Brie And Cranberry Bites

Party food, it’s finally the time for it. And what a time to be alive! I always think of one of those fancy parties, where people are all dressed up. I am somehow besotted with the idea of being invited to one, one day. And I wonder about the food I would be served there. Is it fancy? Is it going to be just small and unedible? Will I even feel full at some point? And is there a spot for these Brie and cranberry bites among them?

Like, I can see the ballroom filled with people, and beautiful dresses all around. And the music is going to be just perfect and… Yes, I am back from this tiny dream of mine, for now at least! I am still intrigued about the food though. Like, what do they serve? I am ready for the truffle, trust me. But I won’t be as happy about the caviar. And what about the mushroom puffs from dear old Emily Gilmore? They were a staple to every party Emily would throw.

I mean, we could easily replace them with these Brie and cranberry bites, right?

Yes, we are die-hard fans of Gilmore Girls around here, of course. We just love it. We have Fred who’s just turned into a Rory, then there is the rest of us. Maybe a little Mrs Kim at times, sometimes a bit more like Luke. And then you have Lorelai, of course, and Richard… We are a bit of a mix the three of us! Who is your favourite from the series? And most importantly, Revival series yay or nay?!

Setting aside my (but also our) love for Gilmore Girls for at least a minute though. These Brie and cranberry bites do deserve a whole article of their own. They are simple to make, almost effortless. Unless you hate yourself enough to decide to make puff pastry from scratch. And by all means, do it if you feel like it. I just find these Brie and cranberry bites the kind of dish you’d be whipping up in a rush when unexpected guests turn up at your door.

They make the perfect little dish to serve at your New Year’s party.

Or at your next party. Whatever party you are looking at throwing, maybe once Covid is over. Maybe to celebrate the end of this madness that we have been living in. Maybe just a romantic dinner with your partner. Or maybe just a random day when you had enough of the world. And I am sure it will be one of those days at some point, they always come around. But back to my original thought, shall we? Because you don’t always need an occasion, right? Right.

Anyways, you know what I mean. While this is a great option for party food, who am I to judge you if you decide to make this meal for a random day? I mean, I would easily consider this in giant form with plenty of Brie on it. And then some cranberries. And some thyme for good measure. Am I right? I would happily smash the whole thing by myself. No help is needed when I can finish it off myself. Maybe while watching a good movie and with a good glass of white wine to the side, my favourite. Or maybe while I sob through the next episode of my favourite series. I mean, at least is salty tears on salty food.

But when a recipe is this easy to whip up and put together as the Brie and cranberry bites here, then you know it’s the one. I promise I will keep the cheese jokes to a minimum, but who am I to diss a Brie, really? Okay, okay, I stop right now. Literally no more cheesy jokes.

Brie, a cheese for the cheese lovers.

I absolutely love Brie, maybe it comes only second to Camembert. But again, I just love all cheese, honestly. Having worked in a cheese shop before, I can tell you they were very careful about leaving me unattended with their full counter. I was a walking liability. But back to Brie, we go.

Brie is a soft and creamy cheese from France. The creamy interior is counter-parted by the soft rind covered in white mold, which is fully edible. And possibly even the most famous trait of this cheese. Traditionally, Brie is made from cow’s milk, but you can find it made with goat’s milk too at times. It’s an unpasteurised cheese, and aside from not being recommended through pregnancy, you are going to love it.

And because Brie is made with raw milk, the authentic version of this cheese cannot be exported in many places around the world. First and foremost, the US. But you will be able to find great alternatives nonetheless. Brie, it’s best enjoyed and served at room temperature and it marries extremely well with fruit and nuts. It’s also a great one to bake, so you should definitely try a baked Brie soon, trust me. We have been known for pouring a baked brie on cooked pasta, just *chef kiss*.

I love my Brie as fresh as humanly possible, creamy in the middle and with a soft, pillow-y rind. I could eat it all day, honestly. On fresh bread, with some meats and an iced glass of my favourite drink on a hot summer day. Living my best life, in dreams at least.

Add cranberries to it.

So to the brie, you shall add cranberries. Now, sometimes getting hold of fresh cranberries can be difficult. Usually, a jam would be your best bet here, so as to contrast the savoury of the puff pastry and the cheese with the sweetness of the cranberries. But I couldn’t get hold of either for this purpose, so I went for redcurrants.

Now, for the purposes of this article, I am going to stick with the cranberry idea. You will need to use a jam because fresh cranberries are quite sharp, but then again you do you and I am not going to judge.

Cranberries, though, are very good for you. They are considered a superfood due to their high nutrients and antioxidants. Through research, the nutrients are linked to a lower risk of urinary tract infection and prevention of certain types of cancer. But also improving immune function and decreased blood pressure.

