Description
Baked Brie with Cranberries and Walnuts brings festive elegance to holiday gatherings with its melty cheese and festive toppings. Guests will savor each rich, warm bite of this simple yet sophisticated appetizer that pairs perfectly with crisp crackers or crusty bread.
Ingredients
Scale
Cheese:
- 1 round (8-10 ounces / 226-283 grams) brie cheese
Nuts and Dried Fruit:
- 1/4 cup (30 grams) chopped walnuts
- 1/4 cup (40 grams) dried cranberries
Pastry and Egg Wash:
- 1 sheet puff pastry, thawed
- 1 egg, beaten
- 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) water
Instructions
- Prepare the oven at a high temperature of 425°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper for optimal cooking surface.
- Using a sharp knife, carefully create a horizontal cut around the Brie’s circumference, gently separating it into two equal halves.
- Position the Brie halves with the inner sides facing upward, creating a flat canvas for the filling.
- Distribute cranberries across one half of the cheese and strategically place walnuts on the other half, pressing them gently into the surface.
- Reunite the Brie halves, ensuring the cranberries rest atop the walnuts, and apply firm pressure to seal the contents.
- On a flour-dusted workspace, delicately roll the puff pastry to a thin, even consistency approximately 1/8-inch thick.
- Center the prepared Brie on the pastry and artfully encase the cheese by lifting and folding the pastry edges, trimming any excessive overhang.
- Create an egg wash by combining egg and water, then meticulously brush the pastry surface for a glossy finish and apply decorative pastry accents.
- Refrigerate the wrapped Brie for one hour to solidify its shape and enhance structural integrity.
- Transfer to the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes until the pastry achieves a golden-brown hue and the cheese begins to ooze slightly.
Notes
- Chill the Brie before scoring to make cutting smoother and prevent crumbling.
- Use dried cranberries if fresh ones aren’t available for a more concentrated sweet-tart flavor.
- Swap walnuts with pecans or almonds for different nutty undertones and texture variations.
- Ensure pastry edges are sealed tightly to prevent cheese leakage during baking.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 20-25 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 400mg
- Fat: 26g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 25g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 8g
- Cholesterol: 40mg