Brie Bites (Easy Holiday Appetizer)
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These Brie Bites (Easy Holiday Appetizer) combine flaky puff pastry, creamy brie, your favorite jam or cranberry sauce, and garlicky rosemary butter. Each bite bakes until the pastry is golden and crisp while the brie melts into the sweet-savory filling. Ready in about 30 minutes, they make a festive appetizer for holiday gatherings and parties.
Try my Easy Baked Brie, Sausage Cream Cheese Dip, and White Bean Dip next time!
Quick Look: Brie Bites (Easy Holiday Appetizer)
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Servings: 24
- Dietary Info: Vegetarian
- Method: Baked
- Technique: Cut puff pastry into squares, press it into a greased mini muffin pan, brush with garlic-rosemary butter, then fill with brie and jam before baking.
- Flavor/Texture: Buttery, flaky, creamy, gooey, sweet-savory, garlicky
The Little Bites That Disappear First
These brie bites are one of my favorite appetizers to make when I’m hosting during the holidays. I love brushing the puff pastry with garlic-rosemary butter before adding the Brie and filling because it seasons every flaky layer as it bakes. They come out golden on the edges, creamy in the center, and easy to customize with cranberry sauce, fig jam, pepper jelly, or another favorite filling.
They’re the kind of appetizer that tends to disappear quickly once they hit the table, just like my Fried Cheese Balls.
Made With Amore,
“Made these for Christmas and they were delicious and I had requests to make again!”
– Kim
Table of Contents
Simple Ingredients
- Puff Pastry: Frozen puff pastry gives each bite crispy and flaky layers.
- Brie Cheese: Creamy brie melts into the center of each bite. The rind is edible, so there is no need to remove it.
- Jam, Cranberry Sauce, Or Pepper Jelly: Adds sweetness, acidity, or a little heat to balance the rich brie. Thicker fillings stay in place better while baking.
- Garlic And Rosemary Butter: Brushed onto the pastry before filling, this savory butter seasons the flaky layers with garlic and fresh rosemary.
- Flaky Sea Salt And Pecans: Flaky salt brings the flavors together, while optional chopped pecans add a little crunch.
See recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Substitutions & Variations
- Cranberry: Use whole-berry cranberry sauce or make your own Cranberry Relish. for a classic holiday combination with brie.
- Fig: Fig jam adds a naturally sweet, rich flavor that pairs especially well with creamy Brie.
- Pepper Jelly: Use hot and sweet pepper jelly for a sweet-spicy bite.
- Apricot: Apricot jam , which is also used in my Pear Frangipane Tart, adds bright fruit flavor and pairs beautifully with the buttery pastry and Brie.
How To Make Brie Bites
These bites come together so easily with a few steps. Follow the step-by-step photos and see the recipe card at the bottom for a printable version.
- Generously coat a mini muffin pan with cooking spray or oil to prevent sticking. Lightly dust a clean surface with flour. On the floured surface, roll out puff pastry sheets just enough to smooth seams. Cut into 24 equal squares (12 per sheet).
- In a small bowl, combine melted butter, garlic, rosemary, salt, and pepper.
- Place each puff pastry square into the muffin tin cups, gently pressing down. Brush the inside of each pastry square with garlic herb butter.
- Cut the wheel of brie into small cubes with a sharp knife. Add one cube of brie to each pastry cup. Spoon about 1 teaspoon of jam, pepper jelly, or cranberry sauce over the cheese.
- Place muffin tin in a preheated 375°F (190°C) oven. Bake 18–20 minutes, until the puff pastry is golden and the cheese is melted.
- Remove from oven and immediately sprinkle with flaky sea salt. If desired, top with a small sprig of rosemary and pecans. Carefully lift brie bites from the tin (a butter knife helps) and place on a platter. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Easy Brie Bites FAQs
No, the rind is completely edible and melts beautifully into the pastry. Leaving it on keeps the cheese intact as it bakes.
Cranberry, fig, and apricot are classics, but savory jams like onion or hot pepper pair beautifully, too.
Keep the puff pastry cold until you are ready to assemble and bake the bites. Use a thicker jam or cranberry sauce, generously grease the mini muffin pan, and avoid adding too much filling. For leftovers, reheat them in the oven rather than the microwave to help the pastry stay crisp.
