Prep Time:  10 minutes   |    Cook Time:  20 minutes (plus overnight to chill)   |    Total Time:  30  minutes (plus overnight to chill)   |    Servings:  24 brie bites

Ingredients:

Sugared Cranberries:

• 1 ¾ cups  Baker's Corner  Granulated Sugar, divided
• ½ cup water
• 1 cup fresh cranberries

Baked Brie:

• 2 tablespoons  Countryside Creamery  Unsalted Butter
• 1 orange, zested and juice reserved
• 2.5 ounces  Tuscan Garden  Real Bacon Bits
• ½ cup  Southern Grove  Walnuts, chopped
• ½ cup diced Granny Smith apple
• 1 teaspoon  Stonemill  Ground Cinnamon
• 4 tablespoons  Baker's Corner  Brown Sugar, divided
• 2   8-ounce packages  Bake House Creations  Crescent Rolls
• Carlini  Cooking Spray
• 8 ounces  Specially Selected  Brie Cheese Round

Directions:

Sugared Cranberries:

1. In a small saucepan, combine 1 cup sugar and ½ cup water over low heat. Simmer until the sugar dissolves, about 3 minutes.
2. Add cranberries and remove from heat. Transfer to a bowl, cover and refrigerate overnight.
3. Drain cranberries. Roll in remaining ¾ cup of sugar to coat. Air dry on a wire rack for 1 hour.

Baked Brie Bites:

1. Preheat oven to 375°.
2. In a small saucepan, melt butter. Add orange juice, bacon bits, walnuts, apple, cinnamon and 3 tablespoons brown sugar. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, until sugar has dissolved and apples begin to brown, 3-5 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in orange zest.
3. Unroll crescent rolls and pinch together seams to create 1 large sheet with each package of dough. Cut each rectangle into 12 squares.
4. Coat a mini muffin pan with cooking spray and place a square of dough in each cup.
5. Cut brie into 24 pieces and place in the center of the dough square. Top with apple walnut mixture and a pinch of brown sugar. Bring edges of the dough square to the center and pinch to create a seal.
6. Bake for 10 minutes or until golden brown.
7. Garnish each bite with a sugared cranberry for an unexpected burst of flavor.

Recipe Courtesy of Chef Alyssa,  ALDI Test Kitchen