Sugared cranberries, cheese, and crackers make a delicious and beautiful holiday appetizer.

I'm so happy to share one of my favorite festive holiday recipes with you! Sparkling Cranberry Brie Bites are very easy to make and incredibly impressive looking - and tasting. This sugared cranberry appetizer has long been one of my most popular recipes. I just love how beautiful and tasty these are. They are a must make for any holiday party. The sweet and tart cranberries go so well with the creamy cheese and crunchy crackers. If you like spice, try using pepper jelly instead of the cranberry jam or chutney. Vegan friends, try almond milk based soft ripened cheese from Kite Hill. 

If you would like to have this recipe in a beautiful glossy hard cover cookbook, be sure to pick up a copy of the Yummy Mummy Kitchen cookbook. There's a spring/summer version of this recipe in the book too

                                       

Fresh cranberries are only in season from about October through December, making this appetizer all the more special. Tart cranberries get the perfect amount of sweetness from a dip in maple syrup and a coating of organic sugar. We love these sugared cranberries as a treat all on their own. They are also terrific on any holiday dessert or cheese board. 

Yes, the most important element to a recipe is that it tastes good. But that doesn't mean it can't also be glamorous. Don't forget, we eat with our eyes first.

Fresh cranberries are only available this time of year, so grab a bag the next time you're at the market and sugar those babies up. Last year I used sugared cranberries to top a pumpkin cheesecake for Thanksgiving, but they're also a nice low-guilt treat to satisfy your sweet tooth on their own.

Some sparkling shoes are obviously a must when you're enjoying sparking hors d'oeuvres. Santa, Darling, every gal needs a pair of these Glitter Louboutins for the Holidays. Santa? Yummy Hubby? You listening? 

If these beauties don't get you into the holiday spirit, I don't know what will. Red, sparkling, sweet, tart, and creamy, these Sparkling Cranberry Brie Crackers have everything you could want in a fall or winter hors d'oeuvres.

printer friendly recipe

Sparkling Cranberry Brie Bites

By yummy mummy kitchen
Published 11/08/2011

Sugared cranberries, brie cheese, and crackers make a beautiful and tasty holiday appetizer.

Ingredients

• 2 cups fresh cranberries
• 1 cup good maple syrup
• 1 cup organic granulated sugar
• 16 crackers
• 8 oz. Brie cheese or Kite Hill almond based soft ripened cheese
• cranberry chutney or cranberry relish
• fresh mint for garnish

Instructions

1. Rinse cranberries and place in a medium bowl. Heat syrup in a small sauce pan just until warm. Pour over cranberries when syrup is warm, not hot, or cranberries may pop. Cool, cover, and let soak in the refrigerator overnight. Drain cranberries in a colander. Place sugar in a large bowl or baking dish. Add cranberries in 2 batches and roll around until lightly coated in sugar. Place on a baking sheet until dry, about 1 hour.
2. Assemble crackers with one slice of brie, a light layer of cranberry chutney, and 4 or 5 sugared cranberries. Garnish with fresh mint sprigs.

Yield: Makes about 16
Prep Time: 20 mins.

Cook time: 1 hrs. 00 mins.
Total time: 1 hrs. 20 mins.
Tags: holiday appetizers, cheese, crackers, fresh cranberries, sugared cranberries