Make Ahead: Assemble brie bites, cover tightly, and refrigerate up to 24 hours before baking. Or freeze unbaked bites on a tray, then store in a freezer bag for up to 1 month.
Storage: Store baked brie bites in an airtight container in the fridge for 2–3 days.
Reheating: Warm in a 325°F oven for 5–7 minutes until the pastry crisps again. Avoid microwaving—pastry turns chewy.
Serving Suggestions
I love serving these brie bites alongside other holiday appetizers for a spread with a mix of creamy, savory, and fresh flavors. Try them with Marinated Mozzarella Balls with Homemade Crostini,, Stuffed Mushrooms, Bruschetta, or Nduja Ricotta Toast. If you have extra time, make fresh Italian Focaccia with Apples and Cheese and really “wow” your guests!
My Pro Tips
Recipe Tips
- Keep the puff pastry cold until you are ready to assemble the bites so the pastry stays flaky as it bakes.
- Generously grease the mini muffin pan to make the baked pastry cups easier to remove.
- Chill the Brie before cutting for about 10 minutes so you can make cleaner, more even cubes.
- Use a thick filling such as cranberry sauce or jam so it stays in the pastry cup while baking.
More Appetizers to Try
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Brie Bites Appetizer
Ingredients
- All-purpose flour, for dusting the dough and cutting board
- 2 sheets frozen puff pastry, thawed overnight in the refrigerator
- 8 ounces Brie cheese, cut into bite-sized cubes
- ¾ cup jam of choice, cranberry sauce, or hot and sweet pepper jelly
- 1 teaspoon flaky sea salt, Maldon or fleur de sel
Garlic Herb Butter:
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 2-3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
- 4 sprigs fresh rosemary, stems removed and finely chopped (plus extra sprigs for topping)
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Chopped pecans, Optional Topping: for sprinkling after baking
Instructions
- Prepare the pan: Generously spray or oil a mini muffin tin to prevent sticking. Lightly dust a clean surface with flour.
- Prep puff pastry: On the floured surface, roll out puff pastry sheets just enough to smooth seams. Cut into 24 equal squares (12 per sheet).
- Mix garlic herb butter: In a small bowl, combine melted butter, garlic, rosemary, salt, and pepper.
- Brush pastry: Place each puff pastry square into the muffin tin cups, gently pressing down. Brush the inside of each pastry square with garlic herb butter.
- Fill bites: Add one cube of brie to each pastry cup. Spoon 1 heaping teaspoon (more to your liking) of jam, pepper jelly, or cranberry sauce over the cheese.
- Bake: Place muffin tin in a preheated 375°F (190°C) oven. Bake 18–20 minutes, until puff pastry is golden and cheese is melted.
- Finish: Remove from oven and immediately sprinkle with flaky sea salt. If desired, top with extra chopped rosemary and pecans.
- Serve warm: Carefully lift Brie Bites from the tin (a butter knife helps) and place on a platter. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Notes
- Keep the puff pastry cold until you are ready to assemble the bites so the pastry stays flaky as it bakes.
- Generously grease the mini muffin pan to make the baked pastry cups easier to remove.
- Chill the Brie before cutting for about 10 minutes so you can make cleaner, more even cubes.
- Use a thick filling such as cranberry sauce or jam so it stays in the pastry cup while baking.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
So very good and so popular to serve. Yummy.
Yes! SO happy you loved!
Made these for Christmas and they were delicious and I had requests to make again,! Thanks for sharing!!
Yay! So happy everyone loved them.
Win! Win! SO happy to hear this. Enjoy them again soon. Many more yummy recipes to try. Enjoy!
This was delicious! I made the Brie bites for our Christmas party and they were a hit. The blend of sweet and savory and the light flakiness of the pastry was perfection ๐ค. We left off the pecans for some family allergies but that would add another yummy flavor and texture. Will definitely make again ๐
Yes, these yummy bites are always quick to disappear. We love the sweet and savory mix as well. Enjoy time and time again!
These were such a hit at Thanksgiving. I’m so glad I made them. I even went to the store to get another puff pastry to make more. I have to say the hot pepper jelly was my favorite over the cranberry.
Yes, I love the pepper jelly, too! So happy you loved!
These are a holiday favorite, and the best part is that they are so easy to make! I know you’ll love them as much as we do!