Cranberry Cracker Bites Recipes

HOMEMADE GOURMET CRACKERS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 180C/350F (all oven types). Grease and line a small loaf tin with baking paper (mine is 21 x 11 x 7 cm / 8.5 x 4.5 x 3") (Note 1).
• Whisk the milk, sugar and yoghurt in a bowl.
• In a separate bowl, add plain flour, wholemeal flour and cranberries. Stir - use fingers to break up cranberries if required.
• Add remaining ingredients, including Spices, plus the milk mixture. It should be a thick batter, like muffin batter (note: batter in video looks slightly thicker because it was standing for a couple of minutes, doesn't affect outcome).
• Scrape/pour into tin. Bake for 25 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean.
• Cool on rack, then wrap in cling wrap and freeze for at least 2 hours, up to 3 months. (Note 2)
• Unwrap loaf and allow to thaw partially so the outside is not rock hard frozen (around 20 minutes).
• Preheat oven to 120C/250F (all oven types). Place one shelf in the middle, and another shelf beneath it.
• Use a serrated bread knife to slice thinly - around 2 mm / 1/12" thick (see video). Place biscuits on 2 large baking trays, you can squeeze them in as they won't expand or stick.
• Bake for 50 minutes or until they are a light brown, swapping trays halfway.
• Leave biscuits on tray to cool - they will harden so they snap when you break them. (Note 3)
• Store in an airtight container for 4 weeks (probably ok for longer, I've only done 4 weeks). Brilliant served with creamy cheeses like brie, camembert, but soft, creamy blue cheeses is the ultimate pairing!

CRANBERRY BRIE BITES

Steps:

• Place Brie cheese in the freezer for 20 minutes. Oil a mini muffin pan with cooking spray.
• Roll 1 puff pastry sheet out into a 10x14-inch rectangle. Cut the sheet lengthwise into 4 even strips and crosswise into 6 even strips; there should be 24 squares. Separate and press them gently into the muffin cups.
• Cut chilled Brie cheese into 24 pieces approximately 3/4-inch in size. Add 1 teaspoon cranberry sauce to each pastry-lined muffin cup; press in 1 piece of Brie and top with 1 teaspoon of chopped walnuts. Sprinkle bites with sea salt. Chill for at least 30 minutes and up to 3 days.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Bake bites in the preheated oven until golden brown, 18 to 20 minutes.

SPARKLING CRANBERRY AND BRIE BITES

Steps:

• Rinse the cranberries and place in a medium bowl. Heat the syrup in a small saucepan until just warm. Pour over the cranberries. (Make sure the syrup is warm, not hot, or the cranberries may pop.) Gently stir with a spoon to coat all the berries. Cool, cover, and let soak in the refrigerator overnight.
• The next day drain the cranberries in a colander. Place the sugar in a large bowl or baking dish. Add half of the cranberries and roll them around until lightly coated in sugar; repeat with the other half. Place on a baking sheet and let dry, about 1 hour.
• To assemble, top the crackers with one slice of Brie, a light layer of cranberry chutney, and four or five sugared cranberries. Garnish with fresh mint sprigs.