Puff Pastry Cranberry Brie Pinwheels

Name: Puff Pastry Cranberry Brie PInwheels
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 35 min
Ingredients: 1 sheet prepared puff pastry; 4 ounces (114 gm) Brie cheese; 2 tablespoons butter, (melted, divided); 1 - 2 tablespoons brown sugar; 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon; 1/2 cup dried cranberries; 1/2 cup walnuts, (finely chopped)

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Puff Pastry Cranberry Brie Pinwheels make ideal finger food appetizers. Simple to make, this recipe uses store-bought puff pastry, Brie cheese, dried cranberries, and walnuts or pecans. Make ahead of time, then bake when you need them!

Puff Pastry Cranberry Brie Pinwheels on a baking sheet dusted with confectioner's sugar.

❤️ Why you'll love this recipe

Everyone loves finger food appetizers during the holidays, and these Cranberry Brie Pinwheels are a popular one!
You can prepare them a day or two before you need them, then pop them in the oven to bake and serve warm.
You can even prep and freeze them well ahead of time!
They're sweet and savory, all in one tasty bite.

If you've made my Cranberry Walnut Beggars' Purses or these Cranberry Goat Cheese Pinwheels you'll love the similar flavors in these easy puff pastry pinwheels!

Puff pastry is easy to work with, whether it's regular puff pastry made with wheat, or gluten-free puff pastry. You might also like these Puff Pastry Spinach Artichoke Pinwheels and these Spinach Artichoke Puff Pastry Cups. Try Puff Pastry Pesto Pinwheels, too. (So delicious!)

And for another cranberry appetizer idea, see this Cranberry Whipped Ricotta Crostini.

Puff pastry cranberry brie pinwheels on a serving plate.

🛒 Ingredients

You'll find a complete list of ingredients with amounts in the recipe card below. But before we get to the full recipe, here are a few notes about the ingredients.

puff pastry: you'll need one sheet. Some brands roll out to a 10-inch square, other brands form a 12-inch by 9-inch rectangle. You can also use gluten-free puff pastry if it is available where you live.
Brie cheese: you'll use half of a small (4 ounce/ 114 gm) round of Brie.
cranberries: dried, sweetened or unsweetened, your choice.
walnuts: or pecans, finely chopped
brown sugar: or honey (*see note below)
cinnamon: just a hint of warm spice!
butter: for brushing on the pastry to give it a warm color and slightly salty flavor.

🔪 Instructions

Here's an overview of what you'll do to make this recipe perfectly. You'll find complete instructions in the recipe card at the end of this post.

Thaw puff pastry overnight in the fridge and unroll it carefully, leaving it on the parchment paper in which it was wrapped.
Brush with melted butter, then sprinkle with brown sugar mixed with cinnamon. You can use honey instead if you prefer, but it occasionally leaks and if you're not careful, it may burn.
Add small cubes (or pieces) of Brie cheese randomly, then sprinkle with dried cranberries and finely chopped walnuts.
Roll the pastry log tightly and brush with butter. With the seam side down, slice it into 12 or 13 pieces.
Arrange these pinwheels, cut side up, two inches apart, still on the parchment paper, on a baking sheet.
Bake until puffed and golden brown. Cool slightly then sprinkle with confectioner's sugar if desired.

👍🏼 Helpful Tips

Let the puff pastry thaw completely before using. If you're using the type that comes pre-rolled, if you try to unroll it when it's still frozen, it will crack. If you're using the type that comes in a block, trying to roll it while the middle is still frozen you'll end up with an uneven sheet.
I've made these pinwheels using both honey and brown sugar. I prefer using brown sugar as sometimes the honey has leaked onto the baking sheet and scorched the bottom of the pinwheels. If you want to use honey, chill the unbaked pinwheels for 15 to 20 minutes before baking to prevent leaking.
To remove the rind from a wheel of Brie, a vegetable peeler works the best! You won't get it all off, but the rind is edible.
If you're using a brand of puff pastry that comes in a block instead of a sheet, roll it out into a square or rectangle about ⅛th-inch thick.

❓Reader's Questions

Can I make these puff pastry bites ahead of time?

Yes, this is an ideal make-ahead appetizer recipe. Prepare the pinwheels, arrange on a baking sheet, cover and refrigerate for up to 2 days, then bake as per the instructions.
You can also freeze the unbaked pinwheels on a baking sheet, then transfer to an airtight container to freeze for 2 to 3 months. Then you can simply bake the number you need.

🍽 Serving Suggestions

Serve warm, dusted lightly with confectioner's sugar. Or serve with a variety of other appetizer recipes. Check this collection of 20 Easy Finger Food Appetizers for more delicious ideas!

Cranberry Brie puff pastry bites on a plate.

⏰ Storage Instructions

To store: These are best eaten warm, but they're also delicious cold.

To reheat: Reheat baked puff pastry bites on a baking sheet at 350°F. for 10 to 15 minutes or until warm.

Freeze ahead of time: You can freeze the unbaked pinwheels on a baking sheet, then transfer them to an airtight container to freeze for 2 to 3 months. Then you can simply bake the number you need.

Enjoy these tasty Brie bites! You might also like these Spinach Artichoke Puff Pastry Cups. They're crisp, flaky, golden-brown little bites!

🗒 More tasty appetizer recipes

When you make these Cranberry Brie Pinwheels, please leave a comment and a star rating below. I love hearing from you! Thanks in advance. Subscribe to my newsletter and receive new recipes delivered straight to your inbox once a week.

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