One of the simplest crowd pleasing appetizer in my holiday cooking arsenal is this delectable baked brie in puff pastry. My version smothers creamy cheese with honey, cranberries and chopped nuts and then wrapped in a delicious puff pastry…just to be extra. Serve this salty and sweet melted cheese with thin slices of French bread or crackers to kick off the holiday season or any season of the year.
Difficulty: Easy / Time: 30 minutes / Servings: for 4-6 people
Ingredients:
1 Brie circle or camembert
1/2 cup of unsalted roasted nuts of your choice
1/2 cup of dried berries of your choice. My favorite is a mix of dried cranberries and other berries.
1 sheet of frozen puff pastry slightly chilled but not frozen (You can defrost frozen puff pastry in the fridge.)
3/4 to 1 cup of honey, depending on your preference for sweetness
1 egg for egg wash
Crackers or your choice of bread
Directions:
Preheat oven to 400F and line a baking tray with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
Rough chop 1/2 cups of roasted nuts and 1/2 cups of berries.
Add 3/4 to 1 cup of honey to the nut and berry mixture.
Flatten puff pastry with a rolling pin to make it pliable.
Place the brie in the middle of the puff pastry and top with your honey/nut/berry mixture.
Carefully fold one side of the puff pastry over and repeat for the next section. Cut off the excess dough but do not discard it. You can use the scrap pieces to decorate later.
Once you have folded all the sides up into a package, make little leaves out of the scraps and gently press them on top to hide the seams.
Beat 1 egg and brush the egg wash lightly all over the puff pastry.
Bake at 400F for 15-20 minutes on the center rack or until the pastry turns golden brown.
Use a spatula and carefully move the baked brie onto a nice plate, add crackers or bread and serve.
This recipe is also delicious without puff pastry as well.
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La Vie Partagée 