Baked Brie with Cranberries and Pecans

If you've never made baked brie before today, you are in for a real treat. Our addition of cranberries and pecans makes this a wonderful, entertaining appetizer that's perfect for any time of year. The tart fruit and the crunch of the nuts contrast perfectly with the rich, earthy flavor of a buttery, warm brie.

How to Make Baked Brie

A brief stint in the oven will result in a perfectly gooey and spreadable brie. The nuts will roast as the brie bakes, eliminating extra steps for this recipe. If you prefer speed, you can microwave this recipe, but the nuts will not fare as well. Be sure to check out the printable recipe card for exact details.

Ingredients for Baked Brie Recipe

• Brie Cheese. You will need a 7-ounce wheel of your favorite. I prefer double cream or triple cream brie, but you can use what you like with this recipe and get good results.
• Raspberry Preserves. Adds just the right hint of sweetness to our baked brie and a sauce for the dried cranberries.
• Chopped Raw Pecans and Raw Pistachios. The nuts add a wonderful textural element to the baked brie recipe. Using a blend of nuts deepens the flavor. Pistachios add a decadent, almost dessert-like flare to this appetizer.
• Dried Cranberries. They are not just for your favorite salad; dried cranberries are tart and chewy and excellent on brie. They cut through the richness of brie cheese for the perfect bite.

Step-By-Step Instructions for Baked Brie Cheese

1. Preheat your oven first and line a small pan with parchment paper. This keeps your pan fairly clean and minimizes the mess of melty cheese. When you are finished, simply throw the parchment paper away and put the pan back in your cabinet!
2. Remove the brie from its packaging, but leave the rind on since it is perfectly edible. Place it on the prepared baking sheet.
3. Spread your raspberry preserves on the brie, and then add the cranberries, pecans, and pistachios.
4. Bake the brie for fifteen to twenty minutes until it feels soft and smushy to the touch, but don't press too hard, or you will end up with a gooey hole before you are ready.

How to Serve this Baked Brie Recipe

Brie should be served warm straight from the oven. You can add baked brie to your cheese board for an elegant touch. Serve it with crackers, crusty bread, grapes, and/or apples. If you are serving brie for a party, surround it with slices of bakery-quality French bread or elegant dinner crackers on a platter.

Tips for the Best Baked Brie

• 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.
• Use a round, shallow glass or porcelain baking dish such as a pie plate. An eight or nine-inch pie plate will be perfect for a seven-inch brie wheel. The glass will retain heat and keep the brie melty longer.
• No need to splurge. A simple, inexpensive brie will work perfectly fine for this recipe and will shine with the addition of raspberry preserves, pecans, and cranberries. No one will ever know.
• Our easy baked brie recipe can be changed up with endless variations, so try something new! It's wonderful when served as a special appetizer on Thanksgiving or Christmas with freshly baked bread.

Variations for Baked Brie Cheese

• If you aren't a fan of raspberry preserves, you could use strawberry, cherry blackberry, or blueberry. You could also try a lovely fig jam or a cranberry sauce.
• Honey works well on baked brie. Brush it on the top for a touch of sweetness.
• Wrap the brie in a store-bought puff pastry. Fold the pastry around the brie and pinch the seams of the dough on the underneath side. Bake until the pastry turns golden brown. You can add shine with an egg wash before baking it like a pie crust. Baked brie in pastry is very popular. Phyllo dough is a good substitute for store-bought puff pastry. If you have excess dough, trim it off with a sharp knife.
• You may drizzle some balsamic glaze before serving to add that contrast of sweet, savory, and tangy.
• Instead of dried cranberries, you can try other dried fruits such as raisins, apricots, strawberries, etc.
• Baked Brie with Jam is so tasty! Try different jellies or jams instead of preserves. You could use Raspberry jam, pepper jelly, or any flavor you enjoy. Fig jam is great, too!
• Nuts such as walnuts or slivered almonds will also work.
• If you want to take a more savory approach, caramelized onions and red peppers work very well.

How to Store and Reheat Baked Brie

Ideally, you should take the brie out of the oven after your guests arrive and serve it hot. So, making it ahead of time and storing it is not an option. However, if you have leftovers after the event, you can keep baked brie in the refrigerator for three to five days and reheat it quickly in the microwave for snacking.

For a special treat, store individual portions of baked brie in smaller airtight containers. You can take these to work for an extra tasty afternoon pick-me-up. All you need is a microwave and some crackers.

FAQ

How Long Does Brie Stay Melted and Gooey?

Once you pull it from the oven, you will only get that famous melted cheese effect for about fifteen minutes. However, the brie will stay spreadable at room temperature for a while.

How Much Brie Do I Need for My Party?

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. 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.

How do I Reheat Brie?

A few seconds in the microwave will be perfect for your leftover brie.

More Cheesy Appetizers to Consider

• Mac And Cheese Bites
• Fig And Cheese Empanadas
• Crunchy Mini White Pizzas
• Seven stunning Ricotta Cheese Crostini
• Mini Sweet Peppers With Grilled Halloumi Cheese

If you enjoyed this recipe, it would help us tremendously if you left us a star rating in the comments below or on the recipe card. Do you have any questions about the recipe? Do you need a swap for any of the ingredients? We are here to help, just leave us a question in the comments below.