Description
A festive and elegant appetizer featuring creamy baked brie topped with sweet-tart cranberry sauce and a crunchy almond topping, perfect for holiday gatherings or cozy nights in.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Crust:
- 1 (8-ounce) wheel of brie cheese
- 1/2 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/4 cup sliced almonds
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
- 1 sheet puff pastry (optional, for wrapping)
- Crackers or sliced baguette, for serving
Instructions
1. Prepare the Crust:
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Place brie wheel in a small baking dish or on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- In a small saucepan, combine cranberries, sugar, and water. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until cranberries burst and sauce thickens slightly, about 8-10 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in honey and thyme.
- In a dry skillet over medium heat, toast sliced almonds, stirring frequently, until golden and fragrant, about 3-5 minutes. Set aside.
- If using puff pastry, roll it out slightly, wrap the brie wheel completely, and place seam-side down in the baking dish. Otherwise, leave brie unwrapped.
- Spoon cranberry sauce over the top of the brie, spreading evenly. Sprinkle toasted almonds on top.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until brie is soft and gooey (or puff pastry is golden if wrapped).
- Remove from oven, let cool for 5 minutes, then serve warm with crackers or baguette slices.
Notes
You can customize the seasonings to taste.