• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Grits and Pinecones
menu icon
go to homepage
  • All Recipes
  • About
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • All Recipes
    • About
    • Contact
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Appetizers

    Easy Cranberry Brie Bites – Only 3 Ingredients

    Date: Nov 20, 2020 · Updated: Nov 20, 2020 Author: Sharon Rigsby

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    3-ingredient Easy Cranberry Brie Bites

    Easy Cranberry Brie Bites are a quick, easy, make-ahead Thanksgiving and Christmas appetizer with only three ingredients. And the best part, these luscious bites of heaven take less than 15 minutes to prepare.  Serve them next to my Christmas Tree Charcuterie Board for a festive and fun holiday gathering. 

    Cranberry Brie Bites on a white serving dish.

    Light crispy premade fillo (sometimes spelled phyllo) shells are filled with a cube of creamy brie cheese and topped with a dollop of tart festive cranberry sauce. These elegant and delicious cranberry brie appetizers will wow your family and friends, and they will never guess how easy they are to make.

    My best advice, make twice as many of these cranberry brie tartlets as you think you will need because they will go fast.   

    Here’s what you will need:

    Filo shells, cranberry sauce, and brie cheese.

    • Cranberry sauce: a holiday staple, you can use either purchased or homemade. 
    • Brie cheese: melted, creamy brie cheese and cranberry topping are a match made in heaven. 
    • Premade frozen filo (or sometimes spelled phyllo) shells: light, flaky layers of dough are formed into mini pastry cups, then fully baked and frozen. These delectable tart shells are versatile and the perfect vessel to hold the brie and cranberry sauce. 

    How to make them:

    1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
    2. Cut the brie into one-half inch squares. Brie cheese cut into cubes on a cutting board.
    3. Place a square of brie in each of the filo cups.Filo cups with cubes of brie cheese.
    4. Top the brie with one-half teaspoon of cranberry sauce.Filo shells with brie topped with cranberry sauce.
    5. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet.Cranberry brie bites on a baking sheet.
    6. Bake for seven to eight minutes or until the brie is melted and bubbly, and serve warm or at room temperature.

    Brie bites garnished with rosemary.

    Sharon’s Tips:

    • To make Cranberry Brie Bites ahead, make them according to the directions, but do not bake. Place the filled filo shells back in the tray they came in and cover tightly with plastic wrap. Place the tray back in the box and freeze for up to three months. Allow the bites to thaw before baking and bake as directed.
    • Pepper jelly, fig preserves, honey, or your favorite jam or preserves can be substituted for the cranberry sauce.
    • You can make a delicious homemade cranberry sauce by combining one cup of water, one cup of sugar, and a 12 oz bag of fresh cranberries in a saucepan over high heat. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to medium, and cook for 10 minutes. Cool and store covered in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. 
    • You can substitute puff pastry or crescent roll dough for the mini filo shells. Simply cut the pastry into small squares, and place it into mini muffin cups. Then, follow the rest of the recipe. You may need to add a few minutes to the cooking time. 
    • Brie rind is edible, and you can leave it on or remove it before cutting the brie into cubes. 
    • Leftovers can be stored covered in the refrigerator for two to three days. To reheat, place them in a 350-degree oven for a few minutes. Do not reheat them in the microwave. 

    Related recipes:

    If you like holiday appetizers like this, you might also be interested in these recipes: Cranberry Pecan Mini Goat Cheese Balls, Bourbon Pecan Brie Bites, Cranberry Jalapeno Cream Cheese Dip, Caprese Skewers with Pesto Dressing, and Blue Cheese Spread.  And if you are a fan of cranberries, I hope you will also try my Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad. Come to think about it, you could also fill the filo shells with the chicken salad too! 

     

    If you would like even more holiday-themed recipes, check out these roundups of quick and easy recipes from top bloggers around the country: 25 Best Christmas Breakfast/Brunch Recipes, 25 Best Christmas Dessert Recipes, and 31 Easy Homemade Edible Christmas Gifts.

    ★ If you make this dish, please leave a comment and give this recipe a star rating. I would love to know how you liked it!

    Thank you so much for visiting Grits and Pinecones!

    📋 Recipe:

    Cranberry brie bites on a white plate with festive napkin.

    Easy Cranberry Brie Bites Recipe

    Sharon Rigsby
    Easy Cranberry Brie Bites are a quick and easy, make-ahead, Thanksgiving, and Christmas appetizer with only three ingredients. And, the best part, these luscious bites of heaven take less than 15 minutes to prepare. 
    4.89 from 9 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Cook Time 8 minutes mins
    Total Time 13 minutes mins
    Course Appetizer
    Cuisine American
    Servings 15 bites
    Calories 54 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 4 oz Brie cheese ½ of an 8 oz wheel of brie
    • ½ cup cranberry sauce purchased or homemade
    • 1.9 oz pkg frozen mini filo shells 15 shells, sometimes spelled phyllo

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
    • Cut the brie into ½ inch squares. You can remove the rind first if you prefer, or leave it on.
    • Place a square of brie in each of the filo shells.
    • Top the brie with ½ teaspoon of the cranberry sauce.
    • Place the filo shells on a small parchment paper-lined baking sheet.
    • Bake for 7-8 minutes and serve warm or at room temperature.

