This Cranberry and Brie Puff Pastry Wreath is the one holiday appetizer that looks like it took hours but is secretly ready in just 30 minutes. It’s the ultimate Christmas showstopper, delivering that perfect, “wow” combination of warm, flaky pastry, creamy melted brie, and sweet-tart cranberry.
It’s a stunning Brie Christmas wreath that’s incredibly simple to make, and it’s always the first thing to vanish from the cheese board. This brie and cranberry puff pastry recipe is the perfect centerpiece to serve alongside other easy holiday appetizers like our Christmas Deviled Eggs and Reindeer Pretzel Treats.
Table of Contents
Why This Recipe is a Holiday Favorite
This recipe is a must-make for any holiday party. Here’s why:
- 5-Minute Prep: It’s not an exaggeration. This recipe is just 5 minutes of simple assembly before it goes into the oven.
- The “Wow” Factor: It’s a stunning Christmas brie wreath that looks gourmet. Your guests will think you’re a pastry chef!
- Perfect Flavor Combo: The salty, creamy brie and tart cranberry are a classic for a reason. Do brie and cranberry go together? They are a match made in heaven!
- Versatile: I’ll also show you how to use these exact same ingredients to make poppable, two-bite cranberry brie bites!
Easy Cranberry and Brie Puff Pastry Wreath
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
Description
The ultimate Christmas appetizer! This stunning Cranberry and Brie Puff Pastry Wreath looks gourmet but is ready in 30 minutes. Features flaky pastry, creamy melted brie, and tart cranberry.
Ingredients
- 1 sheet (approx. 10-14 oz) puff pastry, thawed
- 2–3 tbsp whole berry cranberry sauce
- 8 oz (200-226g) wheel of Brie cheese, sliced
- 2 tbsp pistachios, roughly chopped (or pecans)
- 1 large egg, beaten (for egg wash)
Instructions
- Preheat & Prep: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Cut Pastry: Unroll your thawed puff pastry sheet onto the parchment. Cut a large circle (10-12 inches).
How to Cut Puff Pastry for a Brie Wreath - Cut Center Star: Place a small bowl (4-5 inches) in the center of the pastry. Lightly trace it. Inside this center circle, make 4 cuts in a “plus” sign (+) to create 4 triangular flaps.
- Add Fillings: Spread the cranberry sauce in a ring just outside your center “star” cuts. Lay the brie slices on top of the cranberry sauce. Sprinkle with the chopped pistachios.
Brie and Cranberry Filling on Puff Pastry - Fold the Wreath: Take one of the center “star” flaps and fold it up and over the filling. Now, take the corresponding outer edge of the pastry and fold it inward, pressing it onto the center flap. Repeat all the way around until the wreath is sealed.
- Egg Wash: Brush the entire wreath with the beaten egg.
Unbaked Cranberry Brie Wreath, Folded - Bake: Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the pastry is puffed, deep golden brown, and cooked through.
- Rest & Serve: Let the wreath rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes (this lets the cheese set slightly) before slicing and serving warm.
Baked Cranberry and Brie Puff Pastry Wreath
Notes
- Do NOT remove the rind! The rind on the brie is edible and essential. It holds the cheese together, preventing it from melting into a puddle.
- Puff Pastry: Make sure your puff pastry is thawed but still cold.
- Make-Ahead: You can assemble the entire unbaked wreath, cover it tightly, and refrigerate it for up to 1 day. Or, freeze the unbaked wreath solid and bake it directly from frozen (just add 5-10 minutes to the baking time).
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Cuisine: American, French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (1/6th of wreath)
- Calories: 255kcal
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 272mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Carbohydrates: 12g
- Protein: 9g
- Cholesterol: 60mg
Ingredients for Your Brie Cranberry Wreath
You only need a few simple, high-impact ingredients for this brie and cranberry wreath.
- Puff Pastry: One 10-14 oz sheet of puff pastry, thawed. I recommend an all-butter version like Pepperidge Farm for the best flavor and puff.
- Brie Cheese: One 8 oz (200g) wheel of brie.
- Cranberry Sauce: 2-3 tablespoons of whole berry cranberry sauce. The texture of the whole berries is much better than the jellied kind. A good homemade cranberry sauce recipe is also fantastic here.
- Nuts: 2 tablespoons of chopped pistachios, pecans, or walnuts. This adds a lovely crunch.
- Egg: 1 large egg, beaten. This is for the egg wash, which gives the wreath that deep golden-brown, shiny finish.
How to Make the Cranberry Brie Wreath (Step-by-Step)
This is the secret to the perfect cranberry and brie puff pastry wreath. We’re using a simple “star” cut to make the beautiful wreath shape.
Step 1: Preheat & Prep Your Pastry
First, preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). This high heat is the secret to a great puff. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
Unroll your thawed puff pastry sheet on the parchment. If it’s a square, you can use it as-is or cut a large circle (about 10-12 inches).
Step 2: Cut the Center “Star”
Place a small bowl (about 4-5 inches wide) in the very center of your pastry. Lightly trace around it with a knife.
