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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!
Looking for other easy appetizer recipes?? Here are my favorites:
Spinach and Artichoke Dip Rolls
Pull-Apart Garlic Butter Bread Wreath
Cranberry Brie Pull Apart Bread
Mini Pastry Wrapped Cranberry Baked Brie Bites
Easiest No-Boil Brie Mac and Cheese
Pastry Wrapped Cranberry Baked Brie
The 50 Most Popular Holiday Appetizers and Cocktails (+mocktails)
Bacon Wrapped Date and Goat Cheese Pastry Twists
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.
This post was originally published on November 20, 2019
Tieghan, Thank you so much for answering so quickly!!! Can’t wait to eat them!! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!!
Jeanine
Of course! Have a great Thanksgiving too! 🙂
Hello! I’m so glad I came across your recipe on Buzzfeed. I’m in the middle of making these right now. I’m the idiot who has a question!!! LOL!! Should I remove the rind before I spread the Brie? I never know what to do when cheese has a rind, eat it, cut it off, cut around it!!!!!! Thanks for your help!
J
HI!! I just leave the brie rind in tact since I don’t mind eating it. It’s easier this way too, but you can remove it if you’d prefer! Hope you love this! Happy Thanksgiving!
Just came across this recipe through BuzzFeed.. Looks delish! Do you think subbing the cranberries for raspberry preserves would be ok? Would it still be ok with the cinnamon sugar? Can’t wait to try this out 🙂
Hope all is well with the barn!!!
Hey Christina! Yes, that will be fine. I think it will be delicious actually. Just don’t use too much as it will make everything runny. Let me know if you have any other questions. Thanks!!
I just saw this recipe, nearly a year after. The barn is ready and I have to say again so very beautiful Tieghan. I guess all your trials and tribulations make living there just that much sweeter, right? And this recipe is so easy and looks sooo delicious… <3
Thank you so much! Hope you love these! 🙂
I’m curious…is this an appetizer or dessert?
It can be whatever you want it to be, but I like this as an appetizer!
These were so delicious, thank you for the recipe!
These look beautiful and delicious! The dusting cinnamon picture is awesome!
Thank you so much!
OMG This looks absolutely amazing. Will most certainly have to try!
Thanks Karen!
These look absolutely amazing!! These look so good I might have to change a few of my holiday breakfast traditions and have these instead!! The pictures are beautiful!!
Thanks so much, Chelsea! Hopping you had a great weekend!
Try not to be discouraged, Tieghan! It’s a big project, and I don’t know anyone who has ever built or renovated anything without having problems, really! It will be so amazing – once it’s complete- and will be totally worth it! We’ll wait patiently for pictures 🙂 These look like gooey little pieces of perfect! Can’t wait to make them!
These look amazing and are going on my to do list for sure! I like the dental floss cutting tip 🙂
Thanks!
Sorry about the struggles with your barn!! I hope it comes together soon. Our family has done a lot of renovations and it can be very stressful but it always works out.
These look amaaazing. My boyfriend and I have been buying brie every week (sometimes more than once a week) and I love seeing new ways to use it!
Thank you so much!
These look amazing! If I’m going to make these ahead of time, at what step should I stop? Should I add the butter and cinnamon sugar right before baking, or can I go up to the point where I slice the roll before putting in the fridge?
Stop just before baking. So you can add the butte + sugar and you can slice the roll, Then store in the fridge and bake when ready. Hope you love these and let me know if you have anymore questions.
a delicious way to eat cranberries!
Thank you!
Renovations are always nightmares 🙁 My mom has been trying to get her upstairs shower tiled for over a YEAR now! Just 1 shower!
Don’t feel pressured to provide us with pictures/updates. Of course we want to hear about it because it’s super exciting, and I know that I, personally, am living vicariously through you, lol, but we all know things don’t always go smoothly or perfectly. We’ve all totally been there, girl!
By the way, these swirls look FAB!
Such nightmares!! 🙁
Thank you so much for the kind and encouraging words, Rachael! Hope you are having a great week and happy Friday!