Easy Cranberry Pecan Baked Brie (holiday appetizer)

It’s not the holidays without this cranberry pecan baked brie to enjoy!

This baked brie is a stunning appetizer for the holiday season.

You only need 5 key ingredients to make this delectable baked brie appetizer that everyone is sure to love.

If you love my cranberry whipped feta appetizer, you’re sure to love this cranberry baked brie.

Sweet pecans pair delightfully with tart cranberries, creamy brie cheese and bright orange zest for the perfect appetizer to serve at at holiday get-together like a Christmas party or Thanksgiving dinner.

Once baked the melted brie becomes perfect for dipping into with crackers or crostini. And, the bright cranberry sauce and rosemary garnish really deliver to make this easy recipe holiday perfection.

This is one of the easiest appetizers you’ll make this season!

why you’ll love this baked brie recipe

• It requires minimal effort to put together this holiday appetizer.
• Cranberry and pecan are a match made in appetizer heaven.
• You only need 5 key ingredients to make this recipe for a holiday party.
• Use your favourite cranberry sauce to make this appetizer come together so simply.

ingredients needed to make this cranberry pecan baked brie

Brie cheese: a wheel of double cream brie cheese is needed as the base for this recipe

Cranberry sauce: use canned or homemade cranberry sauce to top the brie cheese

Pecans: chopped pecans have a slight sweetness which pairs lovely with the tart cranberry sauce

Orange zest: zest from a fresh organge gives a punch of bright flavour and goes divinely with the cranberry and pecans

Honey: liquid honey drizzled over the brie and other toppings brings the whole appetizer together.

Cranberries: a handful of frozen or fresh cranberries added to the brie before baking adds a nice festive touch but hey are optional

Rosemary: fresh rosemary is the best garnish and it’s very festive too; alternatively, you could use fresh thyme leaves as a garnish instead

how to make this easy appetizer

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a baking dish with a piece of parchment paper. Place the wheel of brie into the parchment lined baking dish. Score the top of the brie lightly in a diagonal pattern with a sharp knife.

Step 2: Top the brie cheese with the cranberry sauce, followed by the chopped pecans, zest from half an orange and a drizzle of honey (1-2 tbsp).

Step 3: Bake the brie in the preheated oven for 18-22 minutes or until cheese is starting to bubble and almost ooze out. Top with fresh rosemary and serve with you favorite crackers or toasted slices of baguette (crostini).

expert tips for making this delicious appetizer

• Make this the centrepiece of your holiday cheese board!  Use the parchment paper the brie was baked on to help life the brie to the centre of a board. Then, surround with crostini, crackers, fresh fruit, herbs, nuts and other cheeses as desired.
• Serve the cheese as soon as it’s out of the oven as it will be the most melted; the brie will start to harden after about 15-20 minutes. Don’t fret, the baked brie is still delicious as it cools.
• Use your favourite cranberry sauce or if your so inclined make my cranberry-pear jam as the topper.

common questions

Is there a good substitute for the honey?
YES! You can use maple syrup instead of honey in this baked brie recipe. The maple syrup flavour will go well with the cranberry and pecans too!

Do I need to remove the rind from the brie cheese?
Brie cheese has an edible rind. In this recipe you’ll score the top of the rind to which allows more heat in when baking. And, it makes it much easier to get at the gooey brie once it’s baked.

How do I make crostini to serve with this cranberry pecan baked brie?
Preheat your oven to 400°F and slice your baguette into 1-inch thick slices. Brush the baguette slices with olive oil on one hand and place on a single layer on a baking sheet. Toast for 10 minutes, making sure to flip the slices halfway through.  Alternatively you could use a sourdough baguette to make the crostini.

What can I substitute the pecans with if needed?
Chopped walnuts or almonds would work perfectly if you need to replace the pecans! If you need to avoid nuts entirely, I would replace the pecans with 2 tbsp more cranberry jam and another handful of fresh or frozen cranberries.

storage

Baked brie is most delicious right away on the day it’s made. However, leftover brie can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. Reheat gently in the oven at 325F on a piece of parchment paper or in the microwave. Alternatively cut slices of the cooled baked brie and add to a sandwich.

more quick and delicious appetizers for the holiday table to love from the blog

Easy Goat Cheese Appetizer with Fig Jam & Pecans

Quick Whipped Ricotta Dip with Hot Honey Appetizer

Easy and Quick Holiday Brie Crostini Appetizers