Easy Baked Brie in Puff Pastry With Cranberries (2024)

Baked Brie in Puff Pastry with cranberries is an easy to make holiday appetizer you’ve been dreaming of! This elegant puff pastry-wrapped baked brie recipe is stuffed with sweet and tart cranberry sauce, topped off with the flakiest puff pastry, lightly toasted almonds and a drizzle of honey. Serve it warm while the brie is warm and gooey and watch it disappear!

If you like brie, you should also try my Easy Mini Plum Brie Tarts and my Brie and Ham Pizza {Pizza con Prosciutto Cotto e Brie} !

Where do I begin to describe how dreamy this recipe is? A classic recipe, Brie en croute is the creamiest Brie filled with the most delicious and festive cranberry sauce all wrapped perfectly in the irresistibly flaky puff pastry.

The crunch from the almond slivers and the sweet honey drizzle is what makes this appetizer even more delightful.

Originally posted December 2020 and republished December 2021. This is one of my favorite appetizers! I know you'll love it!

I remember the first time I had this at a Christmas party. My mind was blown away. I was aware that this recipe existed and my mom reminded me that she used to make this in the 90’s. But it was after that Christmas party it was time to make it for my own holiday parties. And it has been a staple these last few years or so.

Even these photos are from last year's family Christmas party. I had my in-laws here from Italy, and cousin's visiting from Rome and Milan. My brother and family was here. It was a very full house filled with laughter and lots of food.

If you have never had it before, I’m so excited for you to try it out! But really, you will have to make two. Because as soon as you take it out of the oven and set it up with the crackers and bread slices, it will be the first thing to go! And it goes in minutes. I’m not kidding!! And then you’re left with that the not as exciting cheeseball and mozzarella skewers (that’s what I served this with last year).

It’s really so easy to plan and make ahead of time. In November and December, I always have jars of my homemade cranberry sauce. So if you happen to have any sauce on hand, and if you don’t, just whip some up a few days ahead of time. Then when it’s time for your intimate holiday get-together, arrange it all and pop it in the oven.

What is brie en croute?

“En croute”, pronounced on-kroot, is a French culinary phrase whose definition is “in a pastry crust”.

Brie en croute is basically a recipe that consists of a round of soft Brie cheese wrapped in flaky puff pastry and baked until the pastry is golden brown and the cheese is melted.

The classic way to make it is with the only the cheese and the pastry, but most often you will see different ways of topping it. It really is very versatile! Some topping you will see will be like the recipe I share here today that has the cranberries and almonds.

You may find it even more savory with cured meats, mushrooms, and even caramelized onions. Other way to top it is with dried fruits, nuts and various different jams or spreads.

Why you will love this recipe

1. Perfect balance of flavors: The rich and creamy brie, tart cranberries, and sweet honey create an irresistible combination of flavors that are perfect for the holiday season.
2. Texture variety: The soft, melty brie is beautifully contrasted by the flaky puff pastry and the crunch of toasted almonds, making every bite a pleasure.
3. Easy to prepare: Despite its gourmet appearance, this recipe is surprisingly easy to make, making it a go-to for holiday entertaining.
4. Versatile serving options: This dish can be served as an appetizer, a dessert with a glass of wine, or as part of a cheese board – the possibilities are endless.
5. Festive and aesthetically pleasing: The vibrant cranberries give this dish a festive look, making it a showstopper on any holiday table.

What ingredients are needed to make baked brie in puff pastry with honey ?

Here is all you need to make this delicious appetizer:

For the cranberry sauce:

• Fresh cranberries - These provide a tart, fruity component to the dish which balances the rich brie.
• Sugar - This sweetens the cranberry sauce, mellowing the tartness of the cranberries. You can substitute it with honey or pure maple syrup for a different flavor profile.
• Fresh orange juice and zest - They add a citrusy brightness to the cranberry sauce, enhancing its flavor.

Brie and Pastry:

• Brie cheese wheel - This is the main ingredient. When baked, it becomes wonderfully soft and melty.
• Puff pastry - This encases the brie, providing a flaky and buttery exterior that contrasts well with the creamy cheese.
• Sliced toasted almonds - They add a crunchy texture to the dish, and their nutty flavor complements the brie.
• Egg - Used in the egg wash, it gives the puff pastry a golden, glossy finish when baked.
• Honey - A final drizzle of honey adds a touch of sweetness and a glossy sheen to the finished dish.
• Fresh cranberries - These are used as a garnish, adding a pop of color and hint of tartness to the final presentation.

Substitutions for the baked brie appetizer

This brie in puff pastry recipe uses a homemade cranberry sauce, and I know cranberries are not easy to find in some parts of the world, or maybe you just don’t like cranberries.

Cranberry sauce:

You could easily substitute the cranberries with any preserve, jam or even a jelly that you like!

• fig jam
• cherry reserves
• red currant jelly
• strawberry jam
• apricot jelly
• jalapeno jelly
• pear jam
• peach jam

Almonds: You could sub the toasted almond slices with toasted pistachio (the green and red color combo is very festive!). Pecans also are wonderful!

How To make baked Brie in puff pastry with cranberry sauce

First, make the cranberry filling. As mentioned before, this could even be prepped a few days ahead.

