Baked Brie with Caramelized Pecans & Cranberries

BAKED BRIE with CARAMELIZED PECANS & CRANBERRIES

1/5/2024

Celebrate the season with irresistible Baked Brie with Caramelized Pecans and Cranberries! As the holiday season unfolds, there's nothing quite like the aroma of warm, gooey Baked Brie wafting through the air. Elevate your festive gatherings and last-minute get-togethers with this show-stopping appetizer that marries the rich creaminess of Brie with the sweet crunch of caramelized pecans and the tart pop of cranberries. This easy appetizer is not just a fusion of flavor, but a visual spectacle that will have your guests coming back for more - perfect for the busy holiday season! Nothing screams party like warm, melty cheese!

Baked Brie with Caramelized Pecans & Cranberries

WHAT DO I NEED TO MAKE THE BEST BAKED BRIE?

I have another recipe that wraps the brie cheese in puff pastry, but there are times when you need to whip up a fabulous appetizer that is easy and quick, and this short-cut version is stunning, delicious and perfect! Start with the right ingredients for fabulous results in no time at all, and it's easy to keep all of these on hand and ready to pull out for a last-minute treat!

a wheel of good quality Brie cheese
chopped pecans for that irresistible crunch
fresh or dried cranberries for that tart pop of flavor and color
brown sugar for caramelizing goodness
golden honey for a touch of sweetness
balsamic glaze to add depth of flavor
crackers and sliced baguette for serving

Baked Brie with Caramelized Pecans & Cranberries

TIPS & TRICKS FOR THE BEST BAKED BRIE WITH CARAMELIZED PECANS & CRANBERRIES:

Make-Ahead Instructions: The Caramelized Pecan & Cranberry mixture can be made a few days ahead of time and stored in the fridge. Warm the mixture in the microwave or on the stovetop and add to unbaked brie before baking.
Brie Cheese: You will need a 7-ounce wheel of your favorite brie. I prefer double cream or triple cream brie, but there is no need to splurge. A simple, inexpensive brie will work perfectly fine for this recipe and will shine when topped with the Caramelized Pecans & Cranberries. No one will ever know!
Cranberries: If you don’t have fresh cranberries, don’t fret! You can easily substitute dried cranberries (craisins), which are perfectly tart and chewy and will cut through the richness of brie cheese for the perfect bite.
Do not overbake the brie, as it goes from perfectly gooey to too hard to eat when it is left in too long. This is not the type of cheese you can leave in the oven until you are ready for it.
How long will the Brie stay melted and gooey? Once you pull it from the oven, you will only get that famous stringy melted cheese effect for about fifteen minutes. However, the brie will stay spreadable at room temperature for a while. For a larger event, consider staggering the baking of several different brie wheels throughout the evening so everyone gets a taste of hot-from-the-oven brie.
Serving Suggestions: Brie should be served warm from the oven and added to your cheese board for an elegant touch. Serve it with crackers, crusty bread, grapes, and/or apples.

Baked Brie with Caramelized Pecans & Cranberries

MORE FABULOUS APPETIZERS THAT ARE PERFECT FOR HOLIDAY CELEBRATIONS:

BAKED BRIE with CARAMELIZED PECANS & CRANBERRIES

Wow your guests this festive season with a Baked Brie with Caramelized Pecans & Cranberries that combines the creamy elegance of melted cheese with the sweet and nutty notes of caramelized pecans and cranberries. It's a crowd-pleaser that's as easy to make as it is delicious. So, roll up your sleeves, preheat that oven, and let the holiday celebrations begin!

Baked Brie with Caramelized Pecans & Cranberries

INGREDIENTS:
1 7 oz. wheel of Brie cheese (4 to 5 inches)
1 cup of chopped pecans
1/2 cup of fresh or dried cranberries
1/4 cup of brown sugar
2 tablespoons of honey
1 tablespoon of balsamic glaze

SERVE WITH:
Raincoast Crisp Crackers (Hazelnut Cranberry or Rosemary Raisin)
Breton Cranberry Grain Crackers
Buttery crackers
Fresh pear slices
Fresh apple slices
Artisanal flatbread
Pretzel crisps
Sliced baguette

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat oven to 350F.
Unwrap your Brie and place your wheel on a small piece of parchment paper in a a round, shallow glass or porcelain baking dish, such as a pie plate. An eight or nine-inch pie plate is perfect for a seven-inch brie wheel. The glass will retain heat and keep the brie melty longer. If you don’t have a glass pie plate, a baking pan will work too.
NOTE: If you have the time, take the cheese out of the refrigerator and let it sit on the counter for an hour before baking. This is optional but helps the cheese bake more evenly.
PREPARE CARAMELIZED PECANS & CRANBERRIES: In a pan over medium heat, start by caramelizing the pecans. Stir them with brown sugar until they turn golden and release their enticing aroma.
Add the cranberries to the pan, stirring until they soften, allowing their natural juices to release and mingle with the pecans.
Drizzle honey and balsamic glaze into the pan, creating a sticky and sweet mixture. Give it a good stir and set it aside.
Place the Brie wheel in the center and spoon the caramelized pecan and cranberry mixture on top, spreading it evenly.
Place your Brie masterpiece in the preheated oven and let it bake for 20–25 minutes, or until the rind softens feels smushy to the touch, but don't press too hard or you will end up with a gooey hole before you are ready.
Once out of the oven, let cool 10 minutes. This will ensure the brie is perfectly warm and melty, but won’t ooze everywhere or burn anyone.
Use the parchment paper to transfer the Baked Brie to your serving platter, and surround with crackers and sliced baguette, etc.
Get ready for the oohs and ahhs as your guests indulge in this warm and gooey cheesy delight!

YIELD: A seven-ounce wheel of brie will easily serve 6-8 people if that is the only appetizer. If you are making several appetizers it will go even further.

RECIPE NOTES:

Make-Ahead Instructions: The Caramelized Pecan & Cranberry mixture can be made a few days ahead of time and stored in the fridge. Warm the mixture in the microwave or on the stovetop and add to unbaked brie before baking.

Brie Cheese: You will need a 7-ounce wheel of your favorite brie. I prefer double cream or triple cream brie, but there is no need to splurge. A simple, inexpensive brie will work perfectly fine for this recipe and will shine when topped with the Caramelized Pecans & Cranberries. No one will ever know!

Cranberries: If you don’t have fresh cranberries, don’t fret! You can easily substitute dried cranberries (craisins), which are perfectly tart and chewy and will cut through the richness of brie cheese for the perfect bite.

Do not overbake the brie, as it goes from perfectly gooey to too hard to eat when it is left in too long. This is not the type of cheese you can leave in the oven until you are ready for it.

How long will the Brie stay melted and gooey? Once you pull it from the oven, you will only get that famous stringy melted cheese effect for about fifteen minutes. However, the brie will stay spreadable at room temperature for a while. For a larger event, consider staggering the baking of several different brie wheels throughout the evening so everyone gets a taste of hot-from-the-oven brie.

Serving Suggestions: Brie should be served warm from the oven and added to your cheese board for an elegant touch. Serve it with crackers, crusty bread, grapes, and/or apples.

Original recipe created by Snowflakes & Coffeecakes in December 2013; revised and reposted January 2024.

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