A festive trio featuring cranberry brie bites, mini caprese skewers, and spiced Moroccan meatballs bursting with flavor.
# What You Need:
→ Cranberry Brie Puff Pastry Bites
01 - 1 sheet puff pastry, thawed
02 - 4 ounces brie cheese, cut into 24 small cubes
03 - 4 tablespoons cranberry sauce
04 - 1 egg, beaten (for egg wash)
05 - Fresh thyme leaves, for garnish
→ Mini Caprese Skewers
06 - 12 cherry tomatoes
07 - 12 mini mozzarella balls (bocconcini)
08 - 12 fresh basil leaves
09 - 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
10 - 1 teaspoon balsamic glaze
11 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
→ Spiced Moroccan Meatballs
12 - 1.1 pounds ground beef or lamb
13 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
14 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
15 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
16 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
17 - 1 teaspoon ground coriander
18 - ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
19 - ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
20 - ½ teaspoon salt
21 - ¼ teaspoon black pepper
22 - 1 tablespoon olive oil (for frying)
23 - ⅓ cup plain yogurt (for dipping)
24 - 1 teaspoon harissa paste (optional, for mixing into yogurt)
# Steps:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
02 - Cut puff pastry into 24 squares and place each into a mini muffin tin. Add one brie cube and ½ teaspoon cranberry sauce to each. Brush edges with beaten egg.
03 - Bake for 13 to 15 minutes until golden brown. Garnish with fresh thyme leaves.
04 - Thread one cherry tomato, one fresh basil leaf, and one mozzarella ball onto each skewer. Arrange on a serving platter.
05 - Drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil and balsamic glaze. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
06 - Combine ground meat, finely chopped onion, minced garlic, parsley, cumin, coriander, cinnamon, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper in a bowl. Mix thoroughly.
07 - Shape the mixture into 24 small meatballs.
08 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Fry meatballs, turning occasionally, until browned and cooked through, about 8 to 10 minutes.
09 - Stir harissa paste into plain yogurt if desired to create a spicy dipping sauce.
10 - Arrange all appetizers on festive platters. Serve warm or at room temperature.
