Easy Baked Brie with Cranberry and Walnuts
This easy baked brie features a warm, gooey wheel of brie topped with a tart-sweet cranberry compote and crunchy walnuts. It’s a quick, crowd-pleasing appetizer that comes together in under 20 minutes with simple ingredients.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 (8-ounce) wheel of Brie cheese
- 1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
- 1/4 cup orange juice
- 3 tablespoons maple syrup or honey
- 1/2 teaspoon orange zest (optional)
- 1/3 cup chopped walnuts
- Pinch of salt
- For serving: crusty bread, crackers, apple slices, or pear slices
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Make the cranberry compote: In a small saucepan, combine cranberries, orange juice, and maple syrup. Bring to a simmer over medium heat and cook for 5-7 minutes, until cranberries burst and mixture thickens. Stir in orange zest if using. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Prepare the brie: If desired, score the top rind in a crosshatch pattern about 1/4 inch deep.
- Assemble: Place the brie wheel in a small baking dish. Spoon the cranberry compote over the top, letting it cascade down the sides. Sprinkle chopped walnuts evenly over the compote.
- Bake for 10-15 minutes, until the brie is soft and puffy, and the center feels wobbly when shaken.
- Let rest for 2-3 minutes before serving. Serve immediately with your choice of dippers.
Notes
Toast walnuts in a dry skillet over medium heat for 2-3 minutes for deeper flavor. Use room temperature brie for more even baking. Don’t overbake; start checking at 10 minutes. The compote can be made up to 3 days ahead.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of the wheel
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 8
- Sodium: 320
- Fat: 22
- Saturated Fat: 12
- Carbohydrates: 12
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 12
Keywords: baked brie, cranberry, walnuts, easy appetizer, holiday appetizer, cheese appetizer