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Baked Brie with Cranberry Sauce topped with chopped pistachios, served on a white plate with toasted bread in background.
Daniel

Baked Brie with Cranberry Sauce

Warm, gooey brie wrapped in flaky puff pastry with a sweet-tart cranberry center - the ultimate holiday appetizer that looks impressive but comes together in minutes.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Calories: 285

Ingredients
  

For the Cranberry Sauce
  • 1 cup fresh cranberries rinsed and picked over
  • 0.5 cup granulated sugar
  • 0.25 cup orange juice freshly squeezed
  • 1 tsp orange zest finely grated
  • 0.25 tsp ground cinnamon
For the Brie
  • 8 oz wheel of brie cheese cold, rind on
  • 1 sheet frozen puff pastry thawed but still cold
  • 1 large egg beaten
  • 1 tbsp water
  • 1 pinch flaky sea salt for finishing
  • 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves optional, for garnish

Equipment

  • Baking Sheet
  • Parchment Paper
  • Small saucepan
  • Pastry brush

Method
 

Make the Cranberry Sauce
  1. Combine cranberries, sugar, orange juice, orange zest, and cinnamon in a small saucepan over medium heat. Cook until the berries burst and the mixture thickens, about 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally. It should coat the back of a spoon. Remove from heat and let cool completely - the sauce will thicken more as it cools.
Assemble and Bake
  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Unfold the cold puff pastry on a lightly floured surface and roll gently to smooth any creases, keeping it roughly square.
  2. Place the brie wheel in the center of the pastry. Spoon 3-4 tablespoons of cooled cranberry sauce on top of the brie - save the rest for serving. Fold the pastry corners up over the brie, trimming excess if needed, and pinch the seams to seal completely. Flip the package seam-side down onto the prepared baking sheet.
  3. Whisk the beaten egg with water to make an egg wash. Brush evenly over the entire pastry surface. Use a sharp knife to cut a few small decorative slits in the top to allow steam to escape.
  4. Bake for 20-25 minutes until the pastry is deep golden brown and crisp. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving - the cheese inside will be molten.
  5. Transfer to a serving platter. Top with a spoonful of remaining cranberry sauce, a pinch of flaky sea salt, and fresh thyme if desired. Serve warm with crackers or sliced baguette.

Notes

Make the cranberry sauce up to 3 days ahead and refrigerate - it needs to be completely cold before assembling or it will melt the pastry. For a nutty variation, sprinkle 2 tablespoons of chopped toasted pecans over the cranberry sauce before wrapping. If your puff pastry cracks while folding, patch with a dab of water and press together - it will bake up fine.