4 Ingredient Cranberry Brie Puff Pastry Pinwheels

These Cranberry Brie Puff Pastry Pinwheels are the perfect holiday appetizers. Buttery, flaky, creamy, sweet and salty - all in one bite with just 4 ingredients. They are so very simple and quick to make, and everyone just loves them.

These cranberry brie bites are my absolute favorite festive appetizers to serve while entertaining for the holiday season. The sweet and tart cranberries with the creamy brie, some pecans for the crunch all rolled up in buttery puff pastry sheets and baked to flaky, crispy and delicious appetizers.

Seriously, once you make them and serve them to your guests, I promise, there will never be another holiday party without these cranberry brie pinwheels. It is just such an easy and delicious appetizer recipe that requires such minimal effort from your end.

These cranberry brie bites are great holiday appetizers because

• They are so very quick and easy to make
• They are a crowd favorite
• They pair very well with wine and holiday cocktails
• The creamy brie cheese and tart cranberries together is just perfect for this time of year.
• They require JUST 4 simple ingredients
• There is no added sugar, honey or any sweetener. The sweetness from the dried cranberries is just enough for this.

Ingredients

1. Puff Pastry - store-bought puff pastry sheets are more than perfect to use in this recipe. The flaky puff pastry adds a whole dimension to this recipe. Some recipes use crescent dough rolls or pastry dough as well. I love to use crisp buttery puff pastry sheets for this recipe.
2. Cranberries - I use regular dried cranberries for this recipe. You may use cranberry sauce if you have some left over from Thanksgiving. You may also use fresh cranberries. But considering how fresh cranberries are tart, you may want to add some sugar or honey to this before rolling them in.
3. Brie cheese - Creamy brie is the perfect combination with tart cranberry if you don't know about it already. Use triple cream brie as you get the perfect melted brie in the pinwheels which gives the perfect balance to the tart cranberries.
4. Pecans - Pecans are a holiday staple for me. In this recipe, the pecans add some extra crunch and flavor.

Method

• Bring the puff pastry sheet and brie to room temperature. Keep them out for about 30-45 mins. Preheat the oven to 400F.
• Dust the countertop with a little flour and roll out the sheet of puff pastry a little. 
• Remove the rind from the brie and spread out the creamy brie onto the puff pastry sheet.
• Top with dried cranberries and chopped pecans. Roll the puff pastry sheet into a jelly roll style. Roll as tight as you can. 

• Starting from one end of the roll, slice ½ inch thick pieces. 
• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the sliced up pieces, flat side down on the baking sheet.
• Bake for about 20 mins, till they are golden brown and crispy. Remove the baking sheet from the oven, Let them sit on the sheet for a couple of minutes and then transfer to a serving plate. Serve warm.

More holiday appetizer recipes 

Pear Crostini with Goat Cheese, Honey and Rosemary, Truffle Grilled Cheese Party Bites, Lamb Kebabs with Cilantro Mint Cauliflower Puree and Truffle Polenta Bites with WIld Mushroom Saute are some other great holiday appetizers. 

Other puff pastry recipes

• Butternut Squash and Chanterelle Puff Pastry Bites
• Cherry Thyme Puff Pastry Hand Pies
• Chocolate Hazelnut Puff Pastry Galette
• Butternut Squash and Goat Cheese Puff Pastry Galette
• Almond Blueberry Cream Cheese Danish

Recipe tips

• The secret to making this an easy appetizer is to use store bought puff pastry. Also, during the holiday season, make sure you have a few extra sheets of puff pastry in the freezer. It will come in handy to make all those easy puff pastry appetizers for holiday parties.
• Double or triple the recipe. It is so very easy to make and everyone eats at least a couple as they are bite sized plus so very delicious.
• You can always add some brown sugar, cinnamon sugar or honey to this recipe to make it sweeter or make it an easy simple dessert as well.

To make ahead and store cranberry brie pinwheels

Once you roll and cut out slices of the pinwheels, place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet and freeze for 8 hrs or so. Once frozen, the slices can be put in a freezer friendly Ziploc or airtight container and placed back in the freezer. To bake them, place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet on the counter, to thaw, for 30-45 mins. Bake in an oven at 400F for 20 mins.

Once baked, you can store them at room temperature for a day or two. It can then be refrigerated for up to a week. Warm in an oven at 250F, till warmed all the way through. You don't want it to cook all over again.