Next Post
Vanilla Burnt Basque Cheesecake.
This post may contain affiliate links, please see our privacy policy for details.
Pastry Wrapped Cranberry Baked Brie, the holiday appetizer. It’s quick, easy, and most importantly…incredibly delicious. Store-bought puff pastry wrapped around creamy brie cheese with homemade cranberry sauce and toasted pecans. Then baked until the pastry is golden and the brie warm and melty. A truly mouth-watering appetizer that’s perfect for holiday entertaining. It’s festive, easy to prepare, and always a crowd favorite.
I can remember so many holiday parties spent at my Nonnie’s house when she served this brie. This was her go-to appetizer. She perfected the Brie appetizer. And let’s be honest, she really perfected the holiday party.
My Nonnie had a way of making every party she held, whether big or small, feel so special. She paid attention to detail and was always the perfect host. She was welcoming, social, and she did her parties up in her own style too.
She could give us all a lot of tips when it comes to throwing a holiday party that people really want to attend. I know that at the top of her list would be two things, keep the wine flowing, and always, always have good appetizers.
She had an assortment of easy appetizers she’d turn to for her parties. But cranberry baked brie was a holiday staple. On Christmas day she’d serve this before dinner and it was always the first dish to go.
I don’t have her exact recipe, so this recipe is more from memory, but it’s totally delicious. She’d very much approve.
This brie is easy – start with the cranberries
If you happen to have cranberry sauce in the fridge, you can skip this very first step. Otherwise, start with the cranberries!
I made a quick sauce with fresh cranberries, orange juice, and maple syrup. Nonnie definitely used brown sugar, but maple feels little less sweet to me. I added a splash of vanilla and a tiny pinch of cinnamon for a sweet/savory combination.
Next, the pastry
Nonnie knew that appetizers needed to be simple, so store-bought puff pastry was a must.
Unwrap the brie, then sit it on top of the pastry. Top the brie with the cranberry sauce, and then a handful of toasted pecans. Then wrap the brie up.
Last step, brush the pastry with a beaten egg and add a sprinkle of course sugar. This step isn’t needed, but it makes the pastry really sparkle. It’s fun for the holidays and adds a nice deliciousness too.
Throw the brie in the oven, and done.
Quick, easy, and perfect!
When the brie comes out of the oven, serve it immediately with your favorite crackers or toasted bread. It’s hard to describe just how good this really is. But if you love cranberries, and you love brie, you must make this. It’s classic, but turned up a notch, and it really is roll-your-eyes-back GOOD.
Promise, this will be the favorite appetizer of the night!
Looking for other easy brie recipes?? Here are my favorites:
5 Ingredient Cranberry Brie Cinnamon Puff Pastry Swirls
Cranberry Brie Pull Apart Bread
Mini Pastry Wrapped Cranberry Baked Brie Bites
Lastly, if you make this Pastry Wrapped Cranberry Baked Brie, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Pastry Wrapped Cranberry Baked Brie
Servings: 8
Calories Per Serving: 495 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
Cranberry Sauce
- 2 cups fresh cranberries
- 1/2 cup orange juice
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 pinch sea salt
Brie
- 1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed
- 1 8-12 ounce wheel of brie cheese
- 2/3 cup toasted pecans, roughly chopped
- 1 egg, beaten
- coarse sugar, for sprinkling
Instructions
- 1. To make the cranberry sauce: in a medium pot, bring the cranberries, orange juice, maple syrup, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt to a boil over medium heat. Boil 10-15 minutes or until the cranberries burst and the sauce becomes jammy.2. Preheat the oven to 425° F.3. Lay the puff pastry flat on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Place the brie in the center of the pastry and remove a little of the rind from the top of the brie. I leave the rind on the bottom and sides intact. Spread the cranberry sauce over top and then sprinkle over the pecans. Fold the corners of the pastry over the brie. Brush the pastry with beaten egg and sprinkle lightly with sugar. 4. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the pastry is deep golden brown. 5. EAT and enjoy with your favorite bread or crackers…or just with a spoon.
