This cranberry tart is made with puff pastry, Brie, and cranberry sauce. It's a quick and easy dessert, and a perfect way to use extra cranberry sauce!
I am obsessed with cranberries.
Obsessed.
These underappreciated berries aren't just pretty to look at-- they're downright useful.
Need to add a little tartness to a sweet dish? Add cranberries. Want to add a flavor pop to something mild? Add cranberries.
This cranberry tart is both sweet and tart, decadent and light-- and is a tasty combination of sweetened cranberries, melted Brie, and flaky, fluffy puff pastry.
Where Can I Buy Brie?
You should be able to find Brie in the cheese section at your usual grocery store.
If the cheeses are divided into two parts of the store-- look with the gourmet cheese. Look for a small wheel of cheese that's (usually) packaged in cardboard.
Can I Use a Different Cheese for This Cranberry Tart?
I tested this recipe with Brie, mascarpone, and cream cheese. I recommend sticking with the Brie, because it "poofs" up with the puff pastry, making the tart look more filled out.
That said, the mascarpone tart was also delicious. I don't recommend using cream cheese.
Do I Have to Use Orange Marmalade?
Nope, but it works really well with the flavor of the cranberry so I do recommend it. If you have a different jam or jelly that you want to use instead, make sure the flavor works well with cranberries.
Or you can also skip the marmalade entirely.
Can I Use Leftover Cranberry Sauce?
Yes! I've included a cranberry sauce recipe in the recipe card, but feel free to use your own (made-from-scratch) cranberry sauce.
Just make sure to drain most of the liquid off the cranberry sauce before assembling the tart.
This tart is particularly delicious with this Bourbon Cranberry Sauce.
Can I Make This Cranberry Tart Ahead of Time?
Partially. Check the recipe card for directions.
How to Make a Cranberry Tart
This tart is incredibly simple to prepare!
You can either make one large tart (as pictured), or divide your pastry into four or six even pieces.
Use a butter knife to make a small indention along the edge of the pastry. Don't cut all the way through.
Top the pastry with the Brie, jam and cranberry sauce. Then bake until golden!
Serve right away, along with a dollop of whipped cream.
Want more CRANBERRY recipes? Try these:
- Eggnog French Toast with Cranberry Sauce
- Roasted Acorn Squash Slices with Cranberry Sauce
- Slow Cooker Oatmeal with Winter Fruit
Want more PUFF PASTRY recipes? Try these:
Cranberry Tart
Ingredients
Cranberry Sauce:
- 8 ounces cranberries, fresh or frozen
- 1 cup orange juice
- ¼ cup maple syrup, plus more to taste
Cranberry Tart:
- 1 sheet puff pastry
- 8 ounce wheel Brie, thinly sliced Remove rind if desired (optional)
- ¼ cup orange marmalade (optional)
- 1 egg (optional)
- whipped cream + powdered sugar (optional, to serve)
Instructions
Cranberry Sauce:
- Add cranberries, juice, and syrup to a pot. Bring to a boil, and simmer until the berries burst.Remove from the heat, and place in the fridge to cool for 10 - 15 minutes. Berries are ready when they have cooled to room temperature.Drain most of the juice off the berries, reserving liquid for another recipe.Tip: Use the extra liquid for another batch of cranberry sauce, or add to a vinaigrette and serve with bitter greens or vegetables (like kale or brussels sprouts).
Cranberry Tart:
- Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.If desired, cut pastry into 4 or 6 even rectangles. Alternatively, leave the sheet whole and make one large tart. Move the pastry onto the prepared baking sheet.Note: This recipe was written for refrigerated puff pastry. If using frozen puff pastry, thaw before using, rolled out to ¼" thickness.
- Use a butter knife to make a shallow indentation on the pastry (or pastries), creating a ½" border along the edges. Do not cut all the way through the pastry!Tip: If you accidentally cut all the way through the pastry dough while making the border, use your finger to add a few drops of water to the cut area of the dough. Rub the dough to seal it back up.
