Baked Brie with Cranberries is an easy holiday appetizer, and it’s so darned pretty! The baked cheese gets all melty and gooey and the cranberries add a sweet tart punch.

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
- Youโre 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 aroundโฆso if your brie is 7 inches, youโll want a dish thatโs about 9-10 inches in diameter.
- I donโt recommend most so-called brie bakers, because theyโre 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 isnโt 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!
more baked Brie recipes for the holidays and beyond:
- Wild Mushroom and Hazelnut Baked Brie
- Easy Baked Brie with Figs and Honey
- Brรปlรฉed Brie
- Mini Baked Brie en Croute
- Baked Brie with Apples, Pecans, & Maple Syrup
- How to Bake Brie
Baked Brie with Maple Roasted Cranberries
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups fresh cranberries, rinsed
- 2 Tbsp maple syrup
- 1 7 inch wheel of Brie cheese
garnish
- fresh rosemary sprigs
- fresh cranberries
Instructions
- Set oven to 350F
- Spread the cranberries out in a single layer in a baking dish. Toss with the maple syrup, coating all the berries.
- Roast for about 10-15 minutes until the cranberries are starting to burst and get juicy.
- Put a round of Brie in a small skillet or small baking dish. Top with the roasted cranberries and bake for another 7 minutes or so, just until the cheese is runny.
- Garnish with some rosemary sprigs and a few raw cranberries, and then serve right away with crackers or a sliced baguette.
Notes
Nutrition
Hi Sue. Making this for sure. But I think I will cook the cranberries with the maple syrup on the stove and then put in the oven with the brie to melt. Love the rosemary around the edges!
Since I discovered your blog in September, I have been making about 2 recipes a week. All have been winners! This one was the only one that wasn’t perfect. I always thought a wheel of brie was 16 oz. so I didn’t roast enough cranberries but the cranberries would have burned if I roasted them as long as you suggested and I still had trouble getting them off the sheet pan (and I used parchment paper). I have a convection oven but that has not seemed to be a problem for anything else. It was still a hit with guests but could used twice the cranberries.
You are so sweet to say this, and I couldn’t be happier. This is an older recipe and I’ve gone in and specified the size of the wheel of cheese, thanks for your feedback ๐
This was delicious! Many Brie recipes are full of unnecessary ingredients, this is simple and just enough. Thank you for the recipe!
What size brie wheel do you use
I used an 8 ounce wheel, but you can also do it with a larger 16 ounce wheel.
What size is the Brie wheel you use?
This type of recipe is very versatile, you can use a small 8 ounce wheel, or a 16 ounce, or larger! I usually allow 2 ounces per person.
This was fantastic! I am making this again and again – so easy, Christmasy and delish!
Thanks Jennifer, and have a wonderful holiday!