Nothing warms a heart more than some baked brie-wrapped dough topped with cranberry jam. A delicious and fancy appetizer to always delight your guests.
I will not repeat myself, saying again that I am a cheese fan, as many of you may have observed that I like cheese in many forms and recipes. Warm, melty brie is a sweet/sour appetizer super easy to make and goes in minutes.Â
For this time, I have cooked brie in dough topped with fabulously delicious cranberry sauce.Â
Why cheese with cranberry sauce? Well, simple brie has an earthy taste, while cranberry sauce is a little sour, creating a perfect duo with bursting aromas. Brie will pair nicely with many other sauces or ingredients, but I wanted them to be tasty and nice-looking. These crowd-pleasing appetizers are always win-win on the table. They are easy to make, have a restaurant-like taste, and have a unique fusion of elevated aromas and flavors.Â
This baked brie-in pastry is one of my favorite appetizers as they are unbelievably simple and delicious, perfect for the upcoming Thanksgiving day or Christmas holiday. A good red wine or warm gluhwein will make the evening cozier and holiday-ish next to baked Bries. Such a simple combination, but a winner on the table.
Why choose Brie cheese?
Baked brie at a high temperature will become soft but not too melty; this is why brie is a good choice when speaking about baking. As you have seen, I have used small brie bites instead of one big piece cut in small portions to bake up beautifully. I found this more exciting and simple; however, you can use other cheeses like goat, feta, and ricotta to obtain a gooey, slightly spicy/sour taste in just minutes. Â
Brie wrapped in pastry and baked until it melts inside, topped with a sweet/sour sauce, is one of the easiest yet delicious appetizers. Honey or maple syrup can add more sweetness to these amazing brie appetizers.Â
I am writing these simple side dishes, and my mouth is watering, remembering their delicious taste and fabulous aroma in my house.Â
What is Brie Cheese?
Brie is a French cow milk cheese very soft and a little buttery, just perfect for baking. Usually, it has a mild taste, but some brie sorts are more pungent and have a more intense aroma. I typically try to buy mild, soft Brie cheese so that even my daughter can enjoy these appetizers.  Â
What pastry is better for baked Brie?
Traditionally speaking, puff pastry is one of the most common and frequently used pastries in the kitchen. Brie baked in puff pastry will roll easier and can be found in a freezer section in a store. Another option is the crescent dough, which has a little sweeter taste and can be found easily in a refrigeration section. This dough is considered easier to use as it isn’t frozen.
Baked brie is quite simple to use and is one of the best finger-licking appetizers in the world. The most satisfying and savoring moment is when you cut through the rind, and the inside melting cheese comes out like lava; this is just heaven. When you have succeeded, your appetizers will look and taste out of this world. A simple cheese-aholic dish to savor some moments of peace and quiet.Â
The ingredients:
One roll of crescent dough ( or 1 sheet of puff pastry)
Eight small Brie cheese bites ( or 4 oz brie small wheel)
1 cup cranberry sauceÂ
Optional:
- Pistachio nuts
- honey
How to make baked Brie appetizers?
- Preheat the oven to 375 F (180C). Meanwhile, unroll the dough and gently press it to create one large sheet of crescent dough. Cut the dough into 10-12 equally-sized squares.Â
- Take the muffin tray and place it one by one in each hole, gently pressing the center toward the bottom of the muffin cup. Repeat until all dough squares have been placed in cups.
Place each small brie cheese in the center of each dough cup, then top 1 tsp of cranberry sauce. Repeat until all dough cups are filled with berries and cranberry sauce. Top pistachio nuts or any other on the top. Keep in mind this is optional.
 Bake the cranberry brie appetizers for 40 minutes without opening the oven door. When the dough becomes golden brown, take it out of the oven and let it cool down for 5-7 minutes to avoid a burnt mouth.
Drizzle some honey on the top, and enjoy!
Baked Cranberry Brie Appetizers
Equipment
- muffin tray
Ingredients Â
- 1 crescent roll dough
- 8 small Brie cheese
- 1/2 cup pistachio nuts
- 8 tsp cranberry sauce
- honey
InstructionsÂ
- Preheat the oven to 375 F (180C). Meanwhile, unroll the dough and gently press it to create one large sheet of crescent dough. Cut the dough into 10-12 equally-sized squares.
- Take the muffin tray and place it one by one in each hole, gently pressing the center toward the bottom of the muffin cup. Repeat until all dough rectangles have been placed in cups.
- Place each small brie cheese in the center of each dough cup, then top 1 tsp of cranberry sauce. Repeat until all dough cups are filled with berries and cranberry sauce. Top pistachio nuts or any other on the top. Keep in mind this is optional.
- Bake the cranberry brie appetizers for 40 minutes without opening the oven door. When the dough becomes golden brown, take it out of the oven and let it cool down for 5-7 minutes to avoid a burnt mouth.
- Drizzle some honey on the top, and enjoy!
