These Cranberry Brie Puff Pastry Pinwheels are one of my favorite holiday appetizers! Sweet, buttery, and flaky puff pastry rolled up with brie cheese, dried cranberries, nuts, and a drizzle of honey, then baked into perfectly crisp pinwheels.
AN EASY PARTY APPETIZER / DESSERT / SNACK!
With New Year’s Eve quickly approaching, I wanted to share my go-to dessert slash appetizer slash snack that I go back to over, and over, again, each and every Holiday season.
Just like my Cranberry and Walnut Pinwheels, this treat is gonna knock your pinwheels lovin’ socks off.
CRANBERRY BRIE PUFF PASTRY PINWHEELS
Cranberry Brie Pinwheels are real easy to make, and dessert doesn’t get much better than these sweet and savory confections. This recipe has simple ingredients that yield a tasty, flaky, cheesy snack paired with bursts of tart cranberries and sweet honey.
HOW TO MAKE CRANBERRY BRIE PUFF PASTRY PINWHEELS
Requiring very little effort and time, they start with store-bought puff pastry, soft brie cheese, dried cranberries, nuts, and honey.
- First, you want to thaw out the puff pastry. Then, roll it out and brush it with melted butter.
- Next, cut up the brie cheese into small cubes and arrange over the puff pastry. (I also recommend removing the rind from the cheese)
- Sprinkle dried cranberries and chopped nuts over the cheese, and add a drizzle of honey.
- Roll up the pastry as tight as you can.
- Brush melted butter over the entire log, and using a sharp knife, cut it into 12 pinwheels.
- Transfer to a lined baking sheet and bake for around 20-ish minutes, or until cheese is bubbly and pastry is a golden brown.
- Remove from oven and let sit on baking sheet for a couple minutes before serving.
The pinwheels are great for prepping a day or two in advance, and then just pop them in the oven around 30 minutes before you’re ready to serve them.
The final result is simple, beautiful, and delicious appetizer that is perfect for New Year’s Eve. Add a dusting of powdered sugar and dig in!
Perfect for parties and get togethers, the flaky puff pastry, creamy melted Brie and tart cranberries offer the perfect mix of sweet and savory.
HOW TO STORE PUFF PASTRY PINWHEELS
- You can keep the Pinwheels at room temperature for 2 days, or place them in airtight containers and store in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- To freeze, arrange the pinwheels on a baking sheet, then place in the freezer until completely frozen. Store pinwheels in freezer bags and keep in the freezer for up to 1 month.
MORE PUFF PASTRY DESSERTS
ENJOY!
TOOLS USED IN THIS RECIPE
Cranberry Brie Puff Pastry Pinwheels
Ingredients
- 1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed
- 2 tablespoons butter, melted, divided
- 4 ounces Brie cheese, rind mostly removed and cheese diced
- 3/4 cup dried cranberries, chopped
- 1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts
- 2 tablespoons honey
- powdered sugar, for dusting (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375˚F.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- Unroll the puff pastry on a clean work surface and brush with about a tablespoon of melted butter.
- Add the diced brie, cranberries, and nuts evenly over the pastry.
- Drizzle honey over cheese, cranberries, and nuts.
- Starting at the long end, roll the pastry up as tightly as possible.
- Brush the roll with remaining melted butter.
- Using a sharp knife, cut into 12 pinwheels.
- Transfer pinwheels to previously prepared baking sheet.
- Bake for 18 to 22 minutes, or until cheese is melted and pastry is golden.
- Remove from oven and let stand couple minutes.
- Transfer to a serving plate.
- Dust with powdered sugar and serve warm.
Notes
WW FREESTYLE POINTS: 8
TO MAKE AHEAD:
- Prepare through step 8.
- Place pinwheels on a parchment lined baking sheet. Cover and keep in the fridge for up to 2 days.
- When ready to bake, preheat the oven and bake pinwheels as directed.
Nutrition
Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.
Do you think I can use Gruyère instead of Brie? Thank you!
Yes, as long as it’s a cheese that melts well, which Gruyere does, then it should definitely work. Both gruyere and brie have a nutty flavor profile, so even the taste shouldn’t differ a whole lot.
I was thinking of adding a strip of prosciutto. do you think that would be good?
Looks delicious! We have 2 serious nut allergies in our family, any suggestions for walnut substitutions?
You can just leave them out, but if you’re looking for that crunchy texture, then what about using seeds, like pumpkin or sunflower seeds, or maybe even crushed pretzels?
Sounds delicious. Has anyone tried used crescent roll dough instead of puff pastry?
I added chopped fresh rosemary, and freshly ground black pepper. Why? I think they work well with the other toppings/fillings. I was right.
Thanks for the recipe. 👍
I’m very glad you enjoyed it! Thank YOU! 🙂
I want to bake and take to a party tonite. Should I reheat before serving or serve at room temp? Thanks they sound delicious.
Have you ever substituted pecans for the walnuts? This just sounds like a winner and I can’t wait to try.
Hi!
I sure have and it’s just as delicious. A little different taste profile than with the walnuts because pecans are sweeter, but definitely delicious.
Easy and elegant recipe! All my guests loved them. Just a side note if you’re having a larger gathering, one pastry only makes 12 and guests usually what more than 1!
Can I make this with a dough sheet?
Couldn’t you just prep through step 7 and wrap it until ready, then baste, cut and put on the sheet pan? Saving limited space in the fridge during holiday cooking time?
I think that should be OK, but don’t brush the top with butter (step 7); do that just before baking.
Under the storing section about freezing, is that for before or after they’re baked?
That’s for after they are baked.
Hoping you see this soon as Turkey Day is in two days and I just found this recipe. Can you use fresh cranberries? If so should I alter anything to compensate for their tartness when dried are sweet.
Hi!
I haven’t tested this recipe with fresh cranberries so I really can’t say how well that would work.
Kim,
Did you use fresh cranberries? How did it turn out?
Im definitely going to try this one, sounds delicious.
I usually make pinwheels with cheese, pineapple and ham. My family loves that.
I hope everyone enjoys it! Thank YOU! 🙂
This didn’t go so well for me. The flavor was good, but my pinwheels all unrolled in the oven., sadly. I felt like had rolled them tightly, so if you’re have any tips, I’d be willing to try again.
Oh I’m so sorry that happened! Did they roll out completely? Maybe try to press down on the end seams so they stick to the dough. The ends will roll out a bit while baking because the puff pastry puffs up, but they shouldn’t unroll completely.
These pinwheels were very good, but next time I will add much more Brie. But there is no way this recipe is a 5 minute prep. Give yourself at least half an hour or more. Measuring, chopping, melting, rolling, cutting….easy, just time consuming!
I’m glad you enjoyed it! Thank YOU! 🙂