Cranberry Baked Brie with Honey and Pistachios

All you need is 15 minutes to whip up this gorgeous cranberry baked brie! A touch of cinnamon and orange zest transforms leftover cranberry sauce into something delicious. Then top the baked brie with a drizzle of sweet honey, chopped pistachios and pomegranate seeds for pops of texture and color. For another quick impressive appetizer try my Pan Con Tomate with Jamón.

Cranberry Baked Brie

The holidays are officially here and we are making all the easy appetizers! Now I love making a simple charcuterie board, but there is something about a warm melty brie that is so decadent and irresistible. Have fun with the toppings and if cranberry sauce isn't available try baked brie with fig jam, which is another delicious flavor pairing.

This oven baked brie takes nearly 15 minutes from start to finish and is the perfect excuse to use up leftover cranberry sauce.

And if you want to make this even easier and use canned cranberry sauce, add a splash of fresh orange juice and a sprinkle of warm cinnamon to brighten the sweet and tart cranberry flavors.

For a final layer of flavor and texture, top the baked brie with chopped pistachios, a drizzle of honey and pomegranate seeds.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• This easy baked brie takes 15 minutes from start to finish!
• This is a great use for leftover cranberry sauce or other jams that you have.
• Lots of flavors and textures! Between the melty mild brie, with the sweet and tart cranberry sauce, bright orange juice and nutty pistachios, there is a slightly sweet and decadently savory flavor in every bite.

Ingredients

• Brie Cheese: Look for a wheel of brie, which will be mild and not overpowering. You can eat the rind as wheels of brie have a mild flavor. Another cheese option is camembert, which is another style of French brie that has a more pronounced and pungent flavor. Stay away from triple cream bries as they are too delicate and soft to be baked and are more enjoyed at room temperature.
• Cranberry Sauce: Canned cranberry sauce works well for this recipe and I like to add a splash of fresh orange juice and cinnamon to wake up the flavors even more. You can also use leftover cranberry sauce, but make sure it has some texture to it.
• Orange: Both the orange zest and a splash of orange juice are added to the cranberry sauce.
• Cinnamon: This adds a touch of warmth and the cinnamon pairs with the cranberry and pistachios really nicely.
• Pistachios: Roughly chopped unsalted pistachios layer on top of the orange scented cranberry sauce before baking.
• Honey: Add a drizzle of honey before baking the brie so it slightly caramelizes the nuts and creates a lovely gooey texture and sweet flavor.
• Pomegranate Seeds: Fresh pomegranate seeds are added right at the end, after baking the brie. The pomegranate seeds offer another pop of sweet flavor and color.

How to Make Cranberry Baked Brie

Season the Cranberry Sauce

1. Add orange zest, orange juice and cinnamon to the cranberry sauce and mix to combine.

Layer the Brie

1. Place the wheel of brie in a small baking dish or a small 6 inch cast iron skillet that fits the brie wheel perfectly.
2. Slather a layer of cranberry sauce on top of the brie and sprinkle generously with chopped pistachios.
3. Drizzle the brie with honey and place in a 400 degree Fahrenheit oven and bake for 10-12 minutes, untiul the brie begins to soften and melt.

Garnish the Baked Brie and Serve

1. Once done baking, garnish the brie with pomegranate seeds and additional drizzle of honey.
2. Serve the brie while still hot with crostini, crackers or apple slices.

Tips and Substitutions

• Substitute the cranberry sauce with fig jam or raspberry jam.
• Look for a small wheel of brie that is double cream and about 7-8 ounces. The triple cream brie is too delicate to bake.
• For a more pronounced flavor, look for camembert.
• Instead of pistachios, use chopped walnuts, pecans or almonds.

More Easy Appetizers to Try

• Simple Charcuterie Board
• Vegetarian Mezze Platter
• Baked Figs with Honey and Pistachios
• Loaded Hummus

Great meal recipes incorporating cheese