When it come to redcurrants, though, we are still going to have some great things through them. Among the many good aspects of eating redcurrants, you have:

• currants are high in vitamin C;
• And, just as the cranberries, they are a good source of important nutrients including minerals and fibres.

So whatever you end up picking, you know it’s going to be good for you nonetheless! And taste-wise, you know it’s going to be the bomb.

What are these Brie and cranberry bites?

These Brie and cranberry bites are honestly one of the easiest recipes you’ll ever try. We have made them within minutes and used a couple of puff pastry rolls from the supermarket, one fresh Brie cheese and some berries and thyme to place on top. Oh, and of course an egg for the egg wash, but we have also used milk before so should you want to go for that, please do!

But basically, if I had to describe these Brie and cranberry bites in a word… Well, as my family put it, they are special. Not because they are expensive or elaborated. On the contrary, they are simple, yet tasty and quick to make. Which in my family is a big part of pretty much all we do. If it’s too difficult, we don’t make it. Or we find ways around it to make it easier. Or at the very least, quicker.

What ingredients do I need for the brie and cranberry bites?

First off, we have the puff pastry. I just adore puff pastry and could eat it constantly. So it’s no secret that I am already sold – the question is, are you?

Then all you really need is an egg for the eggwash, brie and cranberry sauce. Yes, I know I said it so many times already, but that is all you need. Nothing more. Ah, yes, I almost forgot, the thyme sprigs! Fresh thyme here is ideal, but if you only have dried one, a little sprinkle on top would be more than enough. It add a bit to the flavour of these Brie and cranberry bites, elevates them a little. Makes them a little more fancy, pretty much. Which is always a good thing in our books. Make your food look pretty! Taste amazing! Look amazing!

Shop-bought puff pastry VS homemade puff pastry?

I said it before in my mushroom Wellington recipe, but let’s read it once again. Why do you want to make your life difficult when the option is available? I know, shop-bought puff pastry versus homemade should be a no-brainer. Well, really? In this case, I must admit it is not as straightforward, sadly. Puff pastry is in my opinion one of the most difficult to whip up together. Otherwise, we would all be baking croissants on a daily basis. Not that croissants are made with puff pastry, but you get what I mean. It’s that layering of butter and dough that it’s not easy, very much time consuming and oh so stressful in my books.

But, I get it if you rather make your own puff pastry, and I honestly commend you for your willingness. If you are after a nice vegan puff pastry recipe, this one here seems like an easy option. Again, I know shop-bought pastry is still an option and if you are not so confident in your pastry skills, I would recommend it way more than making it. But that it’s just me. As usual, I am all about the you do you so pick yours and ahead you shall go!

How do I make the Brie and Cranberry bites?

To get some extra layers and height, you will be stacking the two puff pastry sheets together. Lay your first sheet of puff pastry, brush it with egg wash and layer the second sheet on top. Then, you can finally cut the bites so that they are *insert laugh here* bite-sized. Brush the top with the eggwash once again and bake. Once golden, add the cheese and bake for a few minutes extra so that the Brie melts. Decorate with the sauce and thyme and you’re done. Ready to rock and roll. I did say this recipe for the Brie and cranberry bites was as easy as a few minutes prep and plenty of time of happiness when eating.

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So I hope you enjoyed these Brie and Cranberry bites, the whole family just enjoyed them so much they kept snacking on them even when they were stone cold! My mum was especially delighted by these, and she is not really a big fan of Brie so that must count for something, right?! Of course, if you were to serve these at your next party, make sure they are hot and crunchy. Everyone will beg you for your recipe and you can even tell them it’s full-on your idea!

If you are still after some gift ideas for this coming Christmas, check out our gift guides. From the best Christmas craft kits to the best eco-friendly gifts for Christmas, home lifestyle gift ideas and the best Christmas beauty gift ideas. Check out the best Christmas board games and the best book lover presents. Also, check out the latest guide on the best unique stationery gifts, best Christmas craft kits, the best travel lover gifts, the best coffee aficionado gifts and keep an eye open for the absolute last gift guide to come!

And if you are after some recipes, why not check some of these out: we have a vegan clementine curd, the cutest stained glass window cookies, mini Christmas puddings bonbon, southern buttermilk pie and some no-bake cookie truffles. But also a bourbon berry pie from Fred, some white chocolate fudge, a blood orange negroni, a gingerbread syrup recipe, a spicy eggnog easy recipe and some mini candy cane cookies from Lynn. And if you are after a vegan main, check out this mushroom Wellington recipe with a side of satay roasted brussels sprouts. But also check out these Rice Krispies Christmas Puddings and this Gingerbread Syrup recipe!

Try not to eat too much this season, and if you do – be merry and bright!

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