These cranberry brie pinwheel bites with puff pastry are everything you want in a party appetizer – they’re beautifully colorful, full of flavors, and almost too pretty to eat.
They’re especially great for fall parties and Thanksgiving spreads, with their jewel-toned cranberry jam, rich, creamy brie, and golden puff pastry spirals.
And the best part? They’re super easy to throw together using store-bought dough and a handful of simple ingredients if you’re short on time.
What You’ll Need
This recipe makes about 20 pinwheels, depending on how thick you slice your roll. All you need is:
- One sheet of fresh store-bought puff pastry (or two sheets of frozen dough)
- Brie cheese, at room temperature, so it’s easier to spread
- Fresh or frozen cranberries
- Your sweetener of choice (I used erythritol, but regular sugar works too)
- A small handful of crushed walnuts for crunch
In this recipe, I used homemade cranberry jam instead of store-bought, but don’t worry, it’s super simple to make! Just cook cranberries with a bit of sweetener/sugar and water until they break down and turn into a jam-like consistency.
And if you really don’t have time to do this step, you can totally use store-bought jam as well!
How to Make These Cranberry Brie Pinwheel Bites
Start by making the cranberry jam.
Combine the fresh or frozen cranberries with a sweetener or sugar and a bit of water in a small pot, and cook over medium heat until the berries start to soften and burst.
The mixture should thicken into a jammy texture in about 10 minutes. If it ends up too runny but looks ready, just strain out the extra liquid, or you’ll soak the base. Let the jam cool while you prep the pastry.
Roll out your sheet of puff pastry on a flat surface. Pro tip: don’t let your dough sit out for too long: work quickly once it’s unwrapped to keep it firm and easy to roll.
Now, add two horizontal rows of brie a few inches apart (don’t go edge to edge, leave some room to roll on both ends). Use the back of a spoon to gently spread each brie slice outward to cover more surface without using too much cheese, and make rolling easier.
Next, spread your cooled cranberry jam across the surface of the dough, avoiding the top inch so it seals well when rolled. Sprinkle the crushed walnuts over the jam.
Roll the dough up tightly into a log, starting from the side with the filling and rolling toward the clean edge. Slice into about 20 even pinwheels using a sharp knife, then place them cut side up on parchment-lined baking sheets. I bake my pinwheels 10 per tray so they don’t stick together.
Bake in a 400°F oven for 28–30 minutes or until puffed and golden. Let cool slightly before serving.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- The pinwheel bites come out stunningly colorful if you make them with homemade jam, and they’re perfect for holiday parties, brunches, or fancier wine nights with friends.
- You get a combo of flavors – the pinwheels are sweet, savory, and creamy, all at the same time.
- You can easily customize the recipe: use sugar or a sweetener for the jam or replace walnuts with pecans.
- The pinwheel bites are really easy to put together with store-bought puff pastry.
- The bites taste great warm or at room temperature, so they’re perfect for bringing to parties.
Tips for the Best Pinwheels
- Only take out the puff pastry when you’re ready to work with it. If it gets too warm, it will get sticky and more difficult to handle.
- Let the cranberry jam cool fully before spreading, so you don’t burn yourself or melt the dough.
- Slice gently with a sharp knife to keep the layers intact.
- Don’t overload with filling, or they’ll unroll during baking.
- Use parchment paper to avoid sticking and for easier cleanup.
📌Cranberry Brie Pinwheel Bites With Puff Pastry (Recipe Card)
Ingredients (Makes ~20 pieces)
- 1 sheet of fresh store-bought puff pastry (or two sheets of frozen dough)
- 1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
- 3 tablespoons erythritol or sugar
- 1–2 tablespoons water
- 4½ oz brie cheese, at room temperature
- 2 tablespoons crushed walnuts
Equipment
- Small saucepan
- Baking tray
- Sharp knife
- Spoon or pastry brush
- Parchment paper
Instructions
- Make the cranberry jam: In a small pot, cook the cranberries, sweetener, and water over medium heat until they are softened and jammy (about 10 minutes). Cool completely. Strain excess liquid if needed.
- Prep the pastry: Unroll the puff pastry. Arrange two rows of brie slices a couple of inches apart, spreading each piece slightly.
- Assemble: Spread jam across the surface, leaving a 1-inch border at the top. Sprinkle walnuts over the jam.
- Roll and slice: Roll the dough into a log, then cut into 20 even slices using a sharp knife.
- Bake: Place the pinwheels on two parchment-lined baking trays, spacing them evenly apart, so they don’t stick together. Bake at 400°F for 28–30 minutes, or until they become golden brown.
- Cool slightly and serve.