Holiday Cranberry Brie Bites in Wonton Wrappers

Steps

1. 1

   Prepare the muffin tinOven 200°F / 95°C

   • Preheat your oven to 200°F (93°C).
   • Lightly brush each cup of the 24-cup mini muffin tin with neutral oil.
   • This will help the wonton cups release easily and prevent sticking.
   • Set the tin nearby so you can place finished bites into it immediately after frying.

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   Tip: Oiling the tin prevents the wontons from sticking and makes serving much easier.

2. 2

   Heat the oilOven 350°F / 175°C

   • Pour the neutral oil into a medium skillet (10–12 inches) and place it over medium-high heat.
   • Heat the oil until it reaches 350°F (175°C), about 3–4 minutes.
   • You can test the temperature with an instant-read thermometer, or carefully drop a tiny piece of wonton wrapper into the oil; it should sizzle immediately and turn golden in 10–15 seconds without burning.

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   Ready when: Oil shimmers and reaches 350°F (175°C)

   Tip: If the oil is too cool, wontons absorb too much oil and become soggy; if too hot, they brown before the filling heats through.

3. 3

   Assemble filling components

   • While the oil heats, combine the chopped fresh thyme with a small pinch of sea salt and black pepper in a small bowl.
   • This seasons your thyme so every bite is flavorful without requiring salt on top.

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   Tip: Seasoning the thyme ahead of time ensures even flavor distribution in each bite.

4. 4

   Fry and shape first batch

   • Working quickly, place one wonton wrapper into the hot oil.
   • Use tongs or a small fork to gently push it into the center of the oil so it friesvenly on both sides.
   • Fry for 30–40 seconds, then carefully flip and fry the other side for another 20–30 seconds, until the wrapper is light golden brown and crisp.
   • Do not allow it to brown too dark.
   • Immediately remove it with a slotted spoon and place it, still warm and pliable, into an oiled cup of the muffin tin, pressing it gently with your fingers to form a cup shape (it will hold the shape as it cools).
   • Repeat with 5 more wrappers, working on one at a time so each shapes while still warm and pliable.

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   Ready when: Wrapper is light golden and crisp

   Tip: Shape each wrapper while still warm; once cooled, it becomes brittle and won't mold into a cup without cracking. If the wrapper hardens before you can shape it, briefly return it to the warm oil for 3–5 seconds to soften.

5. 5

   Continue frying remaining batchesOven 200°F / 95°C

   • Repeat the frying and shaping process with the remaining 18 wonton wrappers, frying and shaping 6 wrappers at a time (4 batches total).
   • Work steadily to keep the oil at temperature and shape each wrapper while warm.
   • After you've shaped the last batch, transfer the entire muffin tin to the warm 200°F (93°C) oven to keep the shells warm and crisp while you assemble the filling.

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   Ready when: All 24 wonton cups are fried, shaped, and warming in the oven

   Tip: Keep the oil temperature steady; if it drops below 340°F (170°C), the wontons will take longer to cook and absorb excess oil. If it exceeds 360°F (182°C), they'll brown too quickly.

6. 6

   Fill the wonton cups

   • Remove the muffin tin from the oven.
   • Working quickly while the cups are still warm, place one brie cube into the bottom of each wonton cup.
   • Top each cube with a small spoonful (about ½ teaspoon) of cranberry sauce.
   • Finish by sprinkling a pinch of the seasoned thyme mixture over each bite.
   • Work quickly so the brie can soften slightly from the residual heat of the crispy cups.

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   Ready when: All bites are assembled, brie is warm and slightly soft

   Tip: Place brie directly on the warm wonton cup so it starts to melt; the warmth of the crispy shell will soften the cheese slightly, creating a luxurious texture without making it runny.

7. 7

   Serve immediatelyOven 200°F / 95°C

   • Serve the Holiday Cranberry Brie Bites while still warm, within 5 minutes of assembly.
   • The contrast of crispy wonton, creamy warm brie, tart cranberry, and herbaceous thyme is best enjoyed fresh.
   • If desired, you can return the muffin tin to the 200°F (93°C) oven for up to 10 minutes to keep them warm for serving, but don't let them sit longer or the bites will dry out.

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   Ready when: Bites are warm, crispy outside, and creamy inside

   Tip: These are best served immediately. If you must hold them, keep them in a warm oven and serve within 15 minutes total.