Cranberry pecan baked brie is the only appetizer I make that gets people literally hovering around the oven asking “Is it done yet?” Last Christmas, my brother-in-law ate like half of it before anyone else could get to it, and my sister was NOT happy. We still bring it up at family dinners.
I think I first saw this recipe on Pinterest maybe four years ago? Or was it a cooking blog? Honestly can’t remember. But I’ve made it so many times now that I don’t even need to look at measurements anymore. Which is both impressive and slightly concerning because I probably should be more precise with baking, but whatever—this is pretty forgiving.
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Why This Easy Baked Brie Appetizer Works
Here’s the thing about baked brie with cranberry and pecans—it looks like you spent hours making some fancy French appetizer when really you threw five ingredients together in about 10 minutes. The brie gets all melty and gooey in the oven, the cranberry sauce adds that sweet-tart thing, and the pecans give you that crunch that makes people go “Ooh, this is FANCY.”
The first time I made this holiday baked brie, I tried to be all extra and make homemade cranberry sauce from scratch. Spent an hour cooking cranberries and sugar and whatever else the recipe said. You know what? Nobody could tell the difference between that and the canned Ocean Spray stuff. So now I just use the canned cranberry sauce and save myself the trouble.
My mom always said presentation matters more than effort, and this festive baked brie recipe proves her right. You put this on the table and people think you’re a culinary genius. Meanwhile, you spent less time making it than it took to find a parking spot at Trader Joe’s.
What You Need for Baked Brie with Fruit and Nuts
Main Ingredients
- 1 (8 oz) wheel of Brie cheese (get the good stuff—not the cheap pre-cut wedges)
- ½ cup cranberry sauce (canned or homemade if you’re ambitious)
- ⅓ cup pecans, roughly chopped
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1-2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup
- Fresh rosemary for garnish (optional but makes it look Instagram-worthy)
For Serving
- Crackers (I like Carr’s water crackers or Ritz—don’t judge)
- Baguette slices, toasted
- Sliced apples or pears if you want to pretend this is healthy
Speaking of brie—oh wait, I forgot to mention—don’t cut off the rind before baking. I made that mistake once because some recipe told me to and it was a MESS. The cheese just oozed everywhere and stuck to the pan. Keep the rind on. It holds everything together and it’s totally edible anyway.
How to Make This Baked Brie with Cranberries
Step 1: Prep Your Oven and Pan
Preheat your oven to 375°F. Line a small baking dish or cast iron skillet with parchment paper. Trust me on the parchment paper—melted cheese is impossible to clean off a pan and you don’t want to deal with that after a party when you’re tired and possibly a little wine-drunk.
I usually use a small cast iron skillet because it looks cute going from oven to table. But any small oven-safe dish works fine.
Step 2: Prepare the Brie
Unwrap your brie wheel and place it in your prepared pan. Some people score the top with a knife in a crosshatch pattern, which I guess helps the toppings sink in? I usually skip this step because I’m lazy and it works fine either way.
Step 3: Add the Toppings
Spoon the cranberry sauce right on top of the brie. Don’t use the whole can—just about ½ cup. Save the rest for leftover turkey sandwiches or just eat it straight from the can while standing at the fridge at midnight. No judgment here.
In a small bowl, mix your chopped pecans with the brown sugar. Some recipes get all fancy and add cinnamon, nutmeg, bourbon, orange zest… I’ve tried all that and honestly? Just pecans and brown sugar is perfect. Keep it simple.
Sprinkle the pecan mixture over the cranberry sauce. Drizzle honey or maple syrup over the whole thing—this creates that gorgeous glossy finish and adds extra sweetness.
Step 4: Bake
Pop it in the oven for 15-18 minutes. You’re looking for the cheese to get soft and start oozing slightly. The cranberry sauce will get all bubbly and syrupy, and your kitchen will smell AMAZING.
Don’t overbake it—learned this the hard way when I got distracted by my daughter asking about homework and left it in for 25 minutes. The cheese basically liquified and ran everywhere. Set a timer. Actually set TWO timers because I still forget sometimes.
Step 5: Let It Rest (If You Can Wait)
Let it cool for about 5 minutes before serving. This lets everything set up slightly so it’s not just a molten lava pool of cheese. Though honestly, people will start digging in while it’s still piping hot because they can’t help themselves.
Garnish with fresh rosemary sprigs if you want to be fancy.
Best Baked Brie Recipe Tips
Buy quality brie: The cheap pre-wrapped brie from the deli section isn’t the same. Get a proper wheel of brie from the cheese section. It makes a difference.
Don’t trim the rind: Seriously, don’t. I can’t stress this enough. The rind is edible and keeps everything contained.
Toast your pecans first: If you want to take it up a notch, toast the pecans in a dry skillet for a few minutes before adding them. Brings out their flavor. But I skip this step 90% of the time and it’s still delicious.
Make it ahead: You can assemble this whole Christmas baked brie up to 4 hours in advance, keep it in the fridge, and just pop it in the oven when guests arrive. Add an extra 5 minutes to the baking time if it’s cold from the fridge.
Swap the nuts: Don’t like pecans? Use walnuts. My friend Sarah uses candied walnuts and it’s incredible.
Serving This Holiday Cheese Appetizer
Serve this warm baked brie dip with crackers, toasted baguette slices (crostini), and fresh fruit. The contrast of warm gooey cheese with crisp crackers is chef’s kiss.
For crostini: Slice a baguette into ½-inch rounds, brush with olive oil, and toast in a 400°F oven for about 8-10 minutes until golden. Way better than store-bought crackers and people always ask “Did you make these?”
This pecan brie appetizer serves about 6-8 people as an appetizer. But honestly, if my brother-in-law is there, it serves maybe 3 people. The man has no self-control around melted cheese.
This gourmet baked brie has become my signature party dish. My friends literally expect me to bring it to every holiday gathering. Last year I tried to bring something different—a charcuterie board—and got THREE texts asking “But are you bringing the baked brie too?”
The combination of creamy melted brie, tart sweet cranberries, and crunchy candied pecans is just perfect. It’s elegant enough for fancy dinner parties but easy enough that I’ve made it on random Tuesday nights just because I was craving it.
Seriously, try this for your next holiday party. And maybe make two because they disappear FAST 🧀✨
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