Baked brie en croute is one of our favorite holiday appetizers, and something we crave year after year. It is so easy to make but looks impressive. There are many versions of baked brie (including this similar one I've posted before), but this variation with cranberry sauce is my favorite around the holidays.
There are many ways to wrap your brie in puff pastry. If I want a nice clean and smooth wrapped brie with some festive toppings, this is the method I've turned to. Placing a sheet on the bottom and then draping another on top also helps prevent excess pastry and folds that might cook less evenly, and allows for easy sealing to help prevent leaking. There is extra pastry to be trimmed, but these can easily be saved for another use, so don't throw them out.
- 2 sheets puff pastry dough, thawed but cold
- 1 (13.2 ounce or similar size) wheel of brie, rind still on
- ⅓ cup cranberry sauce
- ½ cup pecans, chopped
- ⅓ cup packed brown sugar
- Pinch of kosher salt
- 1 egg, beaten
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment.
- Slice brie in half horizontally, so you have two circles. Lay a sheet of puff pastry on a lightly floured surface. Place one half of the brie on top of the pastry, cut side up. Spoon cranberry sauce on top, spreading evenly. Place the second half of the brie on top, cut side down. Sprinkle pecans, brown sugar, and a pinch of salt on top.
- Drape the second sheet of pasty on top, forming to shape of the brie. Press the two pieces of puff pastry together to seal where they meet around the edge of the brie. Using a sharp knife, cut off excess puff pastry, leaving about a ½ to 1 inch sealed border. Set extra puff pastry aside. Tuck sealed edges under the bottom of the brie wheel, then transfer to prepared baking sheet. Brush with beaten egg. If desired, use extra puff pastry to cut out a design to decorated the top of the brie (save excess puff pastry for another use later).
- Bake in preheated oven for about 30 minutes, until puff pastry is golden browned and cooked through. Remove from oven. Let cool about 5-10 minutes then serve with crackers or bread.
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