Easy Cranberry Baked Brie is a creamy, gooey, runny-centered baked brie topped with cranberry sauce, roasted pecans and thyme. Try this super simple, delicious 15-minute vegetarian holiday appetizer for your next feast, party, or evening at home.
Whether you're looking for a festive Christmas appetizer or post-Thanksgiving snack, this easy cranberry baked brie with thyme is perfect.
In fact, if you've got leftover cranberry sauce, this is your dish!
How To Eat Brie Cheese
If you're new to Brie (or Camembert), don't worry. They are very easy to use in recipes and delicious to eat.
This type of cheese usually comes in a wooden box so it can breathe and not get too moist or dry out. Don't unwrap your cheese until you're ready to bake it.
Many wonder if the coating can be eaten and the answer is yes! In fact, it adds a great flavor and texture contrast.
So really all you'll do is bake it and eat the entire thing!
Ingredients For Your Vegetarian Cranberry Baked Brie Appetizer
- Brie/Camembert in a wooden box
- Leftover (or freshly made) cranberry sauce/lingonberry sauce
- Thyme
- Honey
- Pecans
- Crusty baguette/ciabatta bread to serve.
Once you gather the ingredients, you'll have a piping hot, delectable, vegetarian hors d'oeuvre for your table.
Tips For Serving Baked Brie
Once your Baked Brie With Cranberries (or Camembert) is ready to serve, plate it up and pair it with some mulled wine for a European inspired treat.
Be sure to either bake your brie in a dish you can serve it directly out of or use a wide spatula to transfer it. Don't attempt to move it using just your oven mitts or or a thin spatula because (ahem, voice of experience) that can get messy.
What If You Don't Like Cranberry Sauce?
Don't worry; you can use any fruit sauce or jam you prefer. It's also delicious with blueberry, cherry, peaches, baked plums, pears, and even baked apples.
How to Make Easy Cranberry Baked Brie with Thyme
The recipe is very easy if you already have the cranberry sauce. If not, you can make it yourself within minutes. I took equal parts of cranberries and lingonberries for my sauce.
Tart and slightly sweet lingonberries (or mountain cranberries) are probably hard to find outside Scandinavia and Russia. It might be a good idea to check your local Russian store.
Lingonberries are usually sold frozen. You can order them here if you are in the U.S. or purchase a ready made lingonberry jam from Ikea (they have it on Amazon!).
To make the cranberry/ lingonberry sauce, use ¼ cup water and 2 tablespoons brown sugar for every cup of berries. I used 50:50 ratio cranberries and lingonberries but you can use any. Just make sure you add the right amount of water.
In a small saucepan bring ¼ cup water with 2 tablespoons brown sugar to a boil over medium heat. Add the berries and thyme sprigs and cook until the berries burst open, for about 5 minutes, stirring often. Crush the unburst berries with a potato masher. Discard the thyme sprigs.
I like to add additional spices to the cranberry sauce. This year I added nutmeg, allspice and a tiny bit of lemon zest. If the sauce is too sour for your taste, add additional honey.
Once the sauce is ready, bake your brie. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F or 180 C, remove all the plastic packaging from the brie and place the brie wheel into a wooden box it comes with. Bake for 15 minutes.
Top the baked brie with cranberry sauce, roasted pecans and drizzle with honey. Decorate with thyme sprigs. Add salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Enjoy with crusty baguette or ciabatta bread! Serve with festive German mulled wine (Gluhwein).
Make sure to check other Thanksgiving menu ideas like best vegan appetizers, soups, salads, main dishes, sides and desserts, as well as 50 best vegan Christmas recipes.
Here is what was in my menu this year:
- vegan pot pie;
- vegan mushroom crostini;
- ciabatta bread stuffing;
- balsamic glazed brussels sprouts;
- kale pumpkin salad;
- cranberry sauce;
- Moscow Mule with homemade ginger ale;
- pumpkin pie;
- cranberry baked brie with thyme and pecans.
