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If you haven’t tried puff pastry wrapped brie you are definitely missing out! This cranberry almond baked brie is an easy appetizer that’s sure to impress your guests. It’s a magical baked brie dish – it disappears!
I’m still alive! Barely (haha). This declaration is just a testament to the way I’ve been feeling since Saturday (and the reason why this is my only post this week). As most of you have read in my previous posts, my boys have been taking turns with the nastiest of flus/colds/whatever you want to call it for the better part of the past month. I thought I had escaped it, as nearly everyone had fully recovered….but no such luck!! It hit me like a 10 pound bag of bricks on Saturday night! Bang!
It’s weeks like these that I am SO grateful for my husband’s parents living so close, and being more than willing to step in and help out. The boys got some play time in with them, and I was able to forge a strong bond with my bed and trusty humidifier. I’m happy to say I’m finally on the mend! Phew. We’ve got to have a long stretch of healthiness in front of us now, right? Right!?
Either way, Christmas (and Thanksgiving for my ‘Mericans) is fast approaching, and with it, all of the holiday related gatherings that require company-friendly foods! I’ve been seeing all sorts of great appetizers, cheese boards and platters popping up all over the web, so I knew I had to post about one of my own personal favourites.
Is puff pastry wrapped brie easy to make?
The first time I had a pasty-covered wheel of cheese was at a girlfriend’s house, back in Uni. I was helping her prepare some snacks for a group of people coming over, and I watched in awe as she quickly prepared this amazing appy like she’d done it a million times before. It’s likely she had, since discovering the dish I can’t even remember how many times I’ve made it myself, with a few adjustments, of course 😉
So yes, it’s the easiest recipe ever, yet elegant and impressive for your guests. You just need to pick up a wheel of brie (or camembert), a box of puff pastry, and whatever you’d like as a filling. The cranberry and almond mixture is my favourite thing to add during this time of year. Can’t stop, won’t stop with the cranberries!!
Since the puff pastry is purchased frozen, you’ll want to leave at least 3-4 hours prep time to allow the pastry to thaw before preparing the dish. Use some of that time to chop up your berries and mix it with your almonds! Once thawed, roll out your pastry, place the mixture in the middle, and place the wheel of cheese directly on top.
Do you remove the rind from brie before baking?
You can remove the rind, but I never do. I find that when the brie is baked, you don’t even notice the rind! It may even add another element of texture and flavor to the dish.
Once the cheese is in the middle, fold up the edges of the pastry to completely cover the brie, then swiftly flip it over onto a baking sheet.
You’ll want to brush the pastry with an egg yolk/water mixture to add that beautiful colour and shine! The pastry only takes 20-25 minutes to bake to perfection, so you can easily time it with the arrival of your guests. OR – pop it in the oven as soon as everyone arrives.
I serve my baked brie with lightly flavoured crackers spread out on a platter. Leave a serving knife next to the tray so guests can continue to cut into the pastry and continue the flow of ooey-gooey melted cheese!!
Do you have to use cranberries?
I think the tart cranberries act as the perfect compliment to the soft brie cheese, but feel free to change up the cranberry/almond mixture with something else – just be sure to limit it to about 1/3 cup!
Can you freeze baked brie in puff pastry?
Yes! Making this ahead of time will save you a ton of time. Prepare all of the steps right before brushing the pastry with egg wash. Wrap the pastry tightly in plastic wrap and freeze for up to 2 months. When you’re ready to serve the brie, bake it right from frozen for 45-50 minutes, brushing with the egg wash first.
My first holiday gathering is coming up in just over a week, so I best be feeling back to my old self by then!! A serving of this baked brie is definitely on the menu!!
Cheers, friends!
Additional appetizers for you to delight your guests with:
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Cranberry Almond Baked Brie
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 8-10 servings 1x
Description
Creamy brie topped with almonds and tart cranberries, all wrapped up in a puff pastry and baked until warm and gooey.
Ingredients
- 1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed
- 1/4 cup fresh cranberries, chopped
- 2 tbsp slivered almonds
- 1 tbsp maple syrup
- 1 – 9oz wheel of brie (or camembert)
- 1 egg yolk + 1 tbsp water
- crackers, for serving
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425 F and place a sheet of parchment paper or a silicone baking mat on top of a baking sheet.
- On a lightly floured surface, roll out the thawed puff pastry into a rough 11-12″ square.
