Imagine me, rushing around on a busy morning, needing to get approximately a million things done before I leave for recess duty at noon. This seems to be my life lately, always rushing to get something done before I have to leave to go somewhere. How long it takes: 20 minutes Equipment you’ll need: rimmed baking sheet, parchment paper, oven Servings: 8 I realize that this struggle is not unique to me, but this was the case for me the day I was photographing this cranberry baked Brie. Running up and down the stairs, setting up the scene in my studio, putting the finishing touches on the recipe, music loud on Alexa, trying to get it all done. But now imagine me, sitting on the floor of my studio, eating “just one more bite” of this baked Brie recipe. IT IS SO GOOD. I may have even had a sip of the champagne I used to style the photo. Only one, though, I pinky swear! By the way, I did make it to school in time (showered, too!), and every single bite of this Brie was worth the rush that ensued afterwards. Since then, I’ve made baked Brie time and time again for guests and it’s always a hit. Recipes like this baked Brie are my favorite kind of recipes: they look fancy but are deceptively easy to make. If you’re looking for more recipes like that, be sure to check out my list of 32 Easy Holiday Appetizers.
About this Baked Brie Appetizer
Okay guys, seriously. We need to talk about how good this is. The creamy, rich Brie, the sweet syrupy cranberry sauce, and then the BOURBON GLAZED PECANS! Oops, sorry for yelling but I get a little carried away when something is so good. Thinking about the holidays? Cranberries and Thanksgiving dinner go hand in hand. The sprigs of frosty green rosemary and bright red berries are just right for Christmas too. I’ll get you started with the recipe here and give you a few extra pointers.
Ingredients You’ll Need
8 oz. Round of Brie Cheese: If you’re not familiar with this type of cheese, look for it in the deli section of the grocery store. It’s a soft cow’s milk cheese with an edible rind that often comes in a little round wooden box. A common brand in the U.S. is Président Cheese. Canned Whole Cranberry Sauce: We’re looking for whole cranberries here so don’t buy the jellied cranberry sauce which will turn into a syrupy mess. Pecans: Chop most of the pecans but if you like, leave a few of them whole. They look a little more impressive that way. Dark Brown Sugar: Dark brown sugar has more flavor than light brown sugar but don’t worry if light brown is all that you have. It will work fine. Pure Maple Syrup: No substitutions with this ingredient! Do NOT use pancake syrup which isn’t really maple syrup at all. Bourbon: You only need one tablespoon which provides plenty of flavor. Is the alcohol burned off? Sorry, no. For more information, check out this post from Idaho State University. Nutmeg and Cinnamon: These warm spices add lots of flavor. Try grating your own nutmeg, it’s so much better tasting! Crackers or Crostini: Even though you’ll want to eat the cheese by the spoonful, crackers or crostini provide a nice crispy platform. Learn how to make crostini –it’s so easy and much more economical. Sugared Cranberries and Fresh Rosemary, for optional garnish: It’s easy to make sugared cranberries too. And don’t they look really cool? They add so much flair to a cheese board.
How To Make Baked Brie
It’s really easy! Turn the oven on, let’s get started. Find a small baking pan and line it with parchment paper. You don’t want a pan to wash, right? Unwrap the round of cheese and place it on the parchment paper. Spoon the cranberry sauce on top of the cheese — not the whole can, just a half cup! In a small bowl, mix together the pecans, brown sugar, maple syrup, bourbon, nutmeg and cinnamon. Doesn’t that smell good? Spoon the nut mixture over the cranberries. Good so far? You should have kind of a layered thing going: cheese, cranberries, nuts. Pop the cheese with toppings into the oven and bake it for about ten to fifteen minutes. The cheese should feel soft and squishy in the middle. Take the pan out of the oven and wait about five minutes before serving it. You don’t want anyone to scorch the inside of their mouth. Although it’s perfectly okay to leave it in the pan, you may use a large spatula to carefully transfer the round of cheese with the toppings onto a platter. Surround it with crackers or crostini and garnish with sugared (candied) cranberries and a sprig or two of fresh rosemary. Voilà!
Make It Your Own
Alcohol free: Simply omit the bourbon. Really, that’s okay! Add an extra tablespoon of maple syrup to the pecan mixture. After you take the cheese out of the oven, a sprinkle of finely grated orange zest will easily make up for the loss of the bourbon. Double the recipe. Make two 8 oz. rounds of Brie on the same baking sheet and double all the topping ingredients, dividing the topping evenly between each round.
Make-Ahead Ideas
This easy appetizer really only takes about five minutes to prep. The most time-consuming part is the pecan mixture. This can be prepped ahead in a small bowl and covered until you’re ready to bake the brie. If you want, open the can of cranberries and measure out the amount you need and cover the measuring cup until you’re ready. If you’re planning on making your own crostini, you can do that up to two days in advance. Once they’ve cooled completely, put them into an airtight container. Sugared cranberries can be made ahead, too, and stored in the fridge for 2-3 days.
Storage & Reheating
Um, there won’t be any leftovers. Trust me on that one. If there are, you can store it in the fridge for up to 3 days and reheat in the microwave, but this is best eaten fresh.
More Easy Appetizers
I’m always on the lookout for quick and easy appetizers, aren’t you? While a cheese board is always a good option, here’s a few more ideas to try:
Slow Cooker Spinach Artichoke Dip Baked Goat Cheese Dip with Lemon and Thyme Pickled Asparagus Recipe – 10 minutes hands-on! Pickle Roll Ups with Ham (Pinwheels) Candied Bacon Recipe Butternut Squash Crostini with Ricotta Beet Bruschetta with Orange Tarragon Goat Cheese Bacon Wrapped Dates Olive Oil Roasted Almonds
Quick-Start Guide!
