Description
Creamy baked brie nestled in a rustic bread bowl showcases holiday elegance with tart cranberry sauce and fragrant thyme. Rich flavors meld together, offering a delightful appetizer that will impress guests and elevate your seasonal entertaining.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 round loaf of rustic bread (boule)
- 1 wheel of brie (12 ounces, 340 grams)
Sauce and Herbs:
- 1/2 cup (120 milliliters) whole berry cranberry sauce
- 2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves
Seasoning and Oil:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Kosher salt
- Fresh ground black pepper
Instructions
- Warm the kitchen oven to 350°F (175°C), preparing for a delightful cheesy creation.
- Select a round bread loaf and carefully slice off the top quarter, revealing a sturdy base for the brie.
- Position the brie wheel atop the bread and trace its circumference, creating a precise guide to hollow out the center with a sharp knife.
- Craft decorative pull-apart sections by slicing around the bread’s perimeter, cutting three-quarters deep without separating the base.
- Enhance the bread’s interior with a luxurious olive oil brush, then season with salt and pepper, sprinkling half the fresh thyme inside.
- Nestle the brie wheel into the bread’s carved center, generously covering it with remaining thyme leaves.
- Generously spread cranberry sauce across the brie’s surface, ensuring an even, vibrant layer.
- Transfer the prepared bread bowl onto a lined baking sheet, covering with its sliced top, and bake for approximately 20 minutes until the cheese melts into a creamy texture.
- Extract from the oven and serve immediately, optionally toasting the reserved bread chunks for additional crispy dipping accompaniments.
Notes
- Choose a round, sturdy sourdough or artisan bread that’s dense enough to hold the melted brie without falling apart.
- Let the brie sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before baking to ensure smooth, even melting throughout.
- Swap homemade or store-bought cranberry sauce with fig jam, pepper jelly, or caramelized onions for different flavor profiles.
- For gluten-free guests, use a gluten-free bread or serve the brie in a small cast-iron skillet with accompaniments on the side.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 390 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 220 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 9 g
- Cholesterol: 50 mg