Next Post
This post may contain affiliate links, please see our privacy policy for details.
These Cranberry Brie Pastry Tarts are my favorite last-minute appetizer. They’re quick, easy, and most importantly, everyone loves them! Puff pastry, creamy brie, and fresh cranberries all baked together to create the perfect cheese filled mini tarts. Finish each tart off with a little fresh thyme for a festive appetizer that’s perfect for holiday entertaining.
Happy day before Thanksgiving! I hope everyone is just as excited as I am. We have all of the family here…and then some…for tomorrow’s big meal. My parents house is very full, and will continue to be through the weekend.
I know this might sound cheesy, but I’m feeling extra thankful this year. It’s been such a busy year. The last two months have been non-stop, and filled with a lot of work and not enough sleep…and I would not change it for a thing. I’m just so excited for all the growth that HBH has seen this year. And so thankful for all you, who loyally read my rambles day in and day out.
It’s funny, when I’m writing each day’s new blog post I never think about how many people will read it, or what you guys might think. I just write and share my life with you all. I love that this space feels like I’m chatting with friends every single day. It’s truly the best, and I’m very thankful to have SO many of you to talk and share my recipes with daily!
Since we’re down to the wire, and somehow Thanksgiving is tomorrow. I wanted to share an incredibly easy recipe that’s also incredibly delicious.
Enter these cranberry brie pastry tarts.
These tarts are hands down one of the most delicious appetizers you can serve up. They still have a nice classic holiday flavor combo. But they’re made into cute tarts that are the best little three bite appetizers. They’re perfect for tomorrow, or any other party this holiday season.
I mentioned the other day that one of my go-to short cut ingredients is puff pastry. I kind of love it. Puff pastry is great for quick dinners, beyond delicious appetizers, and sweet desserts.
That said, if there’s one thing I love to use puff pastry for the most, it’s brie. Brie and puff pastry are like peanut butter and jelly. They’re delicious on their own, but better together (really throwing out all the cheesy lines today…).
As you can imagine, these are simple, but don’t let that fool you, they are so good. I guarantee that if you put these on your appetizer table, every last tart will be gone in minutes.
Start by mixing fresh cranberries with a little brown sugar and cinnamon. Since we’re using fresh cranberries it’s necessary to sweeten them with some form of sugar, or they’ll be too tart to eat. I like to use anywhere from 3 to 4 tablespoons of sugar, but use more or less to you taste. The cinnamon adds the perfect warming touch that pairs nicely with the tart cranberries and creamy brie.
Now, cut each sheet of pastry into rectangles and spread with fig preserves. The preserves add another layer of flavor and also help to balance the cranberry’s tartness. You could also use an equal amount of maple syrup or honey.
Top the preserves with slices of brie, add the cranberries, throw them in the oven, and done.
Quick, easy, and perfect.
When these come out of the oven, some of the brie may have melted over the sides of the pastry. Don’t worry, this is totally fine. You just need to scoop any brie that melted off, back onto the tarts. Brie is a melty cheese, so just be aware that will most likely happen.
In my opinion, the meltier and messier the tarts are, the better.
I finished each tart off with some fresh thyme leaves for a pop of festive green color, and a hint of savory flavor. It’s hard to describe just how good these are, but if you love cranberries, and you love brie, you must make these mini tarts.
Promise, they will be the favorite appetizer of the night! I am very much looking forward to making them tomorrow for my family.
Hoping you all have a very wonderful Thanksgiving, full of good food, family, and friends! If you need any last minutes recipe ideas, check out my Thanksgiving menu.
Taking tomorrow off to cook (I’ll be on Instagram though, with fun behind the scenes stories). I’ll be back on Friday with my first ever pot pie recipe!
Happy Thanksgiving!
If you make these cranberry brie tarts be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to also tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Watch The How To Video Here:
Cranberry Brie Tarts from Half Baked Harvest on Vimeo.
