Brie Cheese Bites

We swear half the holiday excitement for us is making fun and festive snacks – the creativity is endless. When we think of Christmas apps Brie cheese is basically the first thing that pops into our head. It’s like the VIP of holiday cheeses — melty, gooey, and the match for both sweet and salty.

Our festive Brie Cheese Bites are not only tasty, they’re a full-on holiday experience and a great way to keep the kids busy! Imagine a tiny Christmas tree, made entirely of cheese, nuts, and dried fruit. These bite-sized beauties are the ultimate holiday appetizer: rich, creamy Brie paired with the sweet and salty crunch of nuts and dried fruit. Some would say they are Brie-lliant!

What stands out

Picture this: the creamy, smooth texture of the Brie cheese that practically melts in your mouth, dipped into golden, silky honey. Now, top this already dreamy pairing with a mix of chopped pistachios and dried cranberries. We mean, come onnnnnn!

The pistachios bring a savory crunch with a subtle nutty flavor that goes perfectly with the Brie’s creaminess. The cranberries add just the right amount of tartness and chewiness cutting through the richness of the cheese and balancing the whole bite. Friends, these Brie Cheese Bites are the sweet and salty appetizer you’ve been waiting for.

How to Prepare

Take a wheel of Brie cheese, place it on a cutting board and use a knife to cut it into 8 equal triangles.

▶ Then take each triangle and place it on its side.

Cut it down the middle so that one side of the triangle has the rind and the other has the cream. Repeat this step for all eight brie triangles, so you have 16 equal triangles.

Now, take a pretzel stick and insert it in the middle of the widest part of the brie triangle, resembling a Christmas tree. Repeat this step for each one.

Next, add the pistachios and dried cranberries into a food processor. Process until fine. Add onto a plate and set aside.

Pour some hot honey (spicy honey) onto a plate, take each “brie tree” and dip into the honey with the creamy side of the cheese.

Now dip each one into the nut and cranberry mixture and plate them up!

Kitchen tip

If your cheese is sticking to the knife when cutting, you can dry dipping the knife in warm water before slicing. Also be sure to wipe the knife clean between cuts for smooth slices.

Swaps

1. Instead of hot honey, you can use regular honey, agave syrup or even maple syrup for this recipe.
2. You can use any nuts instead of pistachios. Have fun with different flavor combos!
3. Make these nut-free by using a seed such as pumpkin or sunflower seeds.
4. Try other dried fruits such as dried apricots, dried cherries, or raisins instead.

Cheese to Use?

If you’re out of Brie, no problem! Laughing Cow Cheese Wedges are a convenient swap since they’re already the size and shape (you won’t have to slice them in half either). You can also use a white cheese like Provolone, Swiss, or Mozzarella, cutting them into triangles for the same effect. And if you’re feeling fancy Camembert is a great alternative to Brie, offering a similar creamy texture and rind for that elegant touch.

Serve it with

• Serve these Brie Cheese Bites with a beautiful charcuterie board. For some inspo, see our: Simple Charcuterie Board Holiday Charcuterie Board or Holiday Cheese Board.
• Serve with some wine or champagne for a festive treat.
• Serve on a beautiful platter with some crostini.
• You can have these pre-arranged on these cute individual charcuterie wine glass toppers with some crackers.

Questions

what other kinds of cheese can we use in this recipe?

You could use Laughing Cow Cheese wedges, any white cheese cut into triangles, or Camembert as well.

do we have to use a food processor?

If you don’t have a food processor, you can certainly chop the pistachios and cranberries by hand with a knife until small.

do we have to make this with hot honey?

Not at all! Feel free to use regular honey, maple syrup or even agave syrup.

strong What if we can’t find hot honey at the store??

No worries! Use regular honey and add a pinch of chili flakes or a dash of hot sauce to create your own spicy honey.

strong Can we make this recipe nut-free?

Absolutely! Replace pistachios with crushed seeds (like sunflower or pumpkin) or skip them and use only cranberries.

strong Can we use other dried fruits?

Definitely! Dried cherries, apricots, or raisins would work well as substitutes for cranberries.

strong What’s the best way to cut the Brie without it sticking to the knife?

If your cheese is sticking, you can dry dipping the knife in warm water before slicing. Also, be sure to wipe the knife clean between cuts for smooth slices.

Ingredients

Makes 16 trees

• 300 grams Brie cheese, I used double cream, nothing too soft
• ¼ cup hot honey, or regular
• ⅓ cup pistachios
• ⅓ cup dried cranberries, craisins
• 16 pretzel sticks

Equipment

• Nakiri Knife
• Cutting Board
• Measuring Cups + Spoons
• Cordless Food Chopper

Method

1. Take a wheel of Brie cheese, place it on a cutting board and cut it into 8 equal triangles. Take each triangle and place it on its side.
2. Cut it down the middle so that one side of the triangle has the rind and the other has the cream. Repeat this step for all eight brie triangles.
3. Once cut, you should be left with 16 equal triangles.
4. Now, take a pretzel stick and insert it in the middle of the widest part of the brie triangle, resembling a Christmas tree. Repeat this step for each one.
5. Next, add the pistachios and dried cranberries into a food processor. Process until fine. Add onto a plate and set aside. Feel free to chop them by hand with a knife until fine if you don't have a food processor at home.
6. Pour some hot honey (spicy honey) onto a plate, take each "brie tree" and dip into the honey with the creamy side of the cheese.
7. Now dip each one into the nut and cranberry mixture and plate them up! We like to use mint for garnish to make the plate look pretty but feel free to use herbs like thyme or rosemary instead.
8. Enjoy with an extra drizzle of honey on top!