The perfect salty, sweet, and tart combo, this Baked Brie with Cranberry Sauce is your go-to easy appetizer for the holiday season. Warm, melty brie paired with bright cranberry sauce feels festive without any fuss, and it always disappears fast at parties. Kids and adults both love it, and the whole recipe comes together in about 20 minutes, which makes it an effortless addition to any holiday spread.
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Baked Brie with Cranberry Sauce Recipe
If you need an easy holiday appetizer for a party you are hosting or something simple to bring to a friend's house, this recipe always comes through. Baked brie on its own is already delicious, but the cranberry sauce adds that extra layer of flavor and a seasonal pop that makes it feel special. I love setting it out with my favorite crackers or a loaf of crusty bread and watching everyone gather around the platter. It is one of those dishes that looks impressive but takes almost no effort, which is exactly what I want during the busy holiday season.
If you love cranberries, you will also love my Cranberry Orange Chicken Thighs and Cranberry Jalapeno Cream Cheese Dip.
Ingredients
See the recipe card below for quantities and remaining ingredients.
Substitutions & Variations
- Add some pecans or walnuts on top for a little crunch.
- A hint of orange zest in the cranberry sauce or added on top before baking gives the cranberry-baked brie a nice citrus flavor.
- Sautéed apples are a great addition if serving this at Thanksgiving dinner.
- Swap cranberry sauce for fig, cherry, or apricot jam.
Instructions
The baked brie appetizer comes together in just a few steps!
Step 1: Make the homemade cranberry sauce. In a small saucepan, heat the cranberries, honey, balsamic vinegar, and rosemary.
Step 2: Stir occasionally until the cranberries burst and the sauce thickens.
Step 3: Pre-bake the brie wheel. Place this in the oven for 5-7 minutes. Top the brie with cranberry sauce.
Step 4: Bake again and serve warm with flaky salt.
Sarah's Top Tips
- Don't over-bake the brie. Check at 12 minutes. If it's too hot, it can burst open. I learned this the messy way.
- Use whole berry cranberry sauce for the best texture. Jellied sauce slides off and gets runny.
- Leave the rind on. It keeps everything contained and creates that melty "cheese bowl."
- Bake the brie in the dish you're serving it in. Moving it while hot is nearly impossible.
Serving
I love serving the baked brie with crackers or toasted baguette slices. Garnish with a fresh rosemary sprig and sprinkle with some flaky sea salt. If you want to add more sweetness, drizzle more honey or maple syrup on top.
Baked brie with cranberries is the perfect addition to your