Bluebery Brie Puffs

If you are anything like me, you are no doubt, starting to think about what you will serve over the holidays.  As I mentioned in my caramelized onion & apple salad post, we had a party over the weekend for Tori's (our oldest) confirmation.  It was a fairly casual get together so I served the usual casual appetizer dips and chips but I always am looking for an excuse to use brie.  I am the only one in my house who likes it so it doesn't really make sense for me to get a big wheel of brie for just me so I pounced on the chance to use it. As a bonus it was on sale this week, so I'd say it was destined for me to have brie!  So as the holidays approach think about serving these yummy little puffs/bites.

The way I normally prepare brie is to wrap the entire wheel in either puff pastry or even crescent roll dough with a little fruit preserves spread in there.  While I love it like that, sometimes when I serve it, I see people sort of struggle with cutting it right or the pastry falls off when cut.  I figured there had to be a better way. 

I am sure I'm not the first person to think this up but I was so happy for my "light bulb" moment.  Don't you love when that happens?



Here is what you will need:

mini muffin tin
pizza cutter (or sharp knife)
blueberry preserves (about 1 C)
1/2 of a brie wheel or 1 brie triangle
1 package puff pastry, defrosted

Here's how to do it:
Preheat oven to 375.
If your pastry is really thick, roll it out a bit.
Using pizza cutter or sharp knife cut pastry into squares, about 3 inches in size.
Place each square into the muffin tin.  Bake for 10 minutes.  As soon they come out of the oven, using a spoon push down the middle of the puffed pastry to create a nice little spot for your filling.  Let cool about 5 minutes (still in the muffin tin)
While pastry is cooking or cooling, cut brie into small pieces, about an inch big.
Spoon a small amount of preserves into the center of each pastry "cup" and top that with a square of brie.
Return to oven and cook about 8-10 minutes more until cheese is melted.  Allow to cool about 5-10 minutes before serving.