Holiday Cranberry Baked Brie
This yummy appetizer is great for the holidays! Melted brie cheese topped with tart cranberry sauce and a sprinkle of herbs. Serve with crackers.
For me, this baked brie with spiced cranberry compote is the ultimate appetizer for the holidays. The melty brie is rich and indulgent, and the tart cranberry compote provides a sweet and tart topping, the perfect balance for the creamy cheese!
Party season is just around the corner! I know we have holiday parties, Christmas parties and New Years Eve parties to plan for. Regardless what is on your calendar, I am pretty sure this beautiful cranberry brie recipe has a place on the table.
Within the cranberry compote topping, I’ve added a hearty drizzle of honey, orange juice, orange zest and pie spice to bring in warm holiday flavors. I typically serve on a platter or cheese board alongside fresh fruit, jams, and more cheese.
Recipe Substitutions and Additions
Pecans: Substitute walnuts or pistachios.
Cranberries: I did not test this recipe with frozen cranberries, but if you plan to, I do not recommend thawing them. Add them directly to the pan. Cook time may need to be increase by a few minutes since frozen cranberries have extra water. This will help the homemade cranberry sauce reduce and thicken.
Rosemary: The fresh rosemary is just used for garnish and to help this recipe be festive. Feel free to substitute it with fresh thyme or sage, or leave it out if you don’t have it.
Additions: Add a handful of diced apples to the cranberry compote while it cooks. It’s a great addition that adds a little crunch!
Feel free to use leftover homemade cranberry sauce, store-bought cranberry sauce or cranberry orange jam instead of making the compote.
Have more cranberries or cranberry sauce to use up? Try my Cranberry Banana Bread, Turkey Cranberry Sliders, Cranberry Meatballs.
Serving Suggestions
The cheese will stay melty and gooey for 10-15 minutes after baking. Pierce one edge of your brie to get the gooey cheese flowing out before serving.
I like to serve this cranberry baked brie for a Thanksgiving appetizer! I like to serve with crackers, especially the cranberry and sea salt crackers that Aldi carries during the holidays.
A sprig of fresh herbs like rosemary or thyme is an absolutely beautiful garnish that will bring the colors of Christmas to this brie appetizer.
If you need to reheat your brie to get it melty again, you can pop it into the microwave. I recommend cooking in 15-second intervals until it’s as gooey as you like it. Be sure not to over-microwave, however, to avoid frying it – there’s not really any way to fix it after that happens.
Holiday Cranberry Baked Brie
Ingredients
- 8 ounces brie cheese, wheel
- 2 cups cranberries, fresh
- ¼ cup honey
- 2 tablespoons orange juice
- 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- ½ teaspoon orange zest
For garnish (optional):
- toasted pecans, fresh rosemary, flaky salt
Instructions
Prepare the brie:
- Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Line a small cookie sheet, baking dish, or cast iron skillet with parchment paper or spray with cooking spray.
- Place your brie wheel in the center of your baking dish and bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the center is melted and soft.
Make the cranberry compote:
- Place a small pot over medium heat and add the cranberries, honey, orange juice, pie spice, and orange zest.
- Bring to a boil, then cover and reduce to a simmer.
- Cook for 4-5 minutes, until the cranberries are soft and the juices are starting to emerge.
- Use a fork to mash the berries as much or as little as you like, then remove from heat.
Top the brie:
- Spoon the cranberry compote over the warm baked brie.
- Garnish with toasted pecans, fresh rosemary, and flaky sea salt, if desired, and serve with crackers.