- In a small dish, combine the almonds and cranberries together with the maple syrup. Place the mixture directly in the middle of the thawed puff pastry. Place the wheel of brie on top of the mixture. Grab the edges of the remaining pastry and fold over and on top of the brie, pinching the ends together a bit to keep it sealed. Slide your hands under the bottom of the pastry, and swiftly flip the brie/pastry onto the prepared baking sheet.
- Using a pastry brush, gently brush the egg yolk and water mixture all over the pastry. Place the brie in the oven and bake for 20-24 minutes, or until the pastry has turned a dark golden shade.
- Allow the baked brie to cool for a few minutes before transferring it to a serving platter. Surround the brie with assorted crackers (or apples)! Create a cut in the pastry just before serving to allow the cheese to ooze out for dipping. Yum!
Any leftovers can be kept in a sealed container in the fridge for 3-4 days, and reheated in the oven at 275 until the cheese begins to melt.
Notes
- Replace the cranberry/almond mixture with a different combination but keep it to 1/3 cup. I’ve also just used raspberry jam and it was delicious!
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: appetizers
- Method: baked
OMG this looks to die for! I could eat it all in one fatal swoop!!! YUM!! So perfect for entertaining!!
Yes! You could! We did! Haha it was so good – better for entertaining than for yourself if you’re trying to save your waistline!! 😉 Thanks Kim!
baked brie is my absolute new favourite! I made one the other day and holy cow it was good! I love that you wrapped it in puff pastry too though, would definitely add another element of crunch and deliciousness! glad you’re feeling better! touch wood I’ve never had the flu but can’t imagine it would be a lot of fun!
Your brie that you posted looks absolutely to die for. That pastry does definitely add a perfect little bit of crunch!! I can’t believe you’ve never had the flu – you’re a unicorn!! Crossing my fingers you never have to experience it!
I never think about that while it’s actually so simple and tasty! 🙂
Super simple!!
Katherine, I hope you’re feeling better these days! Getting knocked off your feet with a cold is bad any time of year, but around the holidays, it’s the worst! So much to do, and so little time! I’m pinning this recipe for a quick appetizer during the holidays. I’m addicted to cranberries this season, and pairing them with almonds and brie sounds amazing!!! Take care!
Thank you Leanne!! Other than a pesky cough we’re all doing much better. It’s amazing how you feel so good after you’ve recovered from a sickness! I’m so addicted to cranberries too, my friend! They’re the best! Thanks for the pin – cheers!!
Hopefully, you are fully recovered by today, Katherine! If not, you need to make this amazing brie again – it could be an excellent remedy. I’ve never baked brie/camembert wrapped in pastry…let’s be honest, I rarely bake brie at all. Being a huge fan of both camembert and brie, they just can barely make their way to the oven. I don’t know what’s happening, but they disappear from the fridge in no time. Anyways, I love this idea as cranberries and nuts make the perfect addition. Hopefully, I can manage to make and try some one day.
Yes!! I’m feeling much better now Ben, thank you! Although I do agree that the pastry would be a fantastic remedy 😉 Haha – your relationship with brie sounds very familiar! There are some recipes I would love to make that require a certain ingredient, but I always end up eating the required ingredient before I can use it!! Hopefully you can restrain yourself enough one day to make this!!
It’s so disappointing when you think you’re out of the woods,then BAM! you get knocked off your feet with the bug anyway! I’m glad that you are recovering.I can’t resist a baked brie, and this one with the cranberries and almonds (and puffed pastry!) is looking incredible!!
Gaah I know!! I sometimes think it’s better to just not fight it and let it get you, as it always seems to get you in the end anyway!! Thank you so much Thao!! I would definitely describe it as irresistible!! 😉
Ugh, I’m so sorry you caught that nasty bug!! I have a similar recipe that I’m making again for company this weekend—but I use canned whole berry sauce which is the lazy way out 🙂 I can never get enough baked brie!
Canned berry sauce sounds just as delicious!! I am all in for the baked brie as well!! Thanks Liz, have a great weekend!
Oh my word Katherine your Cranberry Almond Baked Brie looks gooey and dreamy and delicious! This would be so perfect for a holiday party! Although if I was there I would likely eat all of it by myself, haha. 🙂
Thank you Alia!! It is SO good – and very difficult not to just eat all of it yourself hah. Which is totally acceptable 😉
This looks amazing! I’ve never baked Brie before. Do you remove the rind first? Any tips you have would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you!! It’s really SO good (and so easy). I didn’t remove the rind, but you could if you prefer not to have it on. If you run into any issues while following the recipe, let me know!