Description
This Maple Cranberry Baked Brie recipe is a festive and elegant appetizer featuring creamy brie topped with a homemade maple-cranberry jam, wrapped in flaky puff pastry, and baked to golden perfection. The sweet and tangy cranberry jam infused with fresh orange zest and cinnamon adds a perfect contrast to the rich, melty cheese, making it ideal for holiday gatherings or special occasions.
Ingredients
Scale
Maple-Cranberry Jam
- 1 cup frozen or fresh cranberries
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup pure maple syrup, plus more for drizzling
- 1/2 teaspoon finely grated orange zest
- 2 tablespoons fresh orange juice
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
- Kosher salt, a large pinch
- Ground cinnamon, a large pinch
Baked Brie
- All-purpose flour, for dusting
- 1 (8-ounce) sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed
- 1 (8-ounce) wheel brie
- 1 large egg, lightly beaten
- 2 tablespoons turbinado sugar
Instructions
- Make the Maple-Cranberry Jam: In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, combine cranberries, granulated sugar, maple syrup, orange zest, orange juice, cornstarch, and a large pinch of kosher salt. Bring to a boil while stirring frequently, gently smashing cranberries with the back of a spoon. Cook until cranberries burst and jam thickens, about 4 to 6 minutes. Remove from heat, stir in cinnamon, and let cool completely.
- Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C) to prepare for baking the brie later.
- Prepare the Puff Pastry: Lightly dust a surface with flour and roll out the thawed puff pastry sheet into a 10-inch square. Transfer the square onto a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Assemble the Brie: Place the 8-ounce wheel of brie in the center of the puff pastry. Spoon the cooled maple-cranberry jam generously over the top of the brie.
- Wrap the Brie: Fold the edges of the four corners of the puff pastry inward by about 1/2 inch, then gently drape each corner up and over the brie, covering the cheese mostly but leaving small gaps between each folded corner.
- Apply Egg Wash and Sugar: Brush the entire surface of the puff pastry with the lightly beaten egg to achieve a golden glaze. Sprinkle the dough generously with turbinado sugar for added sweetness and a crunchy texture.
- Bake the Brie: Bake in the preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes until the puff pastry turns a light golden brown. If it browns too quickly, loosely tent the brie with foil to prevent burning.
- Serve: Transfer the baked brie carefully to a serving platter. Drizzle additional maple syrup on top just before serving for an extra touch of sweetness.
Notes
- You can prepare the maple-cranberry jam a day ahead and refrigerate it to save time.
- Let the jam cool completely before assembling the brie to prevent the puff pastry from becoming soggy.
- If puff pastry browns too quickly, cover loosely with foil while baking to avoid burning.
- Serve with crackers, sliced baguette, or fresh fruit for a complete appetizer.
- Warm the baked brie slightly before serving if it has cooled down to help the cheese become melty and gooey again.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
