Baked Brie with Maple Roasted Cranberries

baked Brie with cranberries is such an easy appetizer it feels a little bit like cheating!

All it took was one bite of that melted cheese to remind me that baked brie is a classic for a reason. I took my version in a different direction from what you usually see these days. I think Brie is rich enough, and doesn’t need an overly sweet, caramelized topping. Instead, I went with tart, maple roasted cranberries, they work really well with the buttery cheese.

If you need a festive appetizer for any holiday party or gathering, this is it! It’s a definite crown pleaser, and that bright pop of the red cranberries is just so festive and pretty.

how to make maple roasted cranberries

The topping for this baked brie is so simple — and if you’re thinking it, yes, these maple roasted cranberries could also be used in so many other ways! Top pancakes or french toast, heck, even vanilla ice cream! They remain pretty tart (though you could always increase the amount of maple syrup), which makes them a great foil against anything rich or sweet.

• rinse the cranberries and spread them in a single layer in a baking dish
• toss them with a little maple syrup
• roast for about 15 minutes, until they pop and get juicy.

the best kind of dish to use for baked brie with cranberries

• You’re going to want to bake your brie in an oven proof dish, I like ceramic or cast iron. Ceramic pie plates work well for standard sized brie.
• It needs to be large enough to accommodate your cheese and toppings, but with room all the way around so that people can get at it easily.
• As a general rule, allow 2 inches larger than your wheel of cheese all around…so if your brie is 7 inches, you’ll want a dish that’s about 9-10 inches in diameter.
• I don’t recommend most so-called brie bakers, because they’re too small.
• You can also bake your brie by itself on a sheet of parchment paper, and then transfer that to any dish you like. This works well when you want to serve on a dish or plate that isn’t oven safe.

tips for getting the perfect melty baked Brie

Although baked Brie with cranberries is quite quick and simple, sometimes it can be a little tricky to to get that perfect consistency with baked Brie – you want it warm enough to be melty when you cut into it, but ideally you don’t want it to break open and run out everywhere before you get it to the table.

• You can leave your Brie on the countertop for 30-60 minutes before baking to take the chill off of it before going in the oven.
• Since Brie’s can vary so much in thickness and size, plan to check on it a couple times while it’s baking – it may take anywhere from 10-20 minutes to reach that perfect melty temperature.
• You’ll know its ready when it feels quite soft and pliable when you gently press on it. If you start to see it breaking open a little bit with cheese coming out, that’s also a sign it’s ready to go.
• Embrace imperfection! Your Brie might crack a bit, but baked brie is one of those “effortlessly casual” kind of dishes. Don’t stress, it’ll taste amazing no matter what!

what to serve with baked Brie

• Serve it with crackers, but make sure they’re sturdy enough to stand up to the melty cheese.
• Or provide thin, grilled slices of a crusty baguette. 
• This dish would be particularly nice as part of a larger holiday grazing table or cheese platter – add seasonal nuts like pecans or walnuts, a few other cheeses, some winter pears, etc., for a stunning and seasonal display. Find more inspiration here!