Lightened Up Cranberry Brie Bites with Hot Honey
These Lightened-Up Cranberry Brie Bites with Hot Honey are a bite-sized miracle that’s rich, tangy, spicy, and sweet, without the post-appetizer food coma. They look indulgent but are built with whole-wheat phyllo cups, less sugar, and hot honey for a perfect holiday appetizer.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 15 servings 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 2 boxes (15 shells each) frozen mini phyllo shells
- 4 ounces Brie cheese, rind removed and cut into 15 small cubes (about 1/2 inch each)
- 1/2 cup whole berry cranberry sauce
- 3 tablespoons hot honey
- 1/4 cup fresh cranberries, roughly chopped (optional, for garnish)
- 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary, finely chopped (optional, for garnish)
- Flaky sea salt, a pinch for finishing (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Position the rack in the center of the oven. Arrange frozen phyllo shells on a mini muffin tin or parchment-lined baking sheet. Do not thaw them first.
- In a small saucepan over medium-low heat, combine 1/2 cup whole berry cranberry sauce with 2 tablespoons of hot honey. Stir gently until warm and loosened, about 2-3 minutes. Set aside to cool slightly.
- Using a sharp knife (serrated works best), trim the white rind off the 4-ounce wedge of brie. Cut into 15 small cubes, roughly 1/2 inch each.
- Spoon about 1 teaspoon of the cranberry-honey mixture into each phyllo shell. Place one brie cube on top of the cranberry mixture in each shell.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes, until the brie is melted and puffed and the edges of the phyllo shells are golden brown.
- Remove from oven and let cool for 2-3 minutes on the pan. Drizzle the remaining 1 tablespoon of hot honey over the tops. Sprinkle with chopped fresh cranberries, rosemary, and a tiny pinch of flaky sea salt if using.
- Serve warm, ideally within 15 minutes of coming out of the oven.
Notes
Don’t overfill the shells; one cube of brie per shell is perfect. Watch the phyllo closely after 10 minutes to prevent burning. Let bites rest 2-3 minutes before serving to avoid molten brie burns. Drizzle hot honey after baking for a glossy finish. Can be assembled up to 2 hours ahead and refrigerated; add 2-3 minutes to baking time. For freezing, assemble unbaked bites, freeze solid, then bake from frozen adding 3-4 minutes.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bite
- Calories: 90
- Sugar: 5.5
- Sodium: 120
- Fat: 5.5
- Saturated Fat: 3
- Carbohydrates: 8.5
- Fiber: 0.5
- Protein: 3.5
Keywords: cranberry brie bites, hot honey, lightened up appetizer, holiday appetizer, phyllo shells, brie appetizer, easy appetizer