Baked Brie en Croûte with Honey, Dried Cherries, Rosemary & Pecans
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Golden, gooey, and party-ready—this brie en croûte is the ultimate holiday appetizer that looks as good as it tastes.
When it comes to festive appetizers, you can never go wrong with brie en croûte, which is French for baked brie in a pastry crust. My go-to version combines warm, melty brie, honey, dried cherries, and pecans, all wrapped in a golden pastry. Thanks to store-bought puff pastry, it’s as easy to make as it is impressive.
Wrapping the brie in one large sheet of puff pastry can sometimes result in a thick, doughy bottom layer that doesn’t cook through. To avoid this, I sandwich the brie between two smaller pieces of pastry and crimp the edges with a fork. This not only seals in the cheese but also ensures both layers puff up evenly for a flaky, perfectly golden crust.
“I’ve made baked brie from other recipes, but this is the easiest, most professional looking, and best tasting that I’ve ever made.”
What You’ll Need To Make Brie en Croûte
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Roll and trim the pastry. On a lightly floured surface, roll each pastry sheet into a 12-inch square. Using a sharp knife, trim the corners to form two neat circles.
Step 2: Assemble the base. Place one of the pastry circles on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Set the cheese in the center (after cutting off the top rind), then drizzle the top with honey.
Step 3: Add the toppings. Sprinkle the dried cherries, pecans, and rosemary over the honey.
Step 4: Prep for sealing. Brush the edge of the pastry with egg wash — this will help the top layer stick when you place it over the cheese.
Step 5: Add the top layer. Lay the second pastry circle over the cheese, pressing it gently against the cheese and bottom pastry. Trim the edges, leaving about a 1-inch border all the way around.
Step 6: Seal it up. Use a fork to crimp the edges all the way around, locking in the cheese. Brush the top and edges with egg wash so it bakes up golden.
Step 7: Make decorations. Use the pastry scraps to cut out leaves (or any shapes you like). Lightly score them with a knife to make the veins.
Step 8: Finish assembling. Arrange the leaves (and a berry or two, if you’d like) on top of the pastry, then brush the decorations with egg wash so they bake up glossy and golden.
Step 9: Bake and serve. Bake for about 20 minutes, until the pastry is puffed and golden. Let it rest for at least 45 minutes before cutting — otherwise the cheese will run out. Serve warm with fruit and crackers.
More Holiday Appetizers You May Like
Baked Brie en Croûte with Honey, Dried Cherries, Pecans & Rosemary
Ingredients
- 2 sheets frozen Puff Pastry, thawed (I use Pepperidge Farm)
- 2 tablespoons honey
- ⅓ cup dried cherries, roughly chopped
- ¼ cup chopped pecans
- 1 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary
- 1 (16-oz) Brie cheese round (about 6 in/15 cm) in diameter)
- 1 large egg, beaten with 1 tablespoon water
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Slice off the top rind of the brie and discard.
- On a lightly floured work surface, roll each pastry sheet out to a 12-in (30-cm) square. Trim the corners of each sheet to form two circles. Set the scraps aside; you'll use those later for decorations. Put one of the pastry rounds on the prepared baking sheet. Cut off the top rind of the cheese and place the Brie on top of the pastry, rind side down. Drizzle the top of the cheese with the honey, and then top with the dried cherries, pecans, and rosemary.
- Brush the exposed edges of the pastry with the egg mixture. Cover the Brie with the other pastry circle; press against the sides of the cheese and the bottom pastry to form a tight seal. Using a pizza cutter, cut off the excess dough, leaving a generous 1-in (2.5-cm) border. Crimp the edges firmly with a fork to seal. Brush the pastry with the egg mixture. Set aside.
- Using a pizza cutter or cookie cutter, cut out nine leaves (about 2 in/5 cm long and 1 in/2.5 cm wide) from the scraps. Use a knife to draw the ribs on the leaves, pressing down but not cutting all the way through. Place the leaves on top of the pastry in the shape of a flower, overlapping them slightly and pressing them together in the center. Brush the leaves with the egg mixture. Roll up a ½-in (13-mm) ball of dough and press it in the center; brush the ball with the egg mixture.
- Bake for about 20 minutes, or until the pastry is golden brown. Let stand for 45 minutes, then serve with fruit and crackers.
Notes
Nutrition Information
This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.
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Would you serve this before dinner or after?
Hi Bernice, I would serve it before, but you could certainly be like the French and serve it after if you like 🙂
Bernice/Jenn – Only just right now found this absolutely amazing recipe and since I’m living in France (but I’m Swiss), I would definitely suggest to serve this only ever as an ‘entrée’ (starter) – you’d never get such a really rich cheese ‘dessert’ served in France.
I hope to bake this very soon – and thanks for this wonderful recipe. Shall look forward to read your other cooking on your blog.
Wishing everybody a HAPPY THANKSGIVING
Kiki – Ile de France
thank you so much for posting this elegant recipe. I will definitely be making for this upcoming holiday season…probably multiple times!!! I love all your recipes!
Can you assemble the brie in the pastry the day before or earlier the same day then bake later?
Hi Cristine, Yes, that works well.
Hi jenn
Love the combination!! Would this work well with a jam or a preserve instead of honey?
Hi Mona, Yes, I think it would work especially well with cherry, apricot or raspberry.
Hi Jen, can we use any other cheese instead? (I have never tried brie before).
Thanks.
Hi Batool, I’d stick with Brie or Camembert.
do yourself a HUGE favour and try brie!! 🙂
What a beautiful presentation! This will be my Thanksgiving App for sure!,,,,,,,
Thanks Jen, as always, for your fantastic recipies!
How important is it to slice the rind off the top of the cheese? The photos don’t show that step.
Thanks for another great recipe!
Hi Jean, You don’t have to — it doesn’t affect the taste — but I prefer it just so there isn’t quite as much rind.
Is it okay to remove all the rind completely and not just the top?
Hi Alie, Technically, I think you probably could remove all the rind, but it could get a bit messy with none of the rind to contain the melting cheese.
Perfect timing for this wonderful appetizer. Love Brie, love cherries, & love pecans. And so easy! This can be shoved into the oven right before guests come. Thank you for recipe!
Fabulous presentation delicious taste
My mouth is watering looking at this recipe! Can’t wait to try it for the holidays!