Next Post
Instant Pot Pesto Zuppa Toscana.
This post may contain affiliate links, please see our privacy policy for details.
These (almost idiot proof) 5 Ingredient Cranberry Brie Cinnamon Puff Pastry Swirls are my favorite easy appetizer. They’re quick, simple, and most importantly, everyone LOVES them. Flaky puff pastry, creamy Brie cheese, dried cranberries, and a touch of sweet cinnamon sugar (promise it works). All rolled together then baked to create the perfect cheesy pastry swirls. These are the perfect, sweet and savory festive appetizers that are ideal for holiday entertaining.
There are very few recipes I turn to time and time again. But these fun, slightly sweet yet still savory, pastry swirls have been my go-to Thanksgiving appetizer for years now. It’s not all that often that I repeat recipes in my kitchen, but when it comes to holiday recipes, I LOVE tradition more than anything. Some of you might recognize these from way, way back when. And for some of you, this might be a brand new recipe. Regardless of whether it’s old or new, I am SO EXCITED to be sharing these swirls today. These are one of my mom’s favorite holiday appetizers.
Originally I was going to share a completely different, very dessert-like post today. But then something on Monday morning just told me that I NEEDED to instead share another easy appetizer. I know we just talked about these goat cheese stuffed bacon wrapped dates, but with Thanksgiving next week, and all of the upcoming holiday parties, I figured we needed all of the appetizer recipes we can get our hands on.
Right? Yes, yes, certainly hoping so! Plus, these are just so fun, easy, and DELICIOUS. I’ve yet to meet a person who doesn’t love this recipe.
Here is what you need to make these cranberry brie pastry swirls…
Store-bought puff pastry…holiday tip, always keep puff pastry in the freezer, especially during November and December.
Salted butter…just a little, but it goes a long way.
Cinnamon sugar…yes, cinnamon sugar. Again, only just a little, but it’s the secret ingredient here.
Creamy Brie cheese…for obvious reasons. It’s the most delicious ingredient here.
Dried cranberries…a pantry staple that never gets enough love that’s perfect for pairing with creamy Brie.
If you can make cinnamon rolls, you can me these swirls. Just layer the pastry with butter, cinnamon sugar, brie, and cranberries. Roll up the pastry, slice, and bake. DONE. That’s it. These take only minutes to prepare, minutes to bake, and come out of the oven looking more incredible than you could imagine.
Trust me. I make these every year and I’m still taken back every single time I pull them out of the oven. There’s just nothing not to love about bubbly melty Brie with cranberries and flaky pastry. And the addition of a little cinnamon sugar? Just two simple words…
SO GOOD.
The Secret?
Um, yes, it’s that cinnamon sugar. I know it’s odd and unusual, but let me explain. First, you should note that we are not using a lot of sugar, only a pinch and it really goes a long way.
The sweet cinnamon in combination with the cranberries, Brie, and pastry is what makes these swirls sparkle. Literally.
Whenever I’m working with cranberries I always find they need to be paired with something sweet to break up their tartness and highlight just how delicious they really are. Since I love playing with sweet and savory flavor combinations, I tested out the addition of cinnamon. At first I was nervous, but after the first bite, I knew I stumbled across something crazy delicious. The sweet cinnamon adds a nice warmth that pairs perfectly with the creamy Brie and balances out the tart cranberries.
It’s the perfect marriage of flavors and feels especially fitting for this time of year.
An import note…
These are a little messy. When you pull them out of the oven, you may worry that they’re too messy. But, just let the swirls sit on the pan for a few minutes and the cheese will set and be much easier to work with. They’re still going to be a little messy, but such a great appetizer, and so worth a few sticky fingers! They’re bite-sized and great for prepping in advance and then popping in the oven just as guests arrive.
These take only a few minutes to bake. They’ll come out of the oven just as everyone is settling in and beginning to look for apps.
My biggest tip? Double the recipe. This recipe makes about sixteen pastry swirls, but everyone eats at least two…sometimes more. Again, they’re bite-sized…and so very, very GOOD!
