This post is sponsored by Collective Bias, Inc. and The Coca-Cola Company. All opinions are my own.
Treat yourself to this decadent Baked Brie with Cranberries and Pecans ... it's the ultimate party appetizer and so simple to make!
There's nothing better than catching up with family and friends during the holidays. It's such a special time of year.
Of course, it doesn't hurt if there's delicious appetizer to enjoy while chatting. You know I'm all about the food!
As much as I love rolling out all the stops during this festive season, I don't want to spend all day in the kitchen ... which is why I adore this Baked Brie with Cranberries and Pecans.
This cranberry brie appetizer is a showstopper that will draw your guests around the table fast. It's decadent, delicious, and best of all, so easy to make!
Baked Brie with Cranberries and Pecans
Baked Brie in pastry—or Brie en Croûte, if you want to get fancy—is a classic party appetizer that's surprisingly easy to make.
If you already love Brie cheese, then wait until you try it hot. It's heavenly. And just watch as everyone gathers around to devour this warm, gooey, over the top treat ... it's a guaranteed crowd pleaser!
The sweet, tart flavor of cranberries pair so perfectly with rich, creamy Brie cheese. Although to be honest, I will put cranberries on just about anything at this time of year! I just can't get enough.
Cranberries are so festive ... it's the merriest, berriest time of year, after all. Which is why I was so excited to see that my favorite soda of the season, Sprite Cranberry, is back!
The sweet-tart flavor of Sprite Cranberry couldn't be more perfect for any holiday event. I love it on its own (garnish it with a few fresh cranberries for a festive drink), but it can also be mixed with other ingredients for simple punches and even cocktails. Stock up at Kroger for the holiday season!
How to Make Baked Brie in Puff Pastry
So let's talk about this Brie and cranberry appetizer. It looks impressive and tastes amazing. The best part though is that it's so simple to make!
And I'm going to walk you through the recipe step-by-step.
Making the Cranberry Sauce
The first thing you need to do is make the cranberry sauce.
If you've never made cranberry sauce before, you may be surprised by how easy it is to prepare. Basically, you're going to combine cranberries, sugar, and water in a heavy bottom pot. Bring that to a boil, then simmer for 10 minutes or until your have a thickened sauce. Easy peasy!
You could also change up this recipe by using my Cranberry Orange Sauce. It would be so good in this recipe.
Want to save a little time? Replace the homemade cranberry sauce with your favorite preserve—raspberries, figs, etc.—anything will work. You could even use something savory, like tapenade.
Filling the Brie with Cranberries and Pecans
Once the cranberry sauce has cooled, you'll fill the Brie.
Start by carefully slicing a wheel of cheese in half horizontally, using a serrated knife. Make sure the cheese is well chilled, otherwise it will be difficult to cut.
Tip: if your Brie is especially creamy, freezing it for about half an hour will make it easier to slice.
Top one half of the wheel with two tablespoons of the cranberry sauce, then sprinkle it with chopped pecans.
Place the other half of the wheel back on top, pressing down lightly.
By the way, I used an 8.8-ounce wheel of cheese. If you can't find that exact size, don't worry. This recipe is very flexible ... simply add more or less pecans and cranberries, as needed.
Wrapping Brie with Puff Pastry
Puff pastry is much easier to work with than you'd think. The key to success is keeping the dough as chilled as possible. So leave it in the refrigerator until you're ready to use it and work quickly.
Lightly flour a board or a piece of parchment paper, then place a sheet of puff pastry on top. Sprinkle the top with a little more flour, then roll it out until it's a little larger (big enough to wrap around the Brie) and about ⅛-inch thick.
Place the Brie in the center of the puff pastry, then wrap the dough around it. Overlap the dough as you go, and cut off any excess dough and discard it.
Don't worry if it doesn't look perfect!
Baking the Brie
Once you've wrapped the cheese, transfer it to a lightly oiled skillet or baking sheet. I like using a skillet (or even a pie pan), because it helps contain the oozing cheese when it's time to eat.
Then, whisk together an egg yolk and a couple teaspoons of water. Brush this mixture all over the puff pastry, but try to avoid getting it on the skillet/baking sheet.
Bake the wrapped cheese until it turns a deep golden brown. It should take about 35 to 40 minutes.
By the way, if you want to save time on party day, you can prep this Baked Brie recipe ahead of time. Simply follow all the steps through wrapping the Brie in puff pastry, then cover the pastry-wrapped cheese in plastic wrap and refrigerate. On the day of the party, brush the pastry with the egg/water mixture, then bake.
Doesn't this Baked Brie with Cranberries and Pecans look amazing? No one has to know how easy it was ... that can be your secret!
I like dollop a little of the cranberry sauce in the center of the pastry, then sprinkle with a few pecans. It looks nice, and it covers up any minor imperfections.
Let the Baked Brie in pastry cool for about five minutes before digging in. That way the cheese won't ooze everywhere or burn your mouth.
What to Serve with this Brie Appetizer
It's almost time to eat ... you just need to something to serve with the Baked Brie.
I served mine with crunchy crostini and sliced apples. You could also pair warm Brie with crackers or pretzels. Fresh fruit is perfect for balancing out the richness of the cheese, too. And of course, you'll want a glass of sparkling Sprite Cranberry!
Looking for more decadent, yet easy appetizer ideas? Then, make sure sure to check out my Baked Ricotta, Blue Cheese Stuffed Dates, or Caramelized Onion Dip, too!
Baked Brie with Cranberries and Pecans
Ingredients
For Cranberry Sauce:
- 2 cups fresh cranberries
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon fresh orange or lemon zest
For Baked Brie:
- 1 8.8-ounce wheel Brie *
- 2 tablespoons chopped pecans
- 1 sheet puff pastry, chilled
- 1 large egg yolk
Instructions
Prepare Cranberry Sauce:
- Combine cranberries, sugar, and ⅔ cup water in a heavy bottom pot.
- Bring mixture to a boil. Then, reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes, or until cranberries are soft and mixture has thickened. Remove from heat, then stir in lemon or orange zest.
- Transfer sauce to a small bowl and set aside to cool before using.
Prepare Baked Brie:
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
- Slice Brie in half horizontally.
- Top one half of Brie with 2 tablespoons of cranberry sauce and pecans. Place other half Brie on top.
- Sprinkle a cutting board (or sheet of parchment paper) lightly with flour. Remove puff pastry from refrigerator and place on board. Sprinkle lightly with more flour.
- Use a rolling pin to roll out puff pastry to about ⅛-inch thick.
- Center Brie on puff pastry. Wrap pastry around brie, overlapping as needed. Cut off any excess pastry and discard.
- Place wrapped Brie on a lightly-oiled skillet or baking sheet.
- Whisk together egg yolk and 2 teaspoons water. Brush over puff pastry.
- Bake Brie until pastry turns deep golden brown, about 35 to 40 minutes.
- Let Baked Brie cool for about 5 minutes, then serve with leftover cranberry sauce, crostini, crackers, and/or fresh fruit. Enjoy!
Notes
Love it!
I'm so glad you enjoyed the recipe, Gina! 🙂
Can’t wait to make this
Hope you enjoy it, Diana!
Yum! I made baked brie for Christmas but used fig jam. I like how you cut your brie in half and put the filling in the middle. Next Christmas or Thanksgiving I'll be serving your version of this recipe.
I love the idea of using fig jam ... sounds delicious! Hope you had a wonderful holiday!
What is the oven temp?
Oops, an oven temp would be helpful, wouldn't it? You'll want to bake this at 400 degrees. Hope you enjoy the recipe, Christine! 🙂