Use parchment paper to line a baking sheet and set it aside.

Heat up the oven.

When oven is heated, place the pastry on a clean and floured work surface and roll out the pastry.

Slice the Brie in half and place the bottom of Brie cheese in the middle of the pastry.

Top with the cranberry sauce. Place the other half of Brie on top of the cranberry sauce.

Fold the puff pastry corners around the cheese filled round, pleating it as you work around the sides. This helps to seal the pastry and also looks very pretty. Each time you are bringing pastry pieces together, brush it before with egg wash as this will help it stick together. It’s sort of like wrapping a package.

Trim any excess dough and reserve to use for decorating. You could also use cookie cutter to make shapes with the remaining dough.

When all the edges are folder over and connected around the cheese, brush the whole pastry with rest of egg wash.

Transfer the pastry wrapped Brie to parchment lined baking sheet and place in the fridge for 15-20 minutes to chill.

While it is chilling, preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

Bake the brie for about 15-25 minutes or until puffed and nicely golden brown.
Every oven is different and it’s best to check it at 15 minutes, as it may be ready. You don’t want it to brown too much.

Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 5-10 minutes. If you rush and cut it the cheese and cranberries will ooze out all steaming and melted (that’s the way I usually do it, so nothing wrong with that). BUT if you prefer it cleaner, let it cool and firm a bit.

Drizzle on a little honey and sprinkle on the almond slivers. Slice and serve with your accompaniments. Sprinkle on a handful of fresh cranberries for a gorgeous pop of color

Should I remove the Brie rind before baking?

No, it the rind (or skin of Brie) does not need to be removed. It is completely edible. Now if you do not like the Brie rind, gently cut it off before assembling it.

How Long Does The Brie Stay Melted After Baking?

Baked Brie will stay gooey and melted for about 15 minutes. When it firms up, you could reheat the cheese in the oven on a low temp if you want to have it warm and melted again.

Can I make puff pastry brie bake keto?

To make this appetizer keto, simply bake the cheese without the pastry (and make the cranberry sauce with NO sugar). Brie cheese is totally keto-friendly.

Can I a gluten-free baked brie in puff pastry?

To make baked brie gluten-free:

• Wrap the Brie cheese with a gluten-free pie crust instead of the puff pastry.
• To roll out the dough, make sure gluten-free flour is used.
• Homemade cranberry sauce is totally gluten-free. If you use other jams, make sure it is a totally gluten-free brand.
• Finally, you could bake the Brie without wrapping it in pastry and serve it with your favorite GF crackers and fruits.

How to serve baked Brie?

The baked Brie can be served sliced and enjoyed with crackers or thin slices of a nice baguette. It can be served like I did with a cheese platter.

Can Baked Brie In Puff Pastry Be Made Ahead of time?

Yes! Make the cranberry sauce up to 5 days in advance.

Assemble the Brie in pastry and it will keep nicely for up to a day in the fridge. When ready to bake it, remove and place on parchment lined baking sheet.

Some more baked Brie with cranberry sauce tips:

• Be sure to use a Brie wheel and not a brie wedge. If you’re baking it for just two, you could use a a smaller wheel of Brie or the wedge.
• If you cannot access cranberries to make the cranberry filling, you could just bake the cheese with your puff pastry and do the almond and honey drizzle.
• In place of cranberry sauce, you could fill with another homemade fruit filling.
• When rolling the pastry out, it may rip a bit. Simply adjust it with your fingertips.
• Puff pastry could be defrosted overnight in the fridge or on your clean counter about 30-60 minutes before rolling it out.
• The cranberry sauce could be made totally sugar free.
• The Brie wrapped puff pastry round is best chilled before baking. You could chill it while heating up the oven.
• Let the baked cheese cool on the counter for a few minutes before slicing. It will help to get actual slices instead of cheesy mush.

FAQ'S

Can you freeze brie en croute?

Yes, once you prep the brie wrapped in the pastry, it can be frozen. Just remember to not brush it with the egg wash. Wrap the puff pastry brie cheese pretty package very tightly in plastic wrap and store it in a zipped lock freezer bag or even an airtight container. It will stay fine for up to a month.

When ready to serve, simply remove from the plastic wrap, place it on the baking sheet, brush on the egg wash. Bake the brie in puff pastry on 350F for about 50-55 minutes. Keep on eye on the crust, as you are baking it longer than if it were not frozen. You may need to tent it if it's browning.

Can you reheat baked brie in puff pastry?

Yes, you can reheat it! I'm not sure you'll have any leftovers...but, in case, here is what you do. On a low temperature of 200F, place the cold baked brie in the puff pastry on a baking sheet and heat for about 20-30 minutes. You could tent it with foil paper to prevent the crust from browning too much.

PIN for later!

Some other holiday recipes:

• Gluten-Free Rice Stuffing
• Nocatole-Calabrian Sweet Fritters
• Italian Rainbow Cookies
• Christmas Stollen
• Easy Mini Plum Brie Tarts
• Brie and Ham Pizza {Pizza con Prosciutto Cotto e Brie}

Did you make this? Please RATE THE RECIPE below:)

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