This Sweet, Cheesy Appetizer Looks Upscale But Only Takes 3 Ingredients

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Baked brie is a key ingredient on the list of simple, three-ingredient appetizers sure to impress because brie is among the best culinary blank canvases in existence. Buttery, earthy, and just a tad sweet, it creates an indulgent, sophisticated foundation for a range of dishes, offering delicious complexity in a single neat, bloomy package. Its neutral richness makes it perfect for pairing with both sweet and savory flavors, from bacon and smoked salmon, to tart, bright, fruity cranberry sauce.

Whether homemade or canned, cranberry sauce and brie are practically made for each other because their flavors create the perfect, balanced contrast of sweet and savory. Cradled and baked inside a puff pastry cup, both elements become warm and bubbly, with the cheese turning silky and the cranberry sauce becoming downright syrupy. The result is a beautifully elegant appetizer that takes just three ingredients and a few minutes to prepare, making it the perfect opening act to holiday meals and celebrations of all kinds.

Little squares of puff pastry fit perfectly into muffin tins (the corners stick out a little bit), joined by a small wedge of brie — or even easier, a mini round of brie, such as the Supreme Supremely Creamy Brie Bites — and a tablespoon or so of cranberry sauce. About 15 minutes at 375 degrees Fahrenheit should be plenty to bake the puff pastry beautifully golden, and the cheese and sauce warm and lightly blended. You can serve these piping hot or at room temperature, making them an exciting addition to charcuterie boards and cheese trays.

Though these delightfully cheesy, tangy little pastry cups are fairly easy to make, the one big pitfall to avoid is overfilling them with brie and cranberry sauce prior to baking. Adding too much filling can cause the bubbly cheese and cranberry juices to overflow and spill around the sides of the puff pastry. To avoid this, cut your brie so it fits neatly into the pastry shell without sticking up over the edge of the muffin tin wells. This should leave enough space for a slice of jellied cranberry sauce or a spoonful of the homemade stuff.

Since fruits and nuts are a delicious combination on brie, you may be tempted to add some crushed walnuts to each cup. In which case, adjust the other fillings to make sure there's room. You can also tuck a tiny sprig of rosemary into the cups prior to baking, or top them with a little fresh tarragon or fried sage fresh from the oven. The herbs don't take up much space.

Of course, you're also not limited to cranberry sauce and brie. Mixing pear butter or apple pie filling into cranberry sauce is delicious, especially with a finishing sprinkle of parmesan cheese or white cheddar. Additionally, feel free to experiment with spices, such as lemony coriander and nutmeg, warm cinnamon and cardamom, or even stir a dab of real vanilla paste into your cranberry sauce.