Cranberry Brie Tarts
Servings: 12 10
Calories Per Serving: 777 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon salted butter, melted
- 2 cups fresh cranberries
- 2-4 tablespoons brown sugar, use more or less to your taste (I use 2 tablespoons)
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 sheets (1 box) frozen puff pastry, thawed
- 2 (8 ounce) wheels of Brie, each cut into 12 slices (leave the rind on)
- 1/3 cup fig preserves
- 1 egg, beaten
- coarse sugar, for sprinkling
- fresh thyme, for serving
Instructions
- 1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.2. In a medium bowl, combine the butter, cranberries, brown sugar, and cinnamon. 3. Cut each sheet of puff pastry into 6 rectangles. Spread each rectangle with about 1 teaspoon fig preserves, leaving a 1/4 inch border. Top with 2 slices of brie and then mound the cranberries over the brie, pressing them into the brie to adhere slightly (see above photo). 4. Fold the edges of the pastry inward to enclose the brie. Brush the edges of pastry with beaten egg and sprinkle with coarse sugar. 4. Transfer to the oven and bake for 15-20 minutes or until the pastry is golden and the brie melted. Top with fresh thyme. Serve and enjoy!
There’s nothing better than cranberries and brie, these tarts look perfect!
AGREED! …Except maybe chocolate haha! I hope you try these Laura!
It looks so good~ Can’t wait to try these tarts~ Thank you for sharing the recipe!
Thank you! I hope you love them!
Making for girls dinner club. Looks divine! Can I make this a day in advance? If so should I prepare completely or stop at some point?
Kathy
Hey Kathy! You can prep the tarts all the way up until it is time to bake. Then pop them in the fridge and bake when ready! Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe. Thanks so much!! xTieghan
When you cut the puff pastry sheet into 6th’s, what is the approx measurement of the rectangles? Mine were about 4X6, which seemed big.
Also, i’d recommend moving the pastry to the sheet pan after cutting, and then assembling the rest of the tart there. I did not do this the first time around and had a really difficult time moving them to the pan.
These were delicious!!
HI! 4×6 is about the size mine are when I make these. Please let me know if you have any other questions. Really glad you love this recipe. Thanks so much!! xTieghan
Can I sub orange marmalade for the fig jam?
Sure! Orange marmalade will be delicious! Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe. Thanks so much!! xTieghan
What is the butter for? You mention in ingredients and then you say to mix it with cranberries and sugar but you leave out cinnamon. Is the butter a mistake?
HI! The butter and cinnamon are used in the same step. recipe is all fixed! Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe. Thanks so much!! xTieghan
I had everything needed to make these except the puff pastry, so used large croissants, sliced on the diagonal (about 3/8″ thick). They needed less time in the oven and were a delicious last-minute addition to a cheese board. The hardest part –> sharing!
Haha I totally understand that! I am so glad you loved these Kathy! Thank you!
This was a great last minute recipe! I made them the morning of Thanksgiving to bring to my parents’ house and everyone loved them! I didn’t buy enough brie, so I substituted with a maple syrup, cheddar cheese and cinnamon/brown sugar apple combo! They were so easy and delicious! It was nice to have 2 types to choose from.
Yes! I love that it was such an easy substitute! Thank you so much Brittany!
Hi, as always, best recipes ever. But if I can’t get fresh cranberries, not that usual in Sweden, can I use dried?
Morteza
HI! Yes, you can use dried! I would add them to the top of the tarts during the last 10 minutes of cooking and omit the brown sugar from the recipe since dried cranberries are sweetened. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe. Thanks so much!! xTieghan
Made this today as an appetizer before the Thanksgiving meal and it was a real crowd-pleaser. I won’t wait for a holiday to make it again! The fresh thyme was a lovely touch.
That is so great! I am so glad everyone loved these pastries, Jackie! I hope you had a great Thanksgiving!
Ack! What’s the butter for???
HI! The butter is mixed with the cranberries. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe. Thanks so much!! xTieghan
These looks so delicious!! Great job 🙂
Rebecca | http://www.peppermintdolly.com
Thank you Rebecca!
Could you use cranberry sauce instead of who!le cranberries,I mean home made cranberry sauce???
HI! Yes, you can use cranberry sauce, but I recommend adding it to the top of the tarts during the last 10 minutes of cooking. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe. Thanks so much!! xTieghan
Best way to transport? Can I make this ahead of time and reheat? Or travel with it uncooked and cook there.
HI! I recommend assembling at home and then baking once you arrive. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe. Thanks so much!! xTieghan
This looks incredible. Do you ever wish you could reach through a screen and grab a plate of food? Becuase I do!
Haha yes! Wouldn’t that be the best on Thanksgiving?! I hope you try this Rae! Thank you!