The best Christmas party appetizers are simple to make and use easy to find, seasonal ingredients. These balsamic cranberry brie bites make the best appetizers because they are elegant, full of flavor and cinch to make. Try them for your next party.

The holidays are always packed with parties. From casual get togethers to all out elegant affairs, these balsamic cranberry brie bites will fit right in as one of the best appetizers you can serve. 

Whenever I am planning finger foods for a party, I always try to select ingredients that can be used for multiple recipes. A cranberry brie puff pastry recipe can take on many forms from these little brie bites to a complete baked brie cranberry en croute.

The most popular Christmas party appetizers at our events are always the brie appetizer because no one can resist the creamy cheese.

Of course, when I am planning for any kind of party, my first stop for ingredients and supplies is BJ’s Wholesale Club. They always have everything I need from pre-made options to ingredients for every recipe on my menu.

I love visiting their cheese case and seeing all the great options. The brie wheels are priced at such an amazing value so I usually buy two. Unlike many people do for cheese platters, be sure to remove the rind from the brie wheel before starting with this recipe though.

Working with puff pastry can seem like a daunting task if you aren’t used to it. A few tips for using puff pastry to make it much easier:

• Be sure to thaw it but only for about 30-40 minutes. If it stays out of the freezer for much longer, the dough will begin to get sticky and difficult to work with.
• Do not attempt to unfold the puff pastry until it is thawed. This will prevent cracking.
• Flour your work surface AND your rolling pin. This will prevent the dough from sticking and pulling when you are rolling it out.
• Don’t have a rolling pin? Don’t worry! You can use anything similar. I actually used a vodka bottle to roll out the dough for these because my rolling pin was missing.
• Use sharp tools when cutting puff pastry. This will ensure that your cuts are clean.
• Put your pastry back into the fridge for a few minutes before baking. This will ensure it puffs perfectly.
• To get the golden brown coloring, brush the outer edges with a light egg wash before baking.

This recipe uses fresh cranberries which are so easy to find around the holidays. If you want to make these any time of year though, just check the freezer section where you will find whole cranberries. A quick thaw before using them will make them perfect for this recipe.

As we head into the holiday season, be sure to visit BJ’s Wholesale Club for all your entertaining needs. They offer an amazing value on the best ingredients from fresh meats and vegetables to party platters that are open and serve.

If you love these balsamic cranberry brie bites, be sure to check out these other great finger foods for party:

• Roasted Garlic Stuffed Mushrooms
• Pomegranate Pumpkin Crostini
• Prosciutto Parmesan Cheese Straws
• Antipasto Skewers
• Pomegranate Goat Cheese Mini Bites

And if you are looking for a few additional ways to use brie cheese, these are the best appetizers:

• Cherry Brie Crostini
• Sriracha Apricot Bacon Brie
• Cayenne Candied Bacon Brie
• Baked Brie with Caramelized Onions
• Sausage and Brie Breakfast Casserole

If you make these balsamic cranberry brie bites or any other recipe from the blog, please be sure to share your experience in the comments. Or snap a photo and tag it #MySuburbanKitchen on Instagram or Twitter.

And don’t forget to pin this for later so you can make this delicious puff pastry appetizer over and over again.