Baked Brie
Baked Brie is an incredibly easy appetizer to pull together for any event. Brie cheese topped with a homemade cranberry sauce and colorful pistachios is next level on flavor and a total crowd-pleaser for all of your special occasions!
A quick overview of brie cheese.
This mild ooey-gooey French cheese is typically made from cow’s milk and has a rich buttery taste which makes it my favorite of all soft-ripened cheeses. Brie cheese can easily be found at your local grocery store in the deli area and is usually sold as a wedge of brie or a wheel of brie. For this simple recipe, we will be using a wheel of brie. You’ll notice that the brie rind is white in color with a unique texture, rest assured there is no need to remove the rind before cooking as it will ensure the wheel of cheese stays intact while baking. Some recipes call for removing the top of the brie but I find it creates the perfect surface for adding an array of toppings and brings complexity to the flavor of brie.
How to serve brie cheese.
Brie is delicious served room temperature on any charcuterie board by itself or with a drizzle of honey. There are also so many delicious wrapped brie recipes using store-bought puff pastry or crescent roll dough which I prefer serving with apple slices. The variations for your brie are endless and can be completely personalized by you. If you’re wanting a more savory version brie cheese is delicious topped with caramelized onions, fresh thyme, and a drizzle of olive oil before being baked. Or topped with a fig jam, fresh rosemary, and a drizzle of maple syrup – I truly could go on and on – there are so many delicious toppings, so feel free to experiment with what you might have on hand. This time we will be creating an easy Baked Brie recipe with cranberry and pistachios. It is the perfect appetizer for this festive season.
Homemade cranberry sauce.
I know it might sound daunting but this homemade cranberry sauce is easier than you think with just 4 ingredients. You will need fresh cranberries, sugar, pomegranate juice, and the zest from one orange. This cranberry sauce can be made ahead of time and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator if you would like to make it ahead of time. It comes together in about 10 minutes time so even preparing everything at a single time is still a great option. To make your cranberry sauce you will start by dissolving the sugar in the pomegranate juice in a saucepan over medium heat. Once the sugar is fully dissolved add in your cranberries and orange zest continuing to simmer until all of the cranberries have burst. Remove your saucepan from the heat and allow to begin cooling. You will not use all of the cranberry sauce when topping your brie, leftover sauce will keep in your refrigerator for several days.
Assembling your brie.
Gather your wheel of brie, cranberry sauce, and chopped pistachios on your work surface. Preheat your oven to 350. Place your brie in a small baking dish or cast iron pan, keep in mind that you will also be serving out of whichever dish you choose. Before topping your brie I like to cut shallow slits with a sharp knife through the top rind of the cheese allowing it to cook more evenly. Spread your homemade cranberry sauce over the top allowing a little to run over the sides, keep in mind that as the brie and cranberry sauce warm they will become slightly runny. Sprinkle the top of the brie and cranberry sauce generously with chopped pistachios and a sprinkle of sea salt. Place your assembled brie in the oven to bake for 15-20 minutes. Once your melty brie is done baking allow the dish to cool for a few minutes before serving. It is amazing with toasted baguette slices or your favorite cracker. This is truly one of my favorite appetizers. If there is any leftover, which never happens, feel free to cover your dish in plastic wrap and store it in the refrigerator. Any leftovers can be warmed back up in the oven and used within a day or two.
Tips for whipping up the perfect gooey brie each time.
- Allowing your brie to start to come to room temperature before baking in addition to cutting shallow slits along the top will ensure it cooks evenly. My favorite is using a crosshatch method because it is efficient and also it just looks pretty.
- When shopping for your brie you will find rounds ranging in all sizes. It can be tricky to decipher how much you need but I like to allow 1 ounce per serving.
- Don’t be afraid to reheat you’re brie if it starts to harden as the evening goes on or if you save any leftovers for a day or two. Simply pop it back in the oven at 300 until everything is all melty again.
- The topping options are truly endless – feel free to get creative!
- Leave any juice in your baking dish and remove the brie cheese with a spatula onto your serving dish
Baked Brie
Ingredients
Cranberry Sauce
- 12 oz fresh cranberries
- 3/4 cup pomegranate juice
- 3/4 cup sugar
- zest from 1 orange
Baked Brie
- 1 wheel of brie 7-9 oz
- 1/2 cup homemade cranberry sauce
- 1/3 cup pistachios shelled and chopped
- sprinkle of sea salt
- toasted baguette slices for serving
- crackers for serving
Instructions
Cranberry Sauce
- In a pot over medium heat combine the sugar, and pomegranate juice. Stir until the sugar is dissolved.
- Add in the cranberries and orange zest. Simmer for approximately 10 minutes until the cranberries burst.
- Remove from heat and allow to cool.
Baked Brie
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
- Place your wheel of Brie in a small oven-safe baking dish.
- Cut shallow slits along the top of the Brie.
- Spread 1/2 cup of cranberry sauce over the top.
- Sprinkle the chopped pistachios on top and top with sea salt.
- Bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes until the Brie is gooey.
- Serve warm with the baguette slices and crackers.
Nutrition
Nutrition is estimated using a food database and is only intended to be used as a guideline for informational purposes.
6 Comments on “Baked Brie”
Yummy!!
Can I use frozen cranberries if i cant find fresh?
Yes! they will thaw very quickly when you put them on the stove
I made this the other night and it was a crowd favorite. I will definitely be making this again, and recommending it to my friends. LOVED IT!
Hi Jordan, I’m so glad you loved it!
absolutely delicious!! loved the homemade cranberry sauce