Baked brie is a cocktail party dish that looks incredibly fancy and elegant, but surprisingly, requires such little effort! It is quite simple to transform this creamy cheese into a warm and sophisticated appetizer that is perfect for entertaining. The best thing about a baked brie, or brie en croute, is that there is a basic formula that will always yield delicious results: Just add something fruity, something crunchy and something savory! More often than not, you can improvise your own variation using whatever you have on hand, whether it be changing the fruit preserve, the type of nuts or using different herbs and fresh fruit to garnish. Whenever I am headed to a get-together, I always assemble a baked brie to-go, as it is the perfect dish to share with friends over cocktails or wine, for our readers 21+. For a brie en croute, puff pastry is the traditional and ideal outer layer, however Pillsbury crescent rolls or pizza dough can work just as well. This particular recipe is for a cran-orange brie dish that I love to pair with black pepper crackers or fresh apple slices. It is sweet, slightly bitter, followed with a crunch from the almonds and a hint of spice. If you decide to make this for your next holiday party or just use it as inspiration, it will please all guests and hostesses alike!
Cranberry Orange + Almond Baked Brie:
Ingredient:
-1 round brie, or ½ a larger sized brie cut in half
-1 sheet of puff pastry or Pillsbury crescent dough
-1/3 cup of orange marmalade
– 2 tablespoons of fig spread (or just more orange marmalade, I just try to add figs to everything I can)
-1/4 cup sliced almonds
-1/3 cup dried cranberries
-Drizzle of honey (I use a spicy honey because I think the addition of some subtle heat is really nice)
Directions:
1. Roll out whatever pastry dough you choose to use and place brie in center.
2. Begin spreading jam + fig spread over top rind, following with dried cranberries and sliced almonds, finishing with a generous honey drizzle.
3. Begin to pull up the sides of the pastry sheet enclosing the cheese completely, pinching together the ends and seams.
4. Bake at 350 degrees until golden brown, anywhere between 15-25 minutes depending on what you choose to use.
5. Serve warm with crackers, fresh fruit, extra sliced bread or just on its own.
bwu1@ramapo.edu