Baked Brie with Dried Fruits and Nuts
Last year, a baked brie similar to the one in the photo above made an appearance at some point during the holidays – purchased at The Scone Pony in Spring Lake, NJ, a shop selling outstanding scones and other treats.
But the store’s limited opening hours didn’t correspond with my availability to stop in this year, so I decided to make my own for Christmas eve. I’ve got a few vegetarians in the family and the octopus salad, baccala mantecato and shrimp platter just doesn’t cut it with them. I couldn’t leave them out while we were sitting around embibing on prosecco and appetizers.
The baked brie was a snap to make and was just as good as Scone Pony’s – no, better, since it was freshly made.
Maybe you’re having guests at some point in the week, or making merry for New Year’s Eve. This would be a perfect accompaniment to those glasses of bubbly you’re likely to pour.
I start by slicing off the rind from a wheel of brie, an optional step, but it makes it a lot easier to dig into the cheese without the rind.
Then smear the top with a fig spread, fig preserves or other type of jam, jelly or preserves that you like. I know I’d also love this with either quince jelly, apricot or orange preserves too.
Then take some of the same flavor of preserves or jelly and mix it with your choice of chopped nuts and dried fruits. I used dried figs, cranberries and cherries, with pecans and pistachios.
Pile the dried fruit and nut mixture on top, then when guests arrive, bake in the oven briefly or place in the microwave for a minute or two.
Add some crackers and serve.
And watch it disappear.
Buon Anno and a big thank you to all my readers for following me this year, for leaving comments on the blog, for making my recipes and for emailing me with questions, or just to send greetings. I wish you all the very best in 2016.
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Baked Brie with Dried Fruits and Nuts
All amounts are all approximate. Use as much or as little as you like of nuts and dried fruits.
If you have too much, it keeps well in the refrigerator.
1 wheel of brie cheese
1/4 cup chopped pecans
1/4 cup chopped pistachios
1/4 cup chopped dried figs
1/4 cup chopped dried cranberries
1/4 cup fig preserves, plus more for smearing on top of cheese.
Carefully slice the top rind of the brie cheese, trying not to take much of the cheese. A little bit of rind on top is ok. Spread some fig preserves over the cheese. Chop the nuts and fruits, mix in the preserves and pile on top. Refrigerate until ready to use, then bake in a 350 degree oven for five minutes, or place in the microwave for one minute. You don’t want to melt the cheese, just soften it. Serve with crackers.
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A fantastic idea! Really luscious.
Best wishes fro 2016!
Cheers,
Rosa
Happy New Year! Your brie is prettier than my Camembert!
Great minds think a like. 🙂
io l'ho fatto con i pomodori secchi, proverò questo tuo, mi piace l'idea! Buon 2016 Linda, un abbraccio !
What a beautiful creation. I can see how this would disappear awfully fast. I could consume the entire thing on my own! Happy New Year to you and yours!
Melted cheese – gets me every time. And I have all the ingredients! New Year's Eve, here I come! Happy New Year – may it bring goodness.
How did you know that ooey, gooey, melted cheese is my absolute favorite. Oh my, when you cut into it and that cheese kinda melts all over — irresistible. I really like the addition of the sweet and nuts on top. Yummy. Why don't we indulge ourselves more often?? I think I'll make this at our next family gathering. Thank you for the inspiration. Felice Anno Nuovo!! Abbracci!
What a wonderful holiday variation on a classic! Linda, thank you for your inspirational posts throughout the year. A happy and healthy 2016 to you and your family.
I love baked brie with preserves and nuts! You've really brought the idea to a delicious new height of deliciousness, Linda. So pretty too. Happy New Year!
I haven't had baked brie in far too long! It's so delicious! I am happy to see that you took off the rind because I've always wondered about that; it seems so much easier for guests to dig into the cheese without the rind. I just bought some fig preserves, if you can believe that! Wondering what to serve it on has now been figured out!
Happiest of new years to you in 2016, Linda! Thank you for your continued friendship!
Baci,
Roz
Wonderful, really nice!
Baked brie—believe it or not, it's something I've yet to try. But I've been meaning to for a long time. Love cheese, love cheese fondue and queso fundido so I figure it would be right up my alley… Thanks for the inspiration. And best wishes for another year of delicious posts in 2016!
Happy New Year, Linda! I have never baked a brie but today I bought one with this intention and now have come across your recipe which sounds wonderful! Thank you! I love you Pandoro Christmas tree…my cousin in Italy makes a similar dessert.
Happy New Year, Linda! I am happy to be back online, although I'm taking it in small doses while my vision is slowly improving. My family likes Brie so I always prepare a wheel of it during the holidays. I often use a fig jam on top but I'd love to try your combination one day as it looks extra special.
Cheers! Best desert.
It looks so tempting. My kids would really love this. I cannot wait to try this at home. Most of the time, my ingredients that i bought is from online store. I recommend this online store that has the best dried fruits and nuts. If you have time you can stop by on this link.
Check this out:
https://gourmetnutsanddriedfruit.com/
Its a really nice website. Thanks for giving full information about Dry Fruits.