Now, inside that circle, make 4 cuts to form a “plus” sign (+). This creates 4 small flaps in the center of the pastry, which will become the points of your star.
Step 3: Add the Fillings
In the area just outside your “star” cuts, spread the cranberry sauce in a ring.
Next, slice your brie. Do not cut the rind off! (More on that in the FAQs!). Lay the brie slices on top of the cranberry sauce. Finally, sprinkle your chopped pistachios or pecans over the brie.
Step 4: Fold the Wreath
This is the magic part!
- Take one of the center “star” flaps and fold it up and over the filling.
- Now, take the corresponding outer edge of the pastry and fold it inward, pressing it gently onto the center flap you just folded over.
- Repeat this all the way around, folding one star flap out and one outer edge in, until the entire brie wreath is formed.
Step 5: Egg Wash and Bake
Brush the entire brie cranberry puff pastry wreath with your beaten egg. This is what gives it that professional, glossy, golden-brown finish.
Bake at 400°F (200°C) for 15-20 minutes. It’s done when it’s beautifully puffed up, deep golden brown, and cooked through. Let it rest for 5 minutes (this helps the cheese set slightly) before slicing and serving warm.
How to Make Easy Cranberry Brie Bites
Want the same amazing brie and cranberry flavor in a single, poppable bite? Let’s make brie and cranberry bites. This cranberry brie bites recipe is perfect for a crowd.
The Easiest Cranberry Brie Bites Recipe
- Prep: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Lightly grease a 24-cup mini-muffin tin.
- Cut Pastry: Unroll your puff pastry sheet and cut it into 24 small squares.
- Form Cups: Press one pastry square into each mini-muffin cup.
- Fill: Add a small (1-inch) cube of brie (rind on!) to each cup. Top with a small 1/2 teaspoon of cranberry sauce and a sprinkle of chopped nuts.
- Bake: Bake for 10-15 minutes, or until the puff pastry brie cranberry bites are puffed, golden, and bubbly.
Let them cool for a few minutes before removing them. This bite-sized method is also perfect for our Cranberry Brie Crostini recipe!
Your Brie and Cranberry Questions, Answered
Should you cut the rind off brie before baking in puff pastry?
No, do not cut the rind off! This is the #1 tip for baking with brie. The rind is completely edible and serves a vital purpose: it acts as a “container,” helping the brie become perfectly melted, gooey, and molten without turning into a giant puddle that leaks out everywhere. It’s the secret to holding the wreath shape.
Do brie and cranberry go together?
Absolutely! It’s one of the most classic and perfect flavor pairings in the culinary world. The creamy, earthy, salty flavor of the brie is the perfect balance for the sweet, tart, and zesty cranberry sauce. They are a match made in heaven, which is why this brie and cranberry puff pastry is a holiday staple.
Can cranberry brie bites be made ahead of time?
Yes, this is the perfect make-ahead appetizer! You have two fantastic options:
1- Assemble & Freeze (Best): Assemble the uncooked wreath or bites on the baking sheet. Freeze solid (about 1 hour), then wrap tightly in plastic wrap and foil. You can bake them straight from frozen! Just add 5-10 minutes to the total bake time.
2- Bake & Reheat: Bake them completely, let cool, and store in an airtight container in the fridge. To serve, reheat in a 350°F oven for 5-8 minutes to re-crisp the pastry and melt the cheese.
How do you make cranberry pecan puff pastry with brie?
That’s one of our favorite variations! It’s incredibly simple: just substitute the 2 tablespoons of pistachios in the recipe for 2 tablespoons of toasted, chopped pecans. The toasty, nutty, and slightly sweet flavor of pecans is absolutely incredible with the brie and cranberry.
What temperature do you bake brie in puff pastry?
You want to bake it at a high temperature: 400°F (200°C). This high heat is the secret. It allows the puff pastry to get a fast, golden, and dramatic “puff” before the brie cheese has time to melt completely and ooze out. If the temperature is too low, the brie will melt and leak before the pastry is cooked.
Why does my stomach hurt after eating brie cheese?
This is a common question. While brie is delicious, a few things can cause discomfort in some people, especially if you eat a lot of it:
1- High Fat Content: Brie is a rich, high-fat cheese. Large amounts of fat can be difficult for some people to digest, causing a heavy feeling or discomfort.
2- Lactose: While brie is a soft cheese, it’s fairly low in lactose. However, those who are very sensitive may still feel it.
3- Tyramine: Aged and soft-ripened cheeses (like brie) contain an amino acid called tyramine, which can cause headaches or digestive upset in sensitive individuals.
4- The Rind: The Penicillium camemberti (the edible mold that makes the rind) can be a mild irritant for some people’s digestive systems.
In most cases, it’s a mild issue of “too much of a good thing.” (For more info, see this guide to digesting high-fat foods from Healthline).
Get Ready for Your New Go-To Holiday Appetizer
Whether you make the stunning brie cranberry puff pastry wreath or the poppable cranberry brie bites, this recipe is a guaranteed winner. It’s the perfect, easy appetizer for any holiday party.
Serve it on a large board with other favorites like our Christmas Tree Pull Apart Bread for the ultimate party platter!