Cranberry + Cinnamon Brie en Croute

This has been the holiday season of baked brie! I made this for Thanksgiving, two Christmas parties and on Christmas day. It has become a cocktail hour favorite for our family holidays because it is just so unbelievably GOOD. A simple wheel or wedge of brie gets dressed up with sweet, sugary cranberries and wrapped up in puff pastry. I have made this with both a wheel and a wedge and I have to say, I prefer the end result of the wedge- it's much meltier. 

Cranberries, brown sugar and cinnamon are my fillers of choice, but you can branch out in any direction you like! Fig preserves would be delicious and I have also had this with an apricot and walnut topper, too. I served my baked brie with french bread crostini and honeycrisp apple slices. The apple slices were the best!

If you are looking for something to add to your New Year's celebrations tonight or tomorrow, I promise this will be a favorite. 

Happy New Year's Eve to all!

Cranberry + Cinnamon Brie en Croute

1 wedge of brie

1 sheet puff pastry

1/2 cup dried cranberries

1 Tbsp. butter, melted

1/4 cup brown sugar

1 Tbsp. cinnamon

1 egg, lightly beaten

Defrost puff pastry for 15-20 minutes and unfold. 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

On a baking sheet, lay puff pastry flat. Place brie on top of puff pastry. 

In a small bowl, mix cranberries, butter, brown sugar and cinnamon. Spoon cranberry mixture on top of brie. Fold puff pastry over the wedge, making sure there are no holes or air pockets. Brush with egg wash.

Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until pastry is browned, puffed and brie is nicely melted.

Baked Brie with Cranberries, Cinnamon + Pecans

Christmas may be over but we continue to celebrate in our house long after December 25th. For the entire 12 days of Christmas to be exact! This Christmas has been extra special for us and I never want it to end. 

The celebrations continue this week as we say hello to 2014! As we get ready for a cozy night in with friends, I'm menu planning for New Year's Eve- babies and bubbly included! I am loving the idea of several small bites instead of one big meal. 

If you are still in need of some tasty bites to add to your New Year's Eve spread, I have the perfect addition. This is a wonderful holiday appetizer that everyone seems to love. I made this last year for my family's pre- Thanksgiving dinner cocktails and appetizers and we added it to our pre- Christmas dinner menu this year as well. I made a second batch when we celebrated Christmas with Mark's family this weekend and even the smallest people in the house gobbled it up! 

In a big crowd, one just doesn't seem to be enough. So go ahead and make an extra! Your dinner guests will thank you.

Baked Brie with Cranberries, Cinnamon + Pecans

1 wheel or wedge of Brie cheese

1 sheet puff pastry, thawed

1/3 cup chopped pecans (or walnuts)

1/3 cup dried cranberries

1/4 cup dark brown sugar

1 Tbsp. unsalted butter

a few shakes of cinnamon

1 egg, lightly beaten

Preheat oven to 375 degrees

In a small saucepan on medium heat, melt butter. Add nuts and a few shakes of cinnamon. Saute for 3-5 minutes until nuts are toasted.

In a baking sheet, lay out puff pastry and place brie on top. Place cinnamon/butter/nut mixture on top of the brie followed by the brown sugar then the cranberries. Wrap the brie with the puff pastry. Brush with egg to finish. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until pastry is brown and nicely puffed. Serve with crostini and apple slices.

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