Bourbon Pecan Brie Bites (Easy Make-Ahead Appetizer)

Name: Bourbon Pecan Brie Bites Recipe (Easy Make Ahead Appetizer)
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: ¼ cup brown sugar, (packed); 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, (melted); 1 tablespoon bourbon; ¼ cup roasted chopped pecans, (*see notes); 8 ounces round of brie cheese; 1.9 ounces pkg frozen mini fully baked phyllo shells, (15 shells)

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These Bourbon Pecan Brie Bites are an easy Southern appetizer made with crispy phyllo cups, creamy brie, and a buttery bourbon-pecan topping. Like my Cranberry Brie Bites Recipe, they are ready in just 20 minutes, and they’re perfect for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and holiday parties. Best of all, you can assemble them ahead, freeze them, and bake straight from frozen in just 10 minutes!

Bourbon pecan brie bites with melted cheese and pecan topping arranged on a serving platter.

Quick Look: Bourbon Pecan Brie Bites

Ready in: 20 minutes
Yield: 15 pieces
Difficulty: Easy, no-fuss favorite
Can You Make Bourbon Pecan Brie Bites Ahead? Make ahead: Assemble and freeze unbaked. Bake straight from frozen at 350°F for 10 minutes. No thawing needed!
Crowd-pleasing: Sweet, savory, creamy, and crunchy in every bite. Like my savory Buffalo Chicken Phyllo Cups and Spinach Tartlets, they are perfect for holiday parties and entertaining.
What makes it different: The buttery bourbon-pecan topping adds a sweet-and-savory Southern twist to creamy brie in crispy phyllo cups. They’re ready to bake whenever company comes calling!

Reader Rave

"Made these for our holiday party and they were a hit! So delicious and easy to make!." - ★★★★★ Reader Review from Debbie

Jump to:

Quick Look: Bourbon Pecan Brie Bites
Reader Rave
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
Easy Variations
How to Make Bourbon Pecan Brie Bites
How to Make Bourbon Pecan Brie Bites Appetizers Ahead and Freeze Them
Sharon’s Tips
Serving Suggestions
Bourbon Pecan Brie Bites FAQs
More Southern Appetizers You’ll Love
Join the Conversation
Recipe:

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions

Let's talk ingredients: what you need, what you can swap, and how to make it work with what's in your pantry. The full list is waiting down in the recipe card.

Ingredients for bourbon pecan brie bites, including brie, bourbon, pecans, brown sugar, butter, and phyllo shells.

Phyllo cups - Sometimes called "filo cups," these prebaked, store-bought shells are ready to fill and are the perfect shortcut. No muffin tin or homemade pastry is needed.
Brie - A soft, creamy cheese that melts beautifully. Trim the rind for a prettier presentation, or leave it on if you prefer.
Pecans - Oven Roasted Pecans bring crunch and nutty flavor.
Brown sugar - Sweetens and caramelizes with the bourbon.
Bourbon - Adds a rich Southern flavor to the buttery pecan topping. For an alcohol-free variation, simply leave it out.
Butter - Ties the topping together and adds richness.

"They say good things come in small packages. Down South, we say they come in phyllo cups."

Easy Variations

Fig or apricot preserves - Add a sweet, fruity layer.
Pepper jelly brie bites - For a sweet-and-spicy twist, or try my Bourbon Bacon Jam for a more savory option.

How to Make Bourbon Pecan Brie Bites

A wheel of Brie cheese is cut into small cubes for filling phyllo cups.

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Trim the rind from the brie (optional) and cut into ½-inch cubes.

Chopped pecans mixed with brown sugar, melted butter, and bourbon in a glass bowl.

In a small bowl, stir together the pecans, brown sugar, bourbon, and butter.

Mini phyllo cups filled with cubes of brie cheese before adding the pecan topping.

Place a cube of brie in each phyllo cup.

A baking sheet with phyllo cups with cubes of brie cheese, topped with a pecan, bourbon, and butter mixture.

Spoon about ½ teaspoon of the pecan mixture over the brie. Arrange the filled cups on a baking sheet.

Bake for 10 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Serve warm or at room temperature.

How to Make Bourbon Pecan Brie Bites Appetizers Ahead and Freeze Them

These are one of my favorite appetizers to keep in the freezer during the holidays. I almost always make two batches at a time, and I love knowing I have something special ready whenever unexpected company stops by.

Assemble the brie bites according to the recipe, but don’t bake them.
Place the filled phyllo cups back into the individual compartments of the plastic tray they came in.
Wrap the tray securely in plastic wrap, then slip it back into the original box.
Place the box in the freezer until you’re ready to serve.

