Baked Brie Bites With Sugared Cranberries

Ingredients

• 8 ounces specially selected brie cheese round 
• 4 tablespoons baker's corner brown sugar divided
• 2 tablespoons countryside creamery butter unsalted
• 1 cup cranberries fresh
• 16 ounce bake house creations crescent rolls 
• 0.5 cup apples i use 2 granny smith apples diced
• 1.8 cups baker's corner granulated sugar divided
• 1 teaspoon stonemill essentials ground cinnamon 
• 1  orange zest 
• 2.5 ounces tuscan garden real bacon bits 
• 0.5 cup southern grove walnuts chopped
• 0.5 cup water 

Equipment

• bowl
• sauce pan
• oven
• wire rack
• mini muffin tray

Directions

1. Sugared Cranberries: In a small saucepan, combine 1 cup sugar and 1/2 cup water over low heat. Simmer until the sugar dissolves, about 3 minutes.
2. Add cranberries and remove from heat.
3. Transfer to a bowl, cover and refrigerate overnight.
4. Drain cranberries.
5. Roll in remaining 3/4 cup of sugar to coat. Air dry on a wire rack for 1 hour.
6. Baked Brie Bites: Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
7. In a small saucepan, melt butter.
8. 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.
9. Remove from heat. Stir in orange zest.
10. Unroll crescent rolls and pinch together seams to create 1 large sheet with each package of dough.
11. Cut each rectangle into 12 squares.
12. Coat a mini muffin pan with cooking spray and place a square of dough in each cup.
13. 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.
14. Bake for 10 minutes or until golden brown.
15. Garnish each bite with a sugared cranberry for an unexpected burst of flavor.