Whether you are hosting a fall or holiday gathering and looking for an easy appetizer or just want to add a sweet and savory festive moment to an ordinary Friday night, I’ve got you. Quick & Easy Cheesy Appetizer for Thanksgiving & Holidays will also transport easily for that shindig/book club/office party when you’re asked to bring a snack.
And what the heck…let’s add cheesy humor for you to pin away to make your friends smile!
10 Minute Cheesy Easy Festive Appetizer for Thanksgiving, Christmas & New Year’s
These sweet and savory flatbread cheesy appetizers are rustic, no-fuss, and come together super quick. If berries aren’t your jam, skip ’em and substitute…um…jam…or any fruit you like. If you prefer not heating up the oven, see this super easy snack to serve.
I independently selected products in this post—if you buy from one of my links, I may earn a commission.
Recipe INGREDIENTS
CRUST: 2 Na’an style flatbreads
CHEESES: 4 tablespoons cream cheese (I used Philadelphia brand with 1/3 less fat), 2 ounces Wensleydale Cheese With Cranberries, 3 ounces brie cheese (rind removed)
TOPPINGS: 1 handful dried cranberries, 1 handful fresh blueberries, 1 tablespoon pesto, 1 sprig fresh rosemary (snipped into sprinkles with kitchen shears)
INSTRUCTIONS
Preheat oven to 425°F. For the sweet version: spread flatbread with 2 tbsp. cream cheese then cut in half.
To one half, sprinkle on 1 oz of brie plus blueberries, and to the other half, top with Wensleydale and dried cranberries.
My Favorite Cheese for This Recipe
OMG, this cheese. Been a favorite for years; however, I’m on a very low fat diet (#crohnsdisease), I can only nibble little tastes…so if you don’t have my restrictions, enjoy liberally!
Sprinkle fresh rosemary over both halves.
I use my Kitchenaid shears for absolutely everything since I’m one of those home chefs who has been stitched up in the ER a few times.
Place either directly on oven rack or on pan (I used a cast iron pizza pan) for about 10 minutes.
Heavy Cast Iron Pan
While the sweet flatbread is baking, assemble the savory pesto brie flatbread.
Spread the second flatbread from the package with 2 tbsp. cream cheese then layer on pieces of brie.
Dot with pesto, sprinkle with rosemary, and bake til gooey and bubbly, about 10 minutes.
The cranberry flatbread comes out of the oven looking gorgeous like this:
Starring Ingredient in this Simple Appetizer
and the pesto brie flatbread looks festive as well.
I came up with this savory flatbread appetizer idea after years of serving a brie with pesto fondue which my family adores. This version simplifies things by incorporating all of the flavors of the fondue into an easy-to-devour wedge.
A Lovely French Brie Cheese
If you’re not a rosemary fan, it is fabulous without it.
Use a pizza cutter or kitchen shears to slice into wedges or rustic shapes.
Serve them on a wood board or platter.
Rustic Appetizer Presentation
These appetizers are not only easy and quick to make for any occasion, but if you like, they can be made ahead, frozen and reheated.
YOU: Michele, aren’t these just fancy pizzas?
ME: Thank you for the idea, gorgeous – this post may very well be recycled into “BRIE PIZZAS” and beam into your inbox soon!*
*I am soooooo not above making things simpler for my cheese lovin’ blogging self.
Pretty Holiday Plates for Serving
Inexpensive Dishtowels Make Festive Napkins
A little diced roasted red pepper would be lovely atop the pesto flatbread too…let me know if you try it.
Hope this simple idea eases your entertaining and pleases your tastebuds.
In other news, I am gathering my thoughts as I assemble gift guides for the holidays…have a perfect suggestion available on Amazon for me?
Also, have you tried Audible yet? If you’re not sure you’ll even use it, Click to Try Audible on Amazon for FREE.
I independently selected products in this post—if you buy from one of my links, I may earn a commission.
Peace to you right where you are.
-michele
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This looks downright delicious. I think Naan is my favorite bread so anything with Naan knocks my socks off! And that cranberry cheese, I’ve not seen it before but I’ll surly be searching it out soon. Thanks for helping to make the upcoming holidays a little more delicious!
Author
Yay! I bet you’ll love the cranberry studded cheese, and my second favorite is the mango studded – never met a white stilton or Wensleydale I didn’t heart. I can just imagine the glorious details and scrumptiousness the holidays promise with you at the helm! xox
These look delicious and so easy. I always have naan bread in the house. The savoury one would be perfect with a glass of Chardonnay. Why have I not ever thought to do this?
Author
Yum. For years I focused on the most complicated recipes to challenge myself…no time for such folly anymore…give me simple! Thanks so much for playing along, Joanna.
Thank you for sharing at #ThursdayFavoriteThings. Pinned and shared. Have a lovely week. I hope to see you at next week’s party too!
Author
Thanks for hosting TFT, Marilyn – see you next week. 🙂
Michele,
Thank you so much for sharing at Thursday Favorite Things. I love Naan bread and these look amazing. I have never had Wensleydale With Cranberries but I am going to buy it. Pinned and shared.
Have a lovely weekend.
Hugs,
Bev
Author
You’ll love it, Bev! It’s such a sweet treat for parties and Thanksgiving. Thanks so much for hosting!
OMGoodness, can’t wait try these! They’re almost too pretty to eat…emphasis on almost😉My boys love Naan bread and my husband & I love the cheese w cranberries. I discovered it @ Aldi’s a few years ago😋Your quotes about craft supplies and text messages are too funny🤣
Author
I have been meaning to visit Aldi! Thank you for reminding me – haven’t been in one since the 70s! Hahahaha. You’ll love these easy cheesy things. And I just learned to make g-free flatbread with two ingredients (plain yogurt and gluten free flour) for my husband so he can have them. We’re a mess as a couple since he can’t have the flatbread, and I can’t have the cheese! Hahahaha
eating in the American style, decorate in the French style. You are really cosmopolitan.
Author
Hahaha – that sounds fancy. My plate looks like a rainbow these days since my diet is whole foods, mainly fruit and veges, and frankly, boring. Before I had the pancreatic illness, it was all about cheese. But I still cook and bake delicious things I can’t eat for my husband and son. 🙂
time will come where you can all the goodies you cook. Start slowly. I am a also a cheese fan and meat is very rare on our table
Author
That would be wonderful, but I am learning to let go and as my caring doctor says “just a taste of everything! I had almost completely cut out meat before my illness 2 years ago. I find a little is necessary for me at the moment to be healthy.
You are always teaching me something new. I had never heard of that English cheese and now I am going to try it with the flatbread from Aldi’s. Thank you for making my life great!
Author
Please tell me what you think after trying it – it’s a winning combination in my book! If we ever get a little male dog or cat, I think Wensleydale is a great name,,,hahaha! 🙂