Description

These Golden Brie Tartlets with Cranberry Jewels and Festive Rosemary Trees are an elegant and delicious appetizer perfect for holiday gatherings. Flaky puff pastry cups are filled with creamy melted brie cheese and topped with tangy whole-berry cranberry sauce. A glossy golden finish from an egg wash adds visual appeal, while chopped pistachios provide a delightful crunch. Fresh rosemary sprigs shaped like tiny trees lend a festive touch, and an optional honey drizzle enhances sweetness. Perfectly portioned and baked to golden perfection, this recipe combines creamy, tart, crunchy, and aromatic flavors in every bite.

Ingredients

Scale

Puff Pastry Base

1 sheet puff pastry, thawed
Flour for dusting
1 egg, beaten (for egg wash)
Pinch of flaky sea salt

Filling and Toppings

8 oz brie cheese, rind on or removed based on preference
1 cup whole-berry cranberry sauce
2 tbsp honey (optional for added sweetness)
2 tbsp finely chopped pistachios
Fresh rosemary sprigs, trimmed into small “tree” shapes

Instructions

Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) to prepare for baking the tartlets.
Prepare Puff Pastry: Lightly dust a clean surface with flour and roll out the thawed puff pastry sheet to about one-eighth of an inch thickness to smooth out creases.
Cut Pastry Squares: Cut the rolled pastry into 12 equal squares, approximately 3 inches by 3 inches, to fit into the wells of a mini muffin tin.
Form Tartlet Shells: Press each pastry square gently into the muffin tin wells, leaving the corners slightly raised to create rustic edges that will puff up during baking.
Add Brie Cheese: Cut the brie cheese into small cubes that fit comfortably inside the pastry cups and place one cube inside each tartlet.
Add Cranberry Sauce: Spoon a generous amount of whole-berry cranberry sauce over the brie in each tartlet, allowing the sauce to drizzle into the cheese.
Brush with Egg Wash: Using a pastry brush, carefully brush the exposed edges of the pastry with the beaten egg to ensure a beautiful golden-brown finish.
Bake Tartlets: Place the muffin tin in the preheated oven and bake for 12 to 15 minutes until the pastry is puffed and a deep golden brown, and the brie has melted.
Garnish Tartlets: Once out of the oven, sprinkle chopped pistachios over each tartlet for crunch. Insert a fresh rosemary sprig upright in the center to resemble festive trees.
Finish and Serve: Optionally drizzle honey over the tartlets for extra sweetness and sprinkle with flaky sea salt before serving.

Notes

For a milder flavor, remove the rind from the brie before cutting into cubes.
If you prefer a sweeter tartlet, don’t skip the optional honey drizzle.
Use whole-berry cranberry sauce for texture and added visual appeal.
Fresh rosemary sprigs can be trimmed to size to fit the tartlets perfectly as decorative “trees.”
Make sure the pastry is well chilled when handling to prevent sticking.
Keep an eye on the tartlets during baking, as puff pastry can go from golden to burnt quickly.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Category: Appetizer
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Keywords: brie tartlets, cranberry sauce, puff pastry appetizer, holiday appetizers, festive appetizers, rosemary garnish