Description
A decadent appetizer featuring melted brie cheese nestled in a rustic bread bowl, topped with sweet cranberry sauce and fragrant thyme. Perfect for holiday gatherings or special occasions!
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 round loaf of rustic bread boule
- 1 wheel of brie (about 12 ounces), top rind removed (triple cream if possible)
- ½ cup whole berry cranberry sauce
- 2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Kosher salt to taste
- Fresh ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Ensuring the oven is properly heated is essential for evenly melting the brie and creating a perfectly crisp bread exterior while keeping the inside soft.
- Prepare the Bread
- Slice the top quarter off the bread loaf and set it aside for later. Use the brie wheel as a guide to measure a circle in the middle of the bread. Carefully trace around the brie with a knife and hollow out the center of the bread, removing the middle to create a snug space for the brie wheel. Save the bread pieces you remove for serving.
- Score the Bread
- Around the edges of the bread, cut slices about 1.5 inches apart, cutting about three-quarters of the way down without slicing through the bottom. This technique creates pull-apart sections that will make dipping easy once the brie is baked and melted.
- Season the Bread
- Brush the inside of the hollowed bread with olive oil, and season with salt and pepper to enhance flavor. Sprinkle half of the fresh thyme inside the bread cavity. Place the brie wheel into the hollowed center of the bread and sprinkle the remaining thyme over the top of the cheese.
- Add the Cranberry Sauce
- Spoon the cranberry sauce over the brie, spreading it evenly across the top. The sweet-tart flavor of cranberry creates a perfect balance with the rich, creamy brie.
- Bake
- Place the bread bowl on a lined baking sheet (use foil or parchment paper to catch any melted brie that may ooze out). Replace the top of the bread and bake for about 20 minutes, or until the brie is melted and gooey. The bread should be crisp on the outside but still soft inside.
- Serve
- Remove from the oven and serve immediately while the cheese is still hot and melted. For extra crunch and additional dipping options, toast the scooped-out bread pieces. Pull apart the scored bread sections and dip them into the melted cheese and cranberry mixture.
Notes
- For best results, allow the brie to come to room temperature for about 30 minutes before baking.
- This appetizer works well with other toppings like honey, fig preserves, or caramelized onions.
- If cranberry sauce isn’t available, you can substitute raspberry or blackberry preserves.
- For a more festive presentation, garnish with additional fresh thyme sprigs or sugared cranberries.
- Leftover bread bowl (if any) can be refrigerated and reheated in the oven at 350°F for 10-15 minutes.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/8 of recipe
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 450mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 12g
- Cholesterol: 40mg