We are a few days away from 2020 and it’s crunch time to find the perfect appetizer to serve at your New Year’s Eve party. If you are wondering what will delight your guests, you can bet on using winter’s star ingredient: cranberry. Tart yet sweet, cranberries add a sparkle to your celebration!
Gerry Spiers of FoodnessGracious.com created an easy and elegant holiday appetizer inspired by this little red berry—Cranberry Brie Pinwheels. The creamy richness of the Brie complements the tangy cranberries, while the mix of savory and sweet flavors wows the palate, especially when paired with full-bodied German Pinot Noir wines!
As the evening of NYE begins and guests are mingling, we suggest pouring the Schmitt Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir) Dry from Rheinhessen. These red grapes are certified organic and create a wine with notes of blackberry and cranberry, adding complexity, spice and extra fruitiness to the Cranberry Brie Pinwheels!
When the much-awaited countdown to 2020 begins, you know it’s time to pop the bubbly! Toasting to the New Year calls for extra fizz, so we suggest the light and refreshing Leitz Pinot Noir Rosé Sekt Brut from the Rheingau region. The brightness and citrusy notes will cut through the rich pastry of the appetizer. The bubbles will lift your guests up and serve as a midnight pick-me-up. As 2020 begins, your guests will be chewing and cheering away!
Find the recipe below and more German wine and food pairings for the rest of the year here!
CRANBERRY BRIE AND PECAN PINWHEELS
Ingredients
- 1 package of frozen puff pastry, thawed usually two to a box
- 1 cup cranberry jelly, divided
- 1 12oz round of brie cheese
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans
Instructions
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Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line two baking sheet pans with parchment paper
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Place each thawed puff pastry sheet on a clean work surface
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Spread 1/2 cup cranberry jelly on each pastry sheet all the way to the edges
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Slice the cheese into thin strips and place on top of the jelly in an alternate pattern, so one line of cheese and then miss a line and then another line until you get to the opposite end of the pastry
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Sprinkle 1/4 cup of the pecans over the cheese
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Starting at one end begin to tightly roll the pastry into a tube shape making sure to keep it tight
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Once you have a log shape slice it into 8 even pieces and place 1 inch apart on the baking sheets
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Bake in the oven for 30-35 minutes until golden brown and slightly puffed
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Use a spatula to transfer to a plate or platter and serve while still warm