- I also made a batch of German Christmas cookies and Gluhwein, but they were all gone within minutes 🙂
Easy Cranberry Baked Brie with Thyme
Ingredients
For the cranberry sauce:
- ¼ cup water
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 cup lingonberries/cranberries
- 2 sprigs thyme
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- a pinch of nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon ground allspice
- ¼ teaspoon lemon zest optional
- honey to taste
For the baked brie:
- 9 oz or 250 grams brie wheel
- a handful pecans roasted
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 3 sprigs thyme to garnish
- salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- crusty baguette or ciabatta bread to serve
Instructions
For the cranberry sauce:
- In a small saucepan bring water with brown sugar to a boil over medium heat. Add the berries and thyme sprigs and cook until the berries burst open, for about 5 minutes, stirring often. Crush the unburst berries with a potato masher. Discard the thyme sprigs. Add the spices, lemon juice and zest and honey if the sauce is too sour for your taste.
For the baked brie:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F or 180 C, remove all the plastic packaging from the brie and place the brie wheel into a wooden box it comes with. Bake for 15 minutes.
- Top the baked brie with cranberry sauce, roasted pecans and drizzle with honey. Decorate with thyme sprigs. Add salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Enjoy with crusty baguette or ciabatta bread!
Helena says
This appetizer works best for me when there is a small group of people visiting - always a hit on the table. Yum.
Elena Szeliga says
Glad you enjoyed the recipe Helena! It;s indeed perfect for entertaining 🙂
Karyl | Karyl's Kulinary Krusade says
Oh I love brie! So much melty, gooey goodness. This would be gone in minutes in my house!
Elena Szeliga says
I know right? My husband nearly ate it all alone 😀 Thank you Karyl!
Tina says
I love baked brie, I never thought to use cranberries, this looks great!
Elena Szeliga says
Thanks so much Tina!
Ashley @ Big Flavors from a Tiny Kitchen says
This is my kind of party app! Love the addition of fresh thyme here. Sounds like an amazing combo!
Elena Szeliga says
It was so delicious I keep making it for every holiday ;D Thank you Ashley!
Kate says
Those pecans and cranberries look sooooo delicious on top! What a fantastic addition!
Elena Szeliga says
Thank you Kate! Love the crunch they give to the cheese 🙂
Helene says
My heart stood still when I saw the cheese melting and oozing in your pictures above with the thyme and cranberry... I can taste all the flavors on my tongue right now. yum =D
Elena Szeliga says
Haha thank you Helene! I was sure you'd love this one 😉
Veena Azmanov says
Baked brie with cranberry is one of my absolute favorite thing for special occasions especially when you have guest. The pecans sound perfect.
Elena Szeliga says
Thank you Veena! True that, guests are always impressed but it's an almost no effort appetizer. Glad you like it!
Nicoletta @sugarlovespices says
Baked brie or camembert, always look so decadent and fancy. Add the festive cranberries and pecans and it is a stunning holiday appetizer!
Elena Szeliga says
Glad you like the recipe Nicoletta! Thank you!
Sharon Glascoe says
Perfect for the holidays. Between the cranberries and brie it's a decadent and a unique appetizer.
Elena Szeliga says
Thank you Sharon!
Ben Myhre says
This looks like such a luxurious treat!
Elena Szeliga says
Thank you Ben!
Jessica Robinson says
These flavors sound absolutely incredible ! Oh and the brie looks so creamy- cannot wait to try this!
Elena Szeliga says
Thank you Jessica! I hope you enjoy it!
Cathleen @ A Taste of Madness says
I had something similar to this last night at a staff party...until I dropped it all on my foot 🙁 So I didn't actually have it, except for the crusted cranberries on my foot. Better make some myself to make up for it.
Elena Szeliga says
Oh no! I can feel you pain! Hope you can make some for Christmas to make up for it 😉
Amanda says
I absolutely love serving baked brie during the holidays! It's always so well enjoyed by guests, and is easy to make with busy holiday schedules. I love the flavors you've used in the cranberry sauce for this! Such a great blend of savory and sweet.
Elena Szeliga says
Thank you so much Amanda! It's been a hit during holidays in my house too. Super easy but looks and tastes impressive 😉