Description
These Brie and Jam Puff Pastry Bites are elegant, bite-sized appetizers featuring flaky puff pastry filled with sweet jam and creamy brie cheese, finished with a touch of fresh rosemary. Perfect for parties or casual gatherings, they combine savory and sweet flavors in a crisp, golden pastry shell.
Ingredients
Scale
Puff Pastry
- ½ batch rough puff pastry or classic puff pastry (or store-bought)
- All-purpose flour (for work surface)
- 1 egg (for egg wash)
- 1 teaspoon water or cream (for egg wash)
Fillings
- 1 cup jam of choice
- 4 ounces brie cheese
- 4–6 sprigs fresh rosemary
Instructions
- Prepare Puff Pastry: Prepare rough puff pastry or defrost frozen puff pastry. Use only half a batch for this recipe; the remaining half can be frozen or used later.
- Preheat Oven: Set the oven to 400ºF (200ºC) and place an oven rack in the middle position. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Roll Out Pastry: On a floured surface, roll the puff pastry to approximately ⅛-inch thickness (about a 10-by-14 inch rectangle). If using store-bought pastry, roll lightly to prevent sticking.
- Cut Circles: Using a 2-3/4-inch circle cutter, cut out at least 16 circles from the pastry. Avoid re-rolling scraps; place circles close together to minimize waste.
- Dock Pastry: Use a 2-inch cutter to make a shallow indentation centered in each circle without cutting through. Dock the center with a fork to prevent excessive rising during baking.
- Arrange and Egg Wash: Place pastry circles evenly spaced on the baking sheet. Brush each with a thin layer of egg wash (1 beaten egg mixed with 1 teaspoon water or cream).
- Chill Pastry: Set the tray aside in the refrigerator or freezer while preparing the filling ingredients.
- Prepare Brie: Cut brie into ½-inch pieces, leaving rind on or removing it based on preference. Keep refrigerated until ready to use.
- Prep Jam: Put jam into a pastry bag or a zip-top bag for piping.
- Par-Bake Pastry: Bake the pastry rounds for about 12 minutes, until puffed but not golden.
- Add Filling: Quickly press down the puffed center with a small cookie cutter or spoon. Pipe about 2 teaspoons of jam into each center, then top with a piece of brie.
- Finish Baking: Return to oven and bake 5-8 more minutes until the pastry is golden and brie has softened.
- Cool Slightly: Remove from oven and let cool on the baking sheet briefly before transferring to a cooling rack.
- Add Rosemary and Serve: Chop rosemary leaves finely and sprinkle over the warm or room temperature bites before serving.
Notes
- For best results, use high-quality puff pastry, either homemade or a good store-bought brand like Pepperidge Farm.
- Jam flavor can be customized—try raspberry, apricot, or fig for complementary taste with brie.
- Leftover pastry scraps can be saved and used for other baked goods like palmiers or tartlets.
- Serving these bites warm enhances the flavor and the texture of melted brie.
- You can prepare the pastry circles ahead of time and freeze them until ready to bake.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 23 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French-inspired
Keywords: brie puff pastry, appetizer, bite-sized, jam and brie, party food, puff pastry bites, easy appetizers
