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Macaroni Recipes: Baked Brie

Impress with Little Effort

By Charlotte Linde, Cedar Rapids & Iowa City Publisher December 25, 2011

I think Brie Cheese is one of my favorite cheeses.  The best way to enjoy Brie is ... with buttery puff pastry of course!  This is a quick and easy appetizer that you can change up with lots of different ingredient options.  I have added a list of suggestions for you to try~ and believe me when I say, I have tried them all! This will surely impress and please your guests over the holiday season, or anytime! Enjoy~

Ingredients:

Wheel of Brie 

Puff Pasty Sheet (Puff pastry can be found in the freezer isle near the pie crusts)

1 Egg beaten

Optional: Water Crackers, toasted baguette slices, apple slices

Directions:

§  Pre-heat your oven to 350

§  Thaw your puff pastry sheet according to the directions on your package.  Unfold and cut off about an inch of your pastry to make a square.  Reserve your extra pastry for decorating. 

§  Place your toppings (no more then 4 tablespoons) in the center of your pastry

§  Center your Brie on top of your toppings and bring your corners of pastry up and over the cheese. Folding and pressing seams together.

§  Flip over onto your baking sheet

§  Make a bow, leaves, or other decoration out of your left over piece of pastry and place on top.

§  Lightly brush your pastry with egg wash.

§  Bake for 15 minutes until lightly golden brown.  

Serve warm with apple slices, crackers or alone! Just try and have one bite ~ I bet you can't!

Suggested toppings and other preparation ideas:

Chopped pecans and raspberry jam

Apricot preserves and chopped walnuts

Savory: Caramelized onions and fresh thyme or sauteed mushrooms and thyme

Cherries, pecans and rosemary

Whole cranberry sauce and pecan's great for Thanksgiving

Mango chutney

Olive Tapenade

Try wrapping in layers of butter and filo dough instead of puff pastry.

You can also bake the brie with out the pastry!  Just throw your Brie with rind and all on a cookie sheet, bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes.  Drizzle with honey and almonds and serve with slices of good crusty toasted rustic bread! YUM! 

Can you tell I really love Brie? :)