Blueberry Baked Brie Cups

Contributed by Blue Crew member Sonali Ruder, DO

A Lighter Holiday Appetizer

Blueberries are a delicious, nutritious ingredient, versatile and easy to use no matter the time of year or occasion! Whether it’s a Thanksgiving feast or a New Year’s bash, blueberries effortlessly add vibrant color, flavor and an array of beneficial nutrients, like fiber and manganese, to your menu. They’re perfect for incorporating into dishes like these bite-sized Blueberry Baked Brie Cups. 

This tasty appetizer is a quick, easy, and lighter twist on a traditional baked brie. Baked brie is a classic holiday appetizer that involves baking a whole wheel of brie and a variety of toppings like dried fruit and nuts inside a sheet of puff pastry. While it’s delicious, it can be a heavy dish that takes a long time to bake. 

These quick and easy Blueberry Baked Brie Cups are a welcome alternative to the heavier dishes that many of us are accustomed to eating during the holidays. Here are a few reasons why they’re a healthier option than a traditional baked brie:

• Made with phyllo dough rather than puff pastry: Phyllo is a paper-thin pastry dough that becomes wonderfully crispy and flaky when baked in the oven. It is much lower in calories and fat than puff pastry, which is made with large amounts of butter.
• Bite-sized portions: You can use ready-made phyllo shells, which can be found in the freezer section of the grocery store. Using bite-sized phyllo shells creates instant portion control, helping to prevent overeating.
• Incorporates blueberries: Blueberries are low in calories (only 80 calories per one-cup serving with virtually no fat) and abundant in essential nutrients like vitamin C and vitamin K. Blueberries also contain phytonutrients like anthocyanins, the plant compounds that give them their beautiful color.

In addition, a recent study published in Clinical Nutrition revealed that blueberries may benefit heart health when eaten with high-fat, high-sugar meals like the rich meals many of us typically enjoy during the holidays. The study looked at patients with metabolic syndrome (e.g., conditions associated with an increased risk of heart disease) and found that adding the equivalent of one cup of blueberries (consumed as 26 g of freeze-dried blueberries) to a high-sugar, high-fat, high-carb meal led to reduced insulin and glucose levels, as well as improved levels of the good cholesterol (HDL) in the following 24 hours. Simply put? Blueberries may benefit heart health. So, grab a boost of blue and add it to your favorite holiday meal – it’s that easy!

Quick & Easy 5-Ingredient Dish

These Blueberry Baked Brie Cups are the perfect holiday appetizer because they’re incredibly easy to make and can be assembled ahead of time. That means you get to relax and spend more time with your family and friends.

This easy dish can be whipped up in minutes with just 5 ingredients and the recipe below! To make them, simply place a piece of creamy brie into each phyllo pastry shell. Then top each one off with a few blueberries that have been tossed with fresh thyme and a touch of maple syrup. 

As they bake in the oven, the blueberries soften and start to burst, infusing the creamy brie with sweet, jammy goodness. Earthy thyme adds depth to the flavor, and maple syrup brings the perfect touch of sweetness. It’s a delicious blend of sweet, savory, crispy, and creamy, all in one mouthful. Serve a plate of these delicious bites at your holiday gathering and watch them disappear in a flash!