Mini brie Christmas trees make a fun and festive appetizer. Easy and quick to prepare, they’re perfect for holiday parties or any family gathering.
These simple Holiday appetizers are great on their own or as part of a charcuterie board or cheese board.
How to make brie Christmas trees
You will need:
- Round brie – I like using the mini version of brie. You get bite-size appetizers that can be enjoyed in one bite and are not too much of a strong flavor.
- Honey – It is a must! It elevates these simple Christmas cheese appetizers to a whole new level!
- Nuts – I like pistachios, but you can use another kind – Walnuts or pecans are great options. Tip: Turn your leftover pistachios into a delicious goat cheese log!
- Dried cranberries and apricots
- Fresh parsley – Cilantro will also work if you like this herb.
Kitchen gadgets and tools:
- Cutting board and Chef’s knife – or any large knife with a flat blade.
- Serving board/tray/plate/platter.
- Toothpicks – For mini brie or cocktail sticks/wooden skewers for regular brie.
- Large airtight container.
First, finely chop nuts, dried fruit and fresh parsley. Set this aside.
Next, cut the brie horizontally in half and each half into quarters. Then each quarter in half to get 16 pieces out of it. Stick in the toothpick.
Dip each brie wedge into the dried fruit and nut mixture. Refrigerate them so they firm up. Before serving, just drizzle each with honey and enjoy!
Julia’s tips:
- I used mini brie. This weighed 4.4 ounces (125 grams) and I got 16 wedges out of it. They were tiny but so cute. Toothpicks worked best here as I feel that pretzel sticks (rods) will turn soggy and can break if these Christmas tree brie bites will sit longer. They do turn soggy and while this might not be an issue with other appetizers (like my pumpkin cheese balls), when you have to grab the cheese by the pretzel, they can break. Also, the part where you will be inserting the pretzel sticks is the crust. It is hard and a toothpick goes easily in without an effort.
- When using the regular size brie (about 8 ounces/240 grams), it is better to use cocktail sticks or wooden skewers instead of toothpicks.
- For this quick appetizer recipe, you will need honey. Hot honey is a great alternative so why not use it, if you have it on hand. Or, drizzle half of them with regular honey and the other half with hot honey for the extra spicy kick.
- I also tested these by dipping the wedge in honey first but did not like the results. It was messy and the honey did not stay on the cheese as much as I wished for. The topping had no problem sticking to the brie wedge without it.
Can I make it ahead?
Yes, you can. Keep in mind that cheese will firm up and slightly dry out in the fridge, even when stored in an airtight container.
How long in advance can I make brie Christmas tree appetizers?
You can make these the night before serving.
Can I use Camembert?
Camembert will work the same way so yes; you could use it. However, keep in mind that it is a stronger cheese and might not be to everyone’s liking.
More easy Christmas appetizers:
- Christmas Tree Sandwiches – All you need are simple ingredients and a tree cookie cutter.
- Christmas Wreath Cheese Board – Fun and easy way to feed a crowd.
- Candy Cane Caprese Board – Mozzarella, fresh basil and tomatoes. Delicious yet festive looking appetizer perfect for any gathering!
- Parmesan Asparagus Pastry Twists – Perfect for gatherings or easy snacking.
- Beef Wellington Bites – One of the most-loved recipes by our readers!
Mini Brie Christmas Trees
Mini brie Christmas trees make a fun and festive appetizer. Easy and quick to prepare, they’re perfect for holiday parties or any family gathering.
Ingredients
- mini round brie (4.40 ounces/125 grams, see note 1)
- ¼ cup dried cranberries (30 grams)
- 4 dried apricots
- ¼ cup shelled pistachios (25 grams)
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro (loosely packed, 5 grams, see note 2)
- black pepper (freshly cracked to taste)
- honey (a drizzle or to taste, see note 3)
Instructions
- Finely chop dried cranberries, dried apricots, pistachios and fresh cilantro. Set aside.
- Cut the brie in half horizontally. Then, cut each half into quarters and each quarter in half to get 16 pieces.
- Stick a toothpick into each wedge. Take the wedge by the toothpick and dip it in the chopped mixture. Repeat with the rest of the brie wedges.
- Transfer in an airtight container or serving plate and cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for up to 1 hour before serving.
- When ready to serve, season with freshly cracked black pepper and drizzle with honey.
Notes
- The regular size brie (about 8 ounces/240 grams) will work as well. It is possible to use camembert instead of brie. However, keep in mind it is a stronger/sharper cheese that might not be to everyone’s liking.
- Fresh cilantro (coriander) can be substituted with fresh parsley.
- Tip: Drizzle with hot honey for the extra kick!
- Use toothpicks for the mini brie. For the larger brie (8 ounces/240 grams) version it is better to use cocktail sticks or wooden skewers/sticks that are slightly stronger.
- Make ahead: You can prepare these the night before serving. They will change their texture from being extremely soft to firm-ish. The longer they sit in the fridge, the firmer they become. Store in an airtight container to avoid drying out!
Nutrition
Calories: 52 kcal (3%), Carbohydrates: 5 g (2%), Protein: 2 g (4%), Fat: 3 g (5%), Saturated Fat: 1 g (6%), Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3 g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1 g, Cholesterol: 8 mg (3%), Sodium: 50 mg (2%), Potassium: 58 mg (2%), Fiber: 0.5 g (2%), Sugar: 4 g (4%), Vitamin A: 140 IU (3%), Vitamin C: 0.2 mg, Calcium: 18 mg (2%), Iron: 0.2 mg (1%)
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Elle B says
Easy, pretty, and VERY yummy. Liked the idea to drizzle the honey over the top instead of dipping as other recipes suggested. Quite a hit!
Julia | Appetizer Addiction says
Hi Elle B. Thank you so much for your feedback and rating! It means a lot!