To bake from frozen: Transfer the frozen brie bites to a baking sheet and bake in a fully preheated 350°F oven for 10 minutes. There’s no need to thaw them first.

From My Kitchen: One wheel of brie gives me enough cheese for at least two batches of 15 bites. I usually make both batches at once, bake what I need, and freeze the rest. It’s my little secret for being ready when company comes calling!

Sharon’s Tips

Start with frozen phyllo cups. There’s no need to thaw them before filling and baking.
Toast the pecans. Toasting brings out their rich, nutty flavor and makes the bourbon-pecan topping even better.
Cut the brie into small cubes. Pieces about ½ inch fit nicely into the phyllo shells.
For prettier appetizers, remove the brie rind. When I’m making these for my family, I usually leave the rind on. But when I’m entertaining, I trim it off because it doesn’t always melt completely. The flavor is just as good either way, but the bites look a little prettier without it.

Serving Suggestions

These brie bites shine on a holiday appetizer platter or Christmas Charcuterie Board alongside my Crispy Cheese Crackers (buttery, crisp, and addictive), Mini Goat Cheese Balls (make-ahead and festive), Mini Beef Wellington Bites, and for a little variety, check out my Relish Tray Ideas.

Bourbon Pecan Brie Bites FAQs

Can you make Bourbon Pecan Brie Bites ahead of time?

Absolutely! Assemble the bites in their phyllo cups, freeze them unbaked, and bake straight from frozen in a fully preheated 350°F oven for 10 minutes. See my make-ahead instructions above for my favorite freezer-storage trick.

Do you need to remove the rind from brie?

No. The rind is edible and can be left on. However, I prefer trimming it for a smoother, creamier filling.

Do you have to thaw frozen brie bites before baking?

No! That’s one of the best things about this recipe. Transfer the assembled, frozen bites directly to a baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes in a fully preheated 350°F oven.

Can you use puff pastry instead of phyllo cups to make Bourbon Pecan Brie Bites?

This recipe is designed for pre-baked phyllo cups, which make it especially quick and easy. Puff pastry requires different preparation and baking instructions, so I recommend sticking with phyllo cups for this version.

More Southern Appetizers You’ll Love

Join the Conversation

If you make these Bourbon Pecan Brie Bites, please leave a comment and star rating. I'd love to know how you liked them and what you served them with! And if you're planning your holiday menu, check out more of my Thanksgiving recipes and Christmas recipes to round out your spread.

Thanks so much for visiting Grits and Pinecones!

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Close-up of a bourbon pecan brie bite with melted cheese and pecan topping in a crispy phyllo cup.

Bourbon Pecan Brie Bites Recipe (Easy Make Ahead Appetizer)

Course: Appetizer, Snack

Cuisine: American, Southern

Prep Time: 10

Cook Time: 10

Total Time: 20

Servings: Bites

Calories: 79kcal

Author: Sharon Rigsby

4.92 from 35 votes

These easy Bourbon Pecan Brie Bites combine creamy brie, toasted pecans, brown sugar, and bourbon in crispy phyllo cups. Ready in 20 minutes, they're a crowd-pleasing Southern appetizer you can assemble ahead, freeze, and bake straight from frozen in just 10 minutes!

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Ingredients

▢ ¼ cup brown sugar, packed
▢ 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
▢ 1 tablespoon bourbon
▢ ¼ cup roasted chopped pecans, *see notes
▢ 8 ounces round of brie cheese
▢ 1.9 ounces pkg frozen mini fully baked phyllo shells, 15 shells

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350°F.
Cut the brie into ½-inch cubes, removing the rind if desired. The rind is edible, but it doesn't always melt completely, so I recommend removing it for a smoother, prettier presentation.
Add all ingredients but the brie and phyllo shells to a small bowl and stir to combine.
Place a cube of brie into each phyllo shell and top with ½ teaspoon of the bourbon pecan mixture.
Place the full shells on a small baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes or until the brie has melted and is bubbly.
Remove from the oven and serve warm or at room temperature.

Notes

- Keep phyllo cups frozen until ready to use for maximum crispness.

- Toast pecans: To quickly toast a small amount of pecans, microwave chopped nuts on a saucer for 2-3 minutes, tasting and adding 30-second bursts as needed. Or roast in a 350°F oven for about 5 minutes (whole pecans take about 10 minutes).

- Double the recipe because they disappear fast!

- Make ahead and freeze: Assemble the brie bites but don’t bake them. Return them to the individual compartments in their original plastic tray, wrap securely in plastic wrap, and place the tray back in its box. Freeze for up to 3 months. When ready to serve, transfer the frozen bites to a baking sheet and bake in a fully preheated 350°F oven for 10 minutes. No thawing necessary!

Nutrition

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