The one recipe that every single holiday party needs is baked brie with cranberries and walnuts.
In fact, you’ll love this simple-to-make festive recipe that turns out perfect every time.
Baked Brie with Cranberries and Walnuts Overview
From start to finish baked brie with cranberries and walnuts is simple to make.
The ingredients are super easy to find, meaning you won’t spend a ton of time in the grocery store, nor will you have to pay for pricy items!
It’s a light appetizer but it can be heavier depending on the items you use to accompany it.
You don’t have to know your way around a kitchen to make this appear fabulous and I’ll share some presentation tips below.
Once you make this very merry brie I am quite certain you will dabble with it again for another holiday changing up the optional toppings of cranberries and walnuts, perhaps to garlic and balsamic?
Keep your tray simple, and it will be stunning!
Very Merry Brie in No Time At All
All you need to make this very merry baked brie with cranberries and walnuts is about 10 minutes of prep time and about 20 minutes in the oven!
You can use an oven for this or a mini toaster oven, so you don’t need any special appliances to make this appear on your appetizer table.
While I will list this recipe as a serving for 4, truly, with other appetizers, cocktails, and an anticipated meal, I have found that you can get about 8 generous servings out of it!
Since it will more smear or dip, less is more, and cocktails alongside somehow make this a tad more filling.
Therefore, again, I find that it is more servings instead of less and it really depends on your crowd of how they ‘use’ the baked brie in large servings or small.
Perfect For The Holidays
A lot of foods say they are holiday perfect, but this very merry baked brie with cranberries and walnuts is the real deal.
In fact, since it’s a beauty in red cranberry, you can use it for Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Holiday parties, Christmas, New Year’s Eve or Day, and even for Valentine’s day!
The colorful cranberry red truly bursts and beams each of those holidays!
Friends and Family Will Love Baked Brie with Cranberry and Walnuts
Often at parties, it is the simple that pleases the most.
Additionally, because this very merry baked brie allows them to smear as much or little as they prefer, they won’t feel pressured to eat more than they feel like.
The flavor sings together, as the cranberry flavor and texture against the crunchier walnuts is the perfect combination.
For adults, this is the perfect appetizer to pair with my Cranberry Ginger Moscow Mules.
What To Pair with the Verry Merry Brie
Pairing options are endless based on your tastes but here are a few you can use and you will see a few of them in my images.
- Celery sticks
- Carrots: ranging from full petite carrots, to small carrot sticks
- Homemade Pita Squares
- My favorite Pita chips are perfect to as they offer a nice crunch against the smooth baked brie.
- Jicama sticks
- Halves of cucumber
- Thicker sticks of zucchini
- Hearty crackers
- Crusty French Bread
- Hunks of thicker yet flat Apples (Granny Smith are so yummy with brie)
- Mini Naan
Drinks that Pair Nicely with Baked Brie with Cranberries and Walnuts
Are you ready to try this yet? Well then let’s pair it up with the perfect spirited drink.
My favorite drink to pair with baked brie is always a Prosecco, but you can sub in basic champagne if you like.
Fruity red wines are my 2nd favorite option, I usually go for the simple Apothetic Red Blend and WOW is all I can say for a bite and sip fantastic moments.
Now, white wines, such as a Pinot Noir, but since I am not a huge Pinot Noir fan, I move on to yet another option in the white wine family that does make me smile.
Sauvignon Blanc is perfection when it comes to a glass of white wine, that is dry. It’s stellar when paired with baked brie!
It’s All In The Very Merry Brie Presentation
The exterior of brie is not that pretty, so you’ve got to dress this up a bit or you will just see a sea of white.
Craft very merry baked brie into a charcuterie tray.
Use a brown wooden cutting board, or a black slate charcuterie board to begin adding color.
If you want more color on the tray, add big, juicy, red, and green grapes, they are the simple fruit available year-round.
Or you can even toss pomegranate seeds just for color!
You can even use a colorful dish to celebrate the holiday season.
Make sure to add a pop of color with more dried cranberries and even add some caramelized walnuts to the serving tray.
Sprigs of rosemary around the tray provide more color and you could even place a few cranberries.
Once you add the dippable goodies, such as carrots, crusty bread, etc, the baked brie with cranberries and walnuts comes to life and looks very inviting.
Very Merry Brie with Cranberries
The one recipe that every single holiday party needs is baked brie with cranberries and walnuts.
In fact, you'll love this simple-to-make festive recipe that turns out perfect every time.
A lot of foods say they are holiday perfect, but this very merry baked brie with cranberries and walnuts is the real deal.
In fact, since it's a beauty in red cranberry, you can use it for Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Holiday parties, Christmas, New Year's Eve or Day, and even for Valentine's day!
The colorful cranberry red truly bursts and beams each of those holidays!
Sauvignon Blanc is perfection when it comes to a glass of white wine, that is dry. It's stellar when paired with baked brie!
Ingredients
- 8 oz. brie cheese wheel
- ¼ c. cranberry sauce (homemade or store-bought)
- 2 T. dried cranberries (Craisins)
- ½ c. walnuts, roughly chopped
- 1 T. honey, preferably local
- 2 rosemary sprigs
- Accompanying suggestions
- Hearty Celery Sticks
- Thick Zuchhini Pieces
- Hard Crusty Bread
- Jicama
- Carrots
- Pita Chips
- Pita Bread
- Apples
Instructions
Prep all dippers you are using from vegetables, fruits, and crusty bread, then set them on your serving tray.
Preheat the oven to 350° F
Line a rimmed baking sheet with a piece of parchment paper.
Place the brie on the prepared baking sheet.
Next, transfer it to the oven to bake for 10 minutes.
Remove brie from the oven,
Then, using two forks, gently expose the creamy layer beneath the crusty top of the cheese.
Spread the cranberry sauce on top of the cheese,
Follow with dried cranberries and walnuts.
Drizzle with honey and top with fresh rosemary.
Return the brie to the oven and bake for another 5-10 minutes or until all the toppings
are warm and the brie is heated to your desired temperature.
Now you are ready to serve the baked brie on a decorative platter alongside sliced baguette and vegetable
dippers.
Enjoy!
Notes
This is a super easy take-along for any party, and you could bake and take or ask to bake it at the party.
You don't need a lot of time for prep and you can purchase precut veggies and apple chunks if you prefer.
Hard crusty bread is a great option when serving this.
While the recipe states 4 servings, if you have other appetizers being served, this will stretch to 8 servings.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 469Total Fat: 26gSaturated Fat: 11gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 14gCholesterol: 57mgSodium: 552mgCarbohydrates: 45gFiber: 5gSugar: 21gProtein: 17g
Nutritional information may be inaccurate
Additional Holiday Inspiration
If you need some other great recipes and ideas for the holidays try any of these.
- Peppermint Martinis
- French Bread
- Green and Red Mashed Potatoes
- Create an Old-Fashioned Christmas
- Holiday Welcome Sign for Front Patio
- Shabby Chic Tree for Tabletop
- Large Holiday Bulb Wreath
- Tree Collar
- Amaretto Cocktail
- Tree in A Bucket for Gifting
- Time saving kitchen tips
- Holiday hangover tips
- Brie and Cherry Bites
I hope each of the recipes, tips, and DIY’S provides a bit of holiday inspiration and help as the holiday rush is like a breaking wave and they are relentless.
Enjoy each moment, savor your foods, drinks and stop to take time to be with your family.
Happy holidays, and enjoy every second of the most enchanting and wonderful time of the year. ~ Dana XO
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