If you make these 5 Ingredient Cranberry Brie Cinnamon Puff Pastry Swirls, 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 tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Watch the How-To Video Here:
5 Ingredient Cranberry Brie Cinnamon Puff Pastry Swirls.
Servings: 16 Swirls
Calories Per Serving: 206 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed
- 3 tablespoons salted butter, melted
- 6 ounces Brie cheese, rind mostly removed and finely diced
- 3/4 cup dried cranberries
- 2-4 tablespoons cinnamon sugar, using more or less to taste
Instructions
- 1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.2. Unroll the puff pastry on a clean work surface. Brush the pastry with 1 tablespoon melted butter and then sprinkle with 1-2 tablespoons cinnamon sugar. Sprinkle the diced brie and cranberries evenly over the pastry. 3. Starting at the long end, roll the pastry up as tightly as possible (like a cinnamon roll). Brush the roll with the remaining melted butter and then sprinkle the roll with cinnamon sugar to coat. Using a sharp knife, cut into 16 swirls.4. Place the swirls on the prepared baking sheet and bake 15-25 minutes or until the cheese is bubbly and the pastry golden, these are a little messy. Allow to sit on the pan about two minutes and before transferring to a serving plate. Serve warm.
Notes
To Make Ahead: prepare through step 3. Place the swirls on a parchment lined baking sheet. Cover and keep in the fridge for up to 2 days. When ready to bake, preheat the oven and bake the swirls as directed.
Cinnamon Sugar: mix 1/4 cup sugar with 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon. Store in an airtight container.
These were delicious and a huge hit! All my guests were asking each other if they had had one! Gone in minutes! So easy to make. Love when a recipe comes together that is so easy and so delicious!
Hey Julie,
Wonderful!! I love to hear that this recipe was a hit, thanks for giving it a try! Have a great weekend:)
Great dish! It’ll make a good appetizer for Thanksgiving. I think next time I might add chopped pecans and drizzle with a little honey when they’re done. Definitely will make again. Thank you!
Hey Sunny,
Amazing!! I love to hear that this recipe was a hit, thanks so much for making it! Have the best weekend!❄️
Hi Teighan,
Planning to make these for holiday party. If they sit out for awhile are they still as tasty or are they best served warm?
Hey Danielle,
I think they are best served warm, but I would say within an hour is just fine:) I hope you love this recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xT
Hi Tieghan, this recipe is everything! How do you think they would come out if I used a standard cupcake pan after slicing them? Thank you!
Hey Noreen,
Fantastic!! I love that this recipe turned out tasty for you, thanks so much for giving it a try! I’ve never tried that, but it doesn’t sound like a terrible idea! xx
Made these on Christmas Eve for my family – a huge hit! My bake time was definitely closer to the 25 min end of things. The tart cranberry, sweet cinnamon sugar, and brie all balance so deliciously!
Hi Natalie,
Thank you so much for making this recipe, I am so glad to hear it was enjoyed! Merry Christmas!?? xT
Made these for Thanksgiving and they were incredible! Absolutely loved them. The cinnamon sugar really did it for me. Crowd favorite!
Hey Autumn,
I love to hear that you liked this recipe, thanks a lot for giving it a try! xTieghan
A crowd favorite at thanksgiving. Someone said, ‘this is my last meal request’. Also, incredibly easy and rewarding to prepare!
Hi there,
I am so glad that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a bunch for trying it out! Happy Thanksgiving! xTieghan
Would these work with fresh cranberries?
Hey Lindsay,
Yes, but you will want to cook them down a bit first. Please let me know if you give the recipe a try! xTieghan
These were so delicious!!! Added some chopped pecans for crunch. So yummy!
Thanks so much!! 🙂 xTieghan
These were SO good and SO easy! I can’t wait to make these during the holidays!
Hey Rose! Thanks so much for giving this recipe a try, I’m so glad you enjoyed it! 🙂 xxTieghan
I love your recipes, but there has been a real problem with ads blocking every one of your videos. Whenever I try to watch them, it’s just an endless cycle of ads or I get to watch the first quarter before it defaults to back-to-back ads. I can never see your content. I’ve tried on different computers in different places, the ads always get frozen or cycle over and over, never letting me watch the handy “how to” video I came here to see. I end up just giving up. I’m wondering if other people have this problem?
Hey Morgan! Oh no I’m so sorry about that! I’ll have to look into that ASAP 🙂 xTieghan
Me too! It’s still a problem… can’t watch any of your how to videos because of the ads
I bet little honey crisp apple pieces mixed in with craisons would be yummy too!!
That would be delicious! xTieghan
Thoughts on adding pecans or walnuts ?
That would be delicious!! xxTieghan
Any suggestions for making gluten free?
Hi there! I would just try to find a gluten free dough or puff pastry, or there are also recipes out there to make your own gluten free puff pastry! 🙂 xTieghan
Yummy. Says it all.
Thanks so much Rebecca!