- Lay the Brie slices in a single row on the dough, covering everything except the ½" border.Optionally, spread the marmalade over the Brie.
- Use a spoon to ladle the drained cranberry sauce on top of the Brie. Use enough berries to cover the cheese, but not so many that the cranberry sauce overflows onto the border.Tip: Make sure to drain most of the liquid off the sauce before adding it to the tart. Too much liquid can make the pastry soggy.
- Whisk the egg in a small bowl, add a splash of water, and carefully brush the egg wash onto the top outer edge of the pastry (the ½" border). Take care to only brush the TOP of the pastry-- if the egg wash drips onto the side, it will seal the puff and prevent it from rising.Tip: An egg wash makes the pastry extra glossy when baking. It's totally optional.
- Bake for 15 - 20 minutes, until the cheese is melted and the pastry is golden.
- Slide the tart(s) onto a wire cooling rack, and let cool for about 5 minutes. Serve while still warm. Top with whipped cream and dust with powdered sugar if desired.
Gloria says
I totally LOVE rustic desserts. This looks easy to make, and perfect for the weekend brunch or as a dessert. What a great party dessert too!
Traci says
Omgosh Sarah….THIS! What a gorgeous, easy, impressive recipe. I can’t believe I haven’t been making this my entire adult life. And I would have even loved it as a kid LOL. Puff pastry is already on my grocery list for a few other recipes. Can’t wait to make this! Thanks for sharing 🙂
TINA says
I love cranberries but don't know how to use them. This is very helpful, I live your ideas. Thanks so much! Definitely going to make this tart for the family and I will look for the refrigerated puff pastry. Thanks!
Tina says
Cranberries are so very versatile, and I love how this recipe really showcases it by showing it in new light! Thank you for all the great tips on what cheeses can be used, and which are best. I love that I can use leftover cranberry sauce for this!
Carmy says
Your cranberry tart looks delicious! It is so much easier to make with the pre-made puff pastries. I’d much rather have this for dessert than pumpkin pie.
Stef says
We often have brie wrapped in puff pastry with cranberry sauce for parties. However, I’ve never tried making it in tart form. It seems so much more simple to serve and it’s such a pretty presentation. Great idea! Thanks for sharing!
Courtney says
Brie is my absolute favorite cheese and love cranberries. This flavor combination would be an instant home run here. Perfect for parties too!
Debra says
What a gorgeous tart! I love that the cranberry sauce recipe doesn't have any refined sugar in it. I'm thinking this would be a beautiful and seasonal appetizer this fall. Thanks for the idea!
Tracy says
Whoa. Anything with puff pastry and brie is a winner in my book. With some fresh cranberry sauce? YUM!!
Dana says
There is something wildly amazing about brie + sweet and tangy fruit. Cranberry is such a fab pairing. And that puff pastry! I love Wewalka! It's so flaky, buttery, and airy! I want to make this for friends this year, but I kind of don't want to share 😉 Haha.
Marisa Franca says
Rustic desserts are the best!! And is there something puff pastry can't do? My gosh it can make desserts, appetizers, main dishes. Whew!! I think I'd better stock up on the dough so I can make this tart and whatever else I can find. Very creative recipe.
Amanda says
This tart is completely calling my name, especially that Brie and the gorgeous, flaky dough. This is the perfect recipe for entertaining this season. Love the combinations of sweet, tart, and savory. These photos are absolutely gorgeous, too. They look like they came out of a magazine!
Kirsten says
Cranberries and brie are simply made for each other. I really love the idea of serving your tart, rather than pastry wrapped brie. Good idea!
Lisa | Garlic & Zest says
You've made me weak in the knees with the combination of cranberries and brie -- I mean -- OH_MA-GAWD! And you can never go wrong with puff pastry. Ever. I always keep a package in my freezer, but I'm going to have to look for Wewalka puff pastry at the store -- it sounds like a winner.