Hi Tieghan!
Can you please tell me the brand of the toast slices shown in the pic? Looks like they have raisins and oats…looks healthy.
Thanks!
Can you make the jam and store it in fridge for other recipes?
Hey Kelly,
Totally, it’s good for up to 2 weeks in the fridge! I hope you love this recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xT
Hey Ivette,
Those are called Raincoast crisps, I usually get them from Whole Foods. Please let me know if you have any other questions! xx
This might be a dumb question, but how do you serve it? Do people just cut some off with a knife? Or do you just dip in the cheese and not eat the puff pastry?
Hey Danielle,
Yes, I like to serve with a knife and crackers:) I hope you love the recipe! xT
Hi Tieghan!
Do you think the bacon wrapped and cheddar cheese bread sticks would be good dippers for this recipe? It has been requested that I must have the bread sticks but would like to have something to dip them into!
Let me know what you think!
Hey Erin,
I don’t think this would be your best option, this is best served with crackers:) I like to use something like ranch for the bacon and cheese sticks. Please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Hi there! Looking forward to trying this recipe! I like things with a little kick – so you think a pepper jelly would work instead of a cranberry sauce?
Hey Marissa,
Totally, that would be great for you to use! Please let me know if you give this recipe a try, I hope you love it! xT
What can use for nuts besides pecans? I have a family member who is allergic to pecans and walnuts.
Hey Caroline,
Sliced almonds would also be great! I hope you love this recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xx
Is there something I can substitute for the orange juice?
Hey Alexandra,
You could use another fruit juice of your choice. I hope you love this recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xx
Can I make this and freeze it and heat it up later?
Hey Susan,
Sure, that would work well for you! Let me know if you give this recipe a try, I hope you love it! xT
Delicious recipe!
I messed up one part… This might be obvious to some, but I put it near the bottom third of the oven and burnt the bottom of the pastry after about 13 minutes of baking; probably should have had it in the middle to upper-third (where I moved it to after noticing it was burning). It could have also been the non-stick baking sheet I used, which I haven’t used for baking much.
Still tasted amazing, besides the burnt pastry bottom! I’ll try making it again soon.
Hey Jason,
Happy Sunday!! I love to hear that this recipe was a hit, thanks so much for trying it out!! So sorry about the burning. xTieghan
I made this at Christmas and my family loved it. I want to make again this weekend. Can’t find fresh cranberries this time of year. What should I do? I can only get the canned whole berry cranberry sauce. Can I heat that and add the orange juice etc ?
Thanks
Hey Lynn,
I love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for giving it a try! Are you able to find frozen cranberries? Those would work well for you. xxTieghan
No frozen cranberries. I think I will try frozen raspberries. What do you think ?
Sure, that would be yummy!
Can I use frozen cranberries?
Hi Violetta,
Yes, that will work well for you! Please let me know if you give the recipe a try, I hope you love it! xTieghan
Love this and so simple, made it on a weeknight for dinner! Made it for a cocktail party also and had tons of compliments. And it’s beautiful when it’s baked.
Hi Laurel,
Awesome!! Thanks a bunch for trying this recipe out, I love to hear that it was a winner! xTieghan
I made this twice over the Christmas holidays. Compliments every single time. Delicious Ana so easy to make.
Hey Dahlia,
Awesome! Thanks so much for giving this recipe a try, I love to hear that it was enjoyed! xxTieghan
I’m out of cranberries and want to do this for New Years! Would berries be okay with this sauce recipe?
Hey Megan,
Sure, that will work well for you. I hope you love this recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
This was delicious and festive!
Hi Toni,
Fantastic! Love hearing that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks for giving it a try. xTieghan
Have made this several times, everyone always loves it. I’m gluten free so I just make a simple gluten free pie crust and use in place of the puff pastry.
Hi Anna,
I love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for giving it a try! Happy Holidays! xT