Description
Cranberry brie mini tarts dance with festive flavors, blending sweet and tangy notes in a delightful bite-sized pastry. Guests will savor each elegant morsel, experiencing a perfect holiday appetizer that promises culinary elegance at your next gathering.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 sheet puff pastry, thawed
- 8 ounces (226 grams) Brie cheese, cut into small pieces
- 1 cup (150 grams) fresh or frozen cranberries
Sauce/Flavoring Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup (100 grams) sugar (adjust to taste)
- 1/4 cup (60 milliliters) water
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Finishing Ingredients:
- 1 egg, beaten (for egg wash)
- Fresh thyme or rosemary for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Craft a tangy cranberry compote by simmering cranberries, sugar, water, and vanilla extract in a saucepan over medium heat until berries burst and mixture transforms into a luscious, slightly thickened sauce.
- Allow the cranberry mixture to cool completely, enabling flavors to meld and sauce to set while preparing the pastry.
- Heat the oven to 400°F, ensuring an optimal temperature for achieving golden, crispy pastry shells.
- Unfold the puff pastry sheet on a lightly dusted surface, gently smoothing out any visible creases or wrinkles.
- Slice the pastry into precise 3×3 inch squares, carefully positioning each piece into mini muffin tin cavities, delicately pressing to create elegant tart shells.
- Nestle a small, creamy chunk of Brie cheese into each pastry-lined cavity, creating a rich, melting center.
- Delicately spoon the cooled cranberry compote over the Brie, filling each tart approximately three-quarters full to prevent overflow.
- Enhance the pastry’s appearance by tenderly brushing the exposed edges with beaten egg, which will yield a lustrous, golden-brown finish during baking.
- Transfer the muffin tin to the preheated oven and bake for 15-20 minutes until pastry achieves a puffy, amber-hued transformation.
- Remove tarts from the oven and allow them to rest briefly, helping the filling stabilize and preventing potential burns.
- Carefully extract the tarts from the tin, optionally adorning with fresh thyme or rosemary sprigs for an aromatic garnish.
- Serve these delectable mini tarts warm or at ambient temperature, perfect for elegant holiday entertaining.
Notes
- Make the cranberry filling and cut pastry squares in advance, storing them separately in the refrigerator to save time during holiday entertaining.
- Replace Brie with goat cheese or blue cheese for different flavor profiles, accommodating various taste preferences.
- Use gluten-free puff pastry for a celiac-friendly version, ensuring everyone can enjoy these delightful mini tarts.
- Leftover cranberry sauce works perfectly in this recipe, reducing food waste and adding extra convenience to your holiday cooking.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 200 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 25 mg