead?
You can. Store-bought mini phyllo shells are a quick shortcut, and puff pastry gives you a flakier, more bakery-style bite. However, I love the crispy bite that wonton wrappers give.
Cranberry Brie Bites
Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
- 24 wonton wrappers (about 3 inches square)
- Cooking spray
- 8 oz brie cheese, cut into 24 small pieces
- 1/2 cup whole-berry cranberry sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon orange zest
- 1/3 cup pecans, finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon honey
- Fresh thyme, for garnish (optional)
Preparation
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and generously coat a 24-cup mini muffin tin with cooking spray.
- Gently press one wonton wrapper into each cup, letting the corners stick up. Lightly spray the edges of the wrappers with cooking spray.
- Bake 5 to 6 minutes, until the wrappers are just starting to turn golden. Remove from the oven.
- While the cups bake, stir the orange zest into the cranberry sauce.
- Place a piece of brie in each cup. Top with about 1 teaspoon of the cranberry mixture and a sprinkle of chopped pecans.
- Return to the oven and bake 8 to 10 minutes longer, until the brie is melted and the edges of the wrappers are deep golden. If the edges brown too quickly, loosely cover the pan with foil.
- Let cool in the pan for 3 minutes. Drizzle with honey and sprinkle with thyme leaves. Serve warm. Enjoy!
Notes
- To make ahead, press the wrappers into the tin and bake the first round, then let the cups cool. Fill, cover, and refrigerate up to 24 hours, then bake the second round straight from the fridge, adding a couple of minutes if needed.