Description
This Maple-Cranberry Baked Brie is a festive and elegant appetizer perfect for holiday gatherings. It features a wheel of creamy brie wrapped in flaky puff pastry and topped with a homemade maple and cranberry jam. The combination of tart cranberries, sweet maple syrup, and zesty orange creates a flavorful, crowd-pleasing dish that pairs beautifully with crackers or crusty bread.
Ingredients
Scale
Maple-Cranberry Jam
- 1 cup frozen or fresh cranberries
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup pure maple syrup, plus more for drizzling
- 1/2 tsp finely grated orange zest
- 2 tbsp fresh orange juice
- 2 tsp cornstarch
- Kosher salt, a large pinch
- A large pinch of ground cinnamon
Pastry & Brie
- All-purpose flour, for dusting
- 1 (8-oz) sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed
- 1 (8-oz) wheel brie
- 1 large egg, lightly beaten
- 2 tbsp turbinado sugar
Instructions
- Make the Maple-Cranberry Jam: In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, combine cranberries, granulated sugar, maple syrup, orange zest, orange juice, cornstarch, and a large pinch of kosher salt. Bring the mixture to a boil. Cook, stirring frequently and mashing the cranberries with the back of a spoon, until the cranberries burst and the jam thickens, about 4 to 6 minutes. Remove from the heat, stir in ground cinnamon, and set aside to cool.
- Prepare the Puff Pastry: Lightly dust a clean surface with all-purpose flour. Roll out the thawed puff pastry sheet to a 10-inch square. Transfer the rolled pastry onto a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Assemble the Brie: Place the wheel of brie in the center of the pastry square. Spoon the cooled maple-cranberry jam on top of the brie evenly. Fold the four corners of the pastry up and over the brie, folding edges about 1/2 inch inward to mostly cover the cheese, leaving small gaps between each folded corner.
- Brush and Sugar the Pastry: Using a pastry brush, coat the entire surface of the folded pastry with the lightly beaten egg. Generously sprinkle turbinado sugar over the top for added sweetness and texture.
- Bake the Brie: Place the baking sheet in a preheated oven at 425°F (220°C). Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until the pastry is lightly golden brown. If the pastry browns too quickly, tent the brie with foil to prevent burning.
- Serve: Remove from the oven and transfer the baked brie to a serving platter. Drizzle with additional maple syrup. Serve warm with crackers or bread for spreading.
Notes
- This recipe uses a homemade maple and cranberry jam instead of store-bought preserves for fresher flavor.
- Use frozen cranberries if fresh are not available; there’s no need to thaw before cooking.
- Keep an eye on the pastry while baking and tent with foil if it browns too quickly.
- For easier slicing, let the baked brie cool for 5 minutes before serving.
- Pair this appetizer with dry white wine or sparkling wine for a festive touch.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6th of recipe (approx. 120g)
- Calories: 459
- Sugar: 25g
- Sodium: 346mg
- Fat: 26g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 12g
- Cholesterol: 69mg
