Description
Cranberry Brie and Pecan Puff Pastry Cups blend festive flavors in elegant bite-sized delights. Buttery pastry cradles creamy brie, tart cranberries, and crunchy pecans, creating a perfect holiday appetizer you’ll want to savor again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 lb homemade or store-bought frozen puff pastry (2 sheets), thawed
- 6 ounces (170 grams) brie cheese
- 1 cup (100 grams) fresh cranberries, rinsed
Sweeteners and Flavor Enhancers:
- ⅓ cup (67 grams) granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) fresh orange juice
- ½ teaspoon orange zest
- ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 6 tablespoons (90 milliliters) water
- Coarse sugar, for sprinkling
Finishing and Optional Ingredients:
- 1 large egg (for egg wash)
- 1 tablespoon water or milk (for egg wash)
- Optional: 1-2 pecan halves per cup
- Optional for garnish: flaky sea salt
- Optional for garnish: fresh thyme
Instructions
- Refrigerate the puff pastry dough until it’s thoroughly chilled and firm, whether homemade or store-bought.
- Craft the cranberry sauce by combining most of the cranberries with water, orange juice, and sugar in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring intermittently until the berries burst and the mixture thickens.
- Remove the cranberry mixture from heat and fold in the reserved whole cranberries, orange zest, and vanilla extract. Allow the sauce to cool and develop its flavors.
- Heat the oven to 400°F (204°C) and generously coat a 12-cup muffin tin with nonstick cooking spray.
- Dust a clean work surface with flour and roll the pastry dough into a 12×16-inch rectangle, then slice into 12 precise 4-inch squares.
- Brush each pastry square thoroughly with egg wash, ensuring complete edge coverage.
- Delicately press the pastry squares into the muffin cups, creating elegant little vessels.
- Position a piece of brie in the center of each pastry cup.
- Spoon approximately 2 heaping teaspoons of cranberry sauce over the brie.
- Gently fold the pastry corners toward the center, partially covering the filling.
- Sprinkle each cup with coarse sugar for a sparkling finish.
- Bake for 10 minutes, then strategically place pecans in the center of each cup.
- Continue baking for an additional 10 minutes or until the pastry achieves a rich golden-brown color.
Notes
- Pastry Perfection: Ensure puff pastry is thoroughly thawed and kept chilled for the best flaky, crisp texture that melts in your mouth.
- Cranberry Sauce Magic: Homemade sauce bursts with vibrant flavor, combining fresh and cooked cranberries for a perfect balance of tartness and sweetness.
- Temperature Matters: Preheat oven to exactly 400°F to achieve golden-brown, perfectly crisp pastry cups that look stunning and taste incredible.
- Egg Wash Technique: Brush pastry edges carefully to create a beautiful golden sheen and help seal the delicate pastry cups.
- Cheese and Fruit Harmony: Layer creamy brie with tangy cranberry sauce for a luxurious flavor combination that elevates this simple appetizer.
- Topping Tip: Sprinkle coarse sugar and toasted pecans just before final baking to add crunch and a delightful caramelized finish.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 248 kcal
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 170 mg
- Fat: 17 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 45 mg