Description
Listen, someone looked at a cheese board, looked at dessert, and said “what if we just made this cute and put it on a stick?” And that’s how we got Candied Pecan Cranberry Brie Bites. These are individual rounds of creamy brie topped with a mixture of candied pecans, dried cranberries, and honey, all served on a pretzel stick for maximum drama. They’re like if a cheese plate and a holiday party had a baby that was raised by Pinterest. The brie gets slightly warm and melty, the pecans are sweet and crunchy, the cranberries add a tart pop, and that pretzel stick? Pure genius for easy grabbing and preventing double-dipping. I brought these to a holiday party once and they were gone in 7 minutes. Someone asked if I was a caterer. Another person tried to take a photo of every single one before people ate them. These bites turn casual gatherings into fancy events and make you look like you have your life together.
Ingredients
For the Brie Bites:
- 1 wheel (8 oz) brie cheese, cold
- 12–16 pretzel rods or sticks
- Fresh parsley for garnish (optional but pretty)
For the Candied Pecan Cranberry Topping:
- 1 cup pecan halves, roughly chopped
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries, roughly chopped
- 1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
- 2 tbsp honey
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
- Pinch of salt
- 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
For Serving:
- Honey for drizzling
- Extra honey for the plate (optional)
- Flaky sea salt (optional)
- Fresh cranberries for decoration (optional)
Equipment:
- Sharp knife
- Small saucepan
- Baking sheet (if warming)
- Serving platter
- Toothpicks or small forks as backup
Instructions
This is crucial: the brie MUST be cold. Pop it in the freezer for 15-20 minutes if it’s not already cold. Room temperature brie is impossible to cut cleanly.
Using a sharp knife, cut the cold brie wheel into 12-16 rounds, about 1/2 inch thick. Think of cutting a pie—start from the center and work your way around.
Don’t remove the rind. It’s edible and helps the rounds hold their shape.
If your rounds are looking wonky, that’s fine. Rustic is in. Nobody’s judging your brie-cutting skills.
Arrange the brie rounds on your serving platter. If serving warm, place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet instead.
In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter.
Add brown sugar, honey, cinnamon, and salt. Stir until the sugar dissolves and the mixture is bubbly, about 2-3 minutes.
Add the chopped pecans and stir to coat completely. Cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly, until the pecans are toasted and fragrant.
Remove from heat and stir in the chopped cranberries and vanilla extract. The cranberries will plump up slightly from the heat.
Let the mixture cool for 5 minutes. It’ll thicken as it cools. If it gets too thick, add a tiny bit more honey or butter to loosen it.
Spoon the candied pecan cranberry mixture onto each brie round. Be generous—pile it high. These should look abundant and festive.
Press the topping down gently so it sticks to the brie. If you’re warming them, this helps everything meld together.
Insert a pretzel stick into the side of each brie round at a slight angle, like a little flag. Push it in far enough that it’s secure but not so far that it goes through the other side.
If your pretzel sticks are breaking, use thicker ones or insert them after warming (the warm brie is softer and easier to pierce).
Cold/Room Temperature Version: Just serve them as-is. The brie will be firm but creamy, and all the flavors are still delicious.
Warmed Version (Recommended): Preheat oven to 350°F. Place assembled bites on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Warm for 5-7 minutes until the brie is just softening but not melting. You want it slightly gooey, not liquid. Watch them carefully—brie melts FAST.
Quick Warm Method: Microwave individual bites for 8-10 seconds. Test one first to get the timing right.
Transfer warmed bites to your serving platter. Work quickly because warm brie waits for no one.
Drizzle extra honey over the top of each bite. This adds shine and extra sweetness.
Garnish with tiny pieces of fresh parsley for a pop of green.
Pool a little honey on the serving platter around the bites for extra drama and sweetness.
Add fresh cranberries scattered around the platter for color.
If using flaky sea salt, add a tiny pinch on top of each bite right before serving.
Serve immediately and watch them disappear. Seriously, make more than you think you need.
Notes
These are already perfect, but here’s how to level them up:
- Serve on a wooden board with crackers and fruit
- Add fresh grapes and apple slices to the platter
- Provide small plates and napkins (this can get sticky)
- Pair with white wine, champagne, or cranberry cocktails
- Make a full cheese board with these as the star
- Serve with crusty bread on the side
- Set out extra honey and nuts for people who want more
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
Nutrition
- Calories: ~120 kcal
- Sugar: ~5g
- Sodium: ~85mg
- Fat: ~9g
- Carbohydrates: ~8g
- Protein: ~3g