This sweet and savory baked brie recipe with cranberry jam is an upscale appetizer that is very quick to make, and the best part is, all the ingredients can be kept on hand for an impromptu get-together with friends. It’s a festive appetizer perfect for the holiday season.
If you are looking for other easy recipes for quick appetizers, then try my Green Marinated Sicilian Olives or the famous Masters Pimento Cheese spread. You will also want to get my Party in the Freezer ecooobook. Prepare a few recipes before the holidays get busy and place them in the freezer. Just bake when company arrives.
Why this recipe works
- It’s an elegant appetizer with only a few ingredients you can make during the holiday season.
- Baked brie is the easiest warm appetizer that only takes 15 minutes to serve.
- It’s gluten-free and can be paired with fresh apple slices or pear slices.
- The baked brie creates a creamy, rich, and gooey appetizer that pairs perfectly with wine or a glass of bourbon.
- This easy appetizer can also be served as a dessert with ginger snap cookies for dipping at a holiday party. It’s the perfect way to serve a special dessert without a lot of fuss.
🛒 Ingredient notes
- Round 8 oz wheel of brie: If you have a large party you plan for, get a large wheel at your local cheese shop or big box store. Just be sure to double the topping recipe.
- Topping: Cinnamon, nutmeg, brown sugar, and chopped pecans and cashews. Be sure to combine these ingredients on top of the brie before baking. This gives the sugar a chance to warm and caramelize just a bit before placing the jam on top.
- Cranberry Jam: It was a little difficult finding cranberry jam at a local grocery store. If I had used cranberry sauce, it would have melted too quickly and gotten soupy. I was pleased with Cherchies Cranberry Preserves with Champagne. It was thick enough to hold on to some heat, and the taste was delicious. I think this will become a holiday favorite baking ingredient from here on out.
Cherchies Cranberry Preserves with Champagne
See the recipe card for a complete list and quantities.
🔪 Step by step instructions
- First thing, preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Line a pie pan or other small baking dish with a square of parchment paper. This makes it easier to transfer to a serving plate.
Take the paper wrapper off your round of brie. Leave the rind on. This helps hold the cheese together as it melts. Don’t worry, the rind is edible.
Place brie on the parchment-lined pan.
2. Combine nuts, sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a small bowl. Stir until combined well. This will be your crunchy nuts for the topping.
3. Top with nut mixture, trying to keep most of it on the top rind of the brie wheel.
4. Bake brie for 12 to 14 minutes. The brie should become soft and spongy when you push on the wheel.
5. Next, top the nut mixture with the cranberry jam. Baked for 2 to 3 more minutes. When the jam starts to drip a bit down the sides, remove it from the oven.
6. Carefully transfer brie to a serving platter.
Variations
- You could use the topping of your choice when it comes to jams. Try blueberry, strawberry, or fig.
- The nuts could also be different choices. Chopped almonds or pistachios would also be a good choice. It’s a personal preference a lot of nuts or none at all too.
- Change up the dipping with sliced pears or a variety of hard crackers.
- Peel back the top of the rind before baking. This will give you a creamy cup of hot cheese that is perfect for dipping baguette slices.
- Sprinkle some blue cheese on top of the jam just before baking.
- You could decorate the serving dish with fresh cranberries, but it would be best to cook them first if you add them on top of the cranberry mixture.
💭 Tips for making the recipe
Be sure and preheat your oven first. This will endure a proper heating time and help you not overheat your brie.
Is brie served warm or cold?
A brie cheese wheel should be served at room temperature. Remove brie from the refrigerator and allow to sit on the counter one hour before serving. It can also be heated in a 375-degree oven for 15 minutes before serving. Melty brie cheese is perfect for dipping.
Do you take the rind off of brie when baking?
Keep the rind on, as it will help the cheese hold its shape, so it doesn’t all melt out. The rind is also edible.
Best Savory Baked Brie Recipe With Cranberry Jam
Note: Be sure to read through the recipe’s post for tips and details about this recipe.
Ingredients
- 1 8 oz brie, round wheel with rind on
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup pecans, coarsely chopped
- 1/4 cup cashews, coarsely chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/3 cup Cranberry Jam
Instructions
- First thing, preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Line a pie pan or other small baking dish with a square of parchment paper. This makes it easier to transfer to a serving plate.
- Take the paper wrapper off your round of brie. Leave the rind on. This helps hold the cheese together as it melts. Don’t worry, the rind is edible.
- Place brie on the parchment-lined pan.
- Combine nuts, sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a small bowl. Stir until combined well. This will be your crunchy nuts for the topping.
- Top with nut mixture, trying to keep most of it on the top rind of the brie wheel.
- Bake brie for 12 to 14 minutes. The brie should become soft and spongy when you push on the wheel.
- Next, top the nut mixture with the cranberry jam. Baked for 2 to 3 more minutes. When the jam starts to drip a bit down the sides, remove it from the oven.
- Carefully transfer brie to a serving platter.
Notes
- You could use the topping of your choice when it comes to jams. Try blueberry, strawberry, or fig.
- The nuts could also be different choices. Chopped almonds or pistachios would also be a good choice. It’s a personal preference a lot of nuts or none at all too.
- Change up the dipping with sliced pears or a variety of hard crackers.
- Peel back the top of the rind before baking. This will give you a creamy cup of hot cheese that is perfect for dipping baguette slices.
- Sprinkle some blue cheese on top of the jam just before baking.
- You could decorate the serving dish with fresh cranberries, but it would be best to cook them first if you add them on top of the cranberry mixture