    Notes

    • To make Cranberry Brie Bites ahead, make them according to the directions, but do not bake. Place the filled filo shells back in the tray they came in and cover tightly with plastic wrap. Place the tray back in the box and freeze for up to three months. Allow the bites to thaw before baking and bake as directed.
    • Pepper jelly, fig preserves, honey, or your favorite jam or preserves can be substituted for the cranberry sauce.
    • You can make a delicious homemade cranberry sauce by combining one cup of water, one cup of sugar, and a 12 oz bag of fresh cranberries in a saucepan over high heat. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to medium, and cook for 10 minutes. Cool and store covered in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. 
    • You can substitute puff pastry or crescent roll dough for the mini filo shells. Cut the pastry into small squares, and place it into mini muffin cups. Then, follow the rest of the recipe. You may need to add a few minutes to the cooking time. 
    • Brie rind is edible, and you can leave it on or remove it before cutting the brie into cubes. 
    • Leftovers can be stored covered in the refrigerator for two to three days. To reheat, place them in a 350-degree oven for a few minutes. Do not reheat them in the microwave. 
    •  

    Nutrition

    Calories: 54kcalCarbohydrates: 5gProtein: 2gFat: 3gSaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 5mgSodium: 30mgFiber: 0.1gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 100IUVitamin C: 0.8mgCalcium: 30mgIron: 0.4mg
    Tried this recipe? Tag me today! Mention @gritspinecones or tag #gritspinecones!

    **This recipe was originally published on December 1, 2018. It was republished on November 20, 2020, with new photos, expanded directions, and tips. 

    More Appetizer Recipes

    • Baked chicken tacos in a baking dish topped with sour cream, chopped tomatoes, and sliced jalapenos.
      Easy Crispy Oven Baked Chicken Tacos Recipe
    • Baked ricotta dip in a white square baking dish topped with fresh chopped parsley.
      Easy Baked Ricotta Cheese Dip Recipe with Tomatoes
    • Christmas Tree Charcuterie Board is covered with meats, cheeses, and nuts.
      Easy Christmas Tree Charcuterie Board (How to Make)
    • Bacon wrapped shrimp on a white plate with carrots and celery.
      Best Bacon Wrapped Shrimp Recipe with Brown Sugar

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




      This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    1. Brianna

      December 20, 2021 at 8:58 pm

      Hi Sharon! Can I use Phyllo dough and cut it? None of the grocery stores have them in stock!

      Reply
      • Sharon Rigsby

        December 21, 2021 at 3:41 pm

        Hey Brianna, yes, you can use puff pastry but the preparation is a little different. You will need to cut the pastry sheets into small squares. Then, place them in a mini-muffin pan and press down to fit them in. Use a fork to poke a few holes in the bottom of each one. Add the brie and cranberry sauce and bake for 18-20 minutes at 375 degrees F. Let them cool in the pan for a few minutes and then enjoy!
        I hope you enjoy them!
        Sharon

        Reply
    « Older Comments

    Primary Sidebar

    Sharon Rigsby, blogger at GritsandPinecones.com

    Hello, I'm Sharon Rigsby, blogger, recipe developer, videographer, and photographer for Grits and Pinecones®. I have over 50 years of experience in the kitchen, and I like nothing better than developing and reimagining recipes for my family, friends, and you!

    More about me →

    "Tis the season for delicious Christmas recipes:

    • A collage of six different christmas appetizers including cranberry brie bites.
      47 Make-Ahead Christmas Appetizers 2023
    • Beef tenderloin, green beans and cranberry cake.
      30+ Easy And Elegant Christmas Dinner Menu Ideas and Recipes
    • Five Christmas desserts including a cranberry cheesecake, gingerbread cookies and a gingerbread cake.
      38 Best Christmas Dessert Recipes 2023
    • A collage of six Christmas breakfast dishes including eggs benedict casserole and ambrosia.
      30 Make-Ahead Christmas Breakfasts 2023
    • 31 Easy Homemade Edible Christmas Gifts
      31 Easy Homemade Edible Christmas Gifts
    • Christmas Tree Charcuterie Board is covered with meats, cheeses, and nuts.
      Easy Christmas Tree Charcuterie Board (How to Make)

    More Thanksgiving recipes:

    New Year: Recipes for good food and good times:

    • A collage of black-eyed pea dishes, collards and cornbread.
      10+ Traditional Good Luck Recipes for the New Year
    • A large bowl of cooked black-eyed peas topped with parsley.
      Southern Black-Eyed Peas
    • Black-Eyed Pea soup in a white bowl.
      Black-Eyed Pea Soup – Southern Style
    • Cooked Southern Collard Greens in two bowls.
      Southern Collard Greens Recipe
    • Southern Hoppin' John in a bowl with corn muffins in a basket in the background.
      Black-Eyed Peas and Rice (Hoppin’ John)
    • Four Meyer Lemon French 75 Cocktails on a silver tray.
      Meyer Lemon French 75 Cocktail

    More New Year's recipes:

    Featured in Parade, The Today Show, Better Homes & Gardens, Greatist, and more.

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    Disclosures

    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    About

    • About
    • Contact

    Copyright © 2023 Grits and Pinecones®

    • 708Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Pinterest
    • Yummly
    • Email
    124015 shares