I love hosting holiday parties, but I always get a little anxious around this time of year because of two little words: oven space. I tend to have massive amounts of food that require it, and never enough of it. Thankfully, I recently tried out the Cuisinart® Air Fry Toaster Oven, which lets me accomplish my ambitious menus without having to go as far as renovating my kitchen. Not only can I air fry appetizers, but I’m also fully equipped to handle numerous side dishes in addition to my everyday meals.
Why Air Fry?
I was always doubtful that an air fryer was worth the investment, but after just one use, I appreciate that it makes my kitchen routine healthier and less hectic. Air frying means no additional fat in my recipes, but I’m also not sacrificing the crunch that I adore. These canapés capture not only that crunch, but the creamy nuttiness of gooey brie cheese and a kick of tart, spiced cranberry sauce: win/win! And because phyllo shells typically come fully baked, all you have to do is remove them from the packaging, fill them with the brie, and pop them into the air fryer.
New to the air fryer? Check out our First Timer’s Guide to Using an Air Fryer.
Party Tip: Prep in Advance!
The cranberry topping on its own can be made a week ahead, which means this recipe is ready in less than 15 minutes when you’ve got it on hand (Hello, new go-to holiday appetizer!). Simply cover and refrigerate until ready to make the canapés.While this cranberry sauce is used as a topping for this recipe, it can easily double as a side dish on your holiday table.
Open the vanilla bean slightly to ensure the seeds are extracted during cooking. Stir the ingredients together and heat over medium-high heat for 3 minutes, or until the mixture starts to boil. Remove the pan from the stove and add the light brown sugar. Stir constantly to dissolve the sugar and coat the cranberries in a thick glaze. Allow the cranberries to cool to room temperature, leaving the spices in it. Once the shells have finished baking, remove them from the Air Fryer Toaster Oven and carefully remove them from the basket. Repeat this step, baking the shells by the dozen, until they are all baked. Garnish the top of each canapé with the sprigs of rosemary leaves you picked earlier.
