Description
Cranberry brie and pecan puff pastry cups blend savory and sweet flavors in an elegant appetizer. Crisp pastry shells cradle melted cheese and tangy cranberry sauce, inviting guests to savor each delectable bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (454 grams) puff pastry, homemade or store-bought frozen, thawed
- 6 oz (170 grams) brie cheese
- 1 cup (100 grams) cranberries, fresh, rinsed
- ⅓ cup (67 grams) sugar, granulated
- 2 tbsps (30 milliliters) orange juice, fresh
- ½ tsp orange zest
- ½ tsp vanilla extract, pure
- 6 tbsps (90 milliliters) water
- 1 large egg (for egg wash)
- 1 tbsp water or milk (for egg wash)
- sugar, coarse (for sprinkling)
- 1–2 pecan halves per cup (optional)
- flaky sea salt (optional, for garnish)
- thyme, fresh (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Prep Pastry: Chill puff pastry dough until firm, ensuring optimal texture and handling.
- Craft Cranberry Sauce: Simmer cranberries with water, orange juice, and sugar over medium heat until berries burst and mixture thickens; incorporate remaining whole cranberries, orange zest, and vanilla extract, then cool to enhance flavor profile.
- Prepare Workspace: Preheat oven to 400°F (204°C), generously spray a 12-cup muffin tin with nonstick cooking spray, and flour a work surface for dough manipulation.
- Shape Pastry: Roll dough into a 12×16-inch rectangle, slice into 12 precise 4-inch squares, and meticulously brush each square with egg wash, ensuring complete edge coverage.
- Assemble Cups: Gently press pastry squares into muffin cups, creating elegant vessels; position brie in the center, top with cranberry sauce, and delicately fold pastry corners toward the center.
- Embellish and Bake: Sprinkle cups with coarse sugar, bake for 10 minutes, strategically place pecans in the center, then continue baking for an additional 10 minutes until pastry achieves a rich golden-brown hue.
Notes
- Chill Pastry Perfectly: Keep puff pastry refrigerated until cold and firm to ensure flaky, crisp texture and prevent dough from becoming too soft during preparation.
- Master Cranberry Sauce: Cook cranberries slowly over medium heat, stirring occasionally, to develop deep flavors and achieve the ideal thick, jammy consistency.
- Egg Wash Technique: Brush pastry edges thoroughly with egg wash to create a beautiful golden-brown sheen and help corners seal elegantly during baking.
- Pecan Placement Strategy: Add pecans midway through baking to prevent burning and ensure they remain crunchy and perfectly toasted.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 13
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 160 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg