Baked Brie en Croute with Cranberry Sauce and Toasted Almonds, a showstopping appetizer that features a creamy, rich brie, vibrant sweet and tart homemade cranberry sauce and toasted almonds wrapped in a flaky puff pastry then baked to a golden perfection. It's a wonderful holiday starter that will no doubt be a crowd-pleaser at any gatherings or dinner parties.
The holiday season is the time for indulging in the most exquisite dishes, enjoying family time and partying, and just making the most of these magical moments that call for joy and togetherness.
I can't possibly think of Christmas time without copious amounts of food, and indeed, without cooking and baking. It's one of the things I enjoy the most, spoiling my family with delicious dishes that are a labour of love and care.
And this brie en croute is an excellent example of such luxurious food that you can put on the table during the holidays. In classical French cookery, en croute refers to any dish that is baked inside a pastry crust.
The pastry serves as insulation, keeping the moisture and flavour inside, but also as an elegant outer shell that is golden and wonderfully crisp. The most popular dishes are beef en croute (or Beef Wellington) and salmon en croute, and they both are perfect for your party menu.
I used a large brie wheel which weighted 500 g, or 17.6 ounces, although you can use different sizes too, from mini brie wheels to much larger ones that will feed quite a large crowd.
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Note!
Go to the recipe card at the bottom of the post for exact quantities and detailed instructions!
Ingredients overview
- brie - shops offer a rather large range of cheese at this time of the year, the larger brie wheels are not as easy to find outside the Christmas season, but this recipe would work with any size and weight
- puff pastry - I used a ready-rolled puff pastry sheet, but you can also use a block of pastry that can be rolled to the desired thickness
- cranberry sauce - I used my homemade cranberry sauce with orange juice, which has the best texture and flavour for this recipe, store-bought sauce can also work
- toasted almond flakes - for extra crunch and flavour
- beaten egg - optional, although it does add a nice shine for a perfectly golden touch
Variations
I absolutely love cranberry sauce, it works so well with brie, I used this combo as often as I can, my brie and cranberry bites in puff pastry are always a crowd-pleaser.
Second favourite is fig jam, which can be homemade or store-bought too. I use this combo in my brie and fig jam crostini and those bites were incredible!
You can serve the brie in puff pastry as a centerpiece that is part of a cheese and meat platter, drizzle some honey or balsamic reduction over for extra flavour, or add herbs like rosemary or thyme to take the dish to the next level.
Step-by-step photos and instructions
- preheat the oven to 190 degrees Celsius (375 Fahrenheit)
- use a sharp knife to score the brie, then spread an even layer of cranberry sauce over
- top with toasted almond flakes and wrap it in puff pastry
- brush the wrapped brie with beaten egg and bake for 25-30 minutes until golden
- remove it from the oven, and leave it to rest for 5 minutes before slicing and serving
Why the recipe works
- it's quick and easy - the prep takes 5 minutes maximum, it can also be prepped in advanced and baked just before the guests arrive
- it's elegant - great party appetizer for the festive season and other celebrations, visually appealing, it shows you puff effort into prepping for the party, but in fact very little effort is needed
- standout party food - it's incredibly delicious, it delivers the perfect combo of taste and texture, it feel both indulgent and refined
Expert tips
Scoring the cheese can help with the flavour absorption, the cranberry sauce will seep nicely into the brie, rather than just sit on the surface, making it extra delicious.
It also helps with an even baking, the heat will penetrate the rind more efficiently, so the centre will melt nicely. It also helps steam escape, so that the cheese doesn't just burst inside the pastry.
Baking times depends entirely on the size of the brie used, so do keep an eye on it. I usually don't bother brushing pastry with egg wash, it's always such a waste, as only a small amount of egg is needed.
But since it's the holiday season when you are allowed to go big, I would definitely go for it, the final result is indeed worth it, the pastry will be golden and shiny, and absolutely scrumptious!
Other cheesy appetizers you might like
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Baked Brie en Croute with Cranberry Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 brie wheel (500 g, 17.6 oz)
- ½ cup cranberry sauce (150 g)
- 3 tablespoon toasted almond flakes
- 1 ready-rolled puff pastry
- 1 egg to brush the pastry
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Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 190 degrees Celsius (375 Fahrenheit).
- Use a sharp knife to score the brie, and spread an even layer of cranberry sauce over it.
- Top with toasted almond flakes, then carefully wrap the wheel in puff pastry, making sure it's sealed well to prevent the juices from escaping.
- Brush the pastry with beaten egg, and bake for 25-30 minutes until the pastry is golden.
- Remove it from the oven and allow it to rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Video
Notes
- allow the wrapped brie to rest before serving, the cheese will set slightly, which will make it a lot easier to slice and serve
- use cold puff pastry, warm pastry diminishes flakiness and makes it harder to handle
- score the cheese before topping it with cranberry sauce, it helps with flavour, heat distribution and prevents the cheese from bursting inside the pastry
- baking times might vary depending on the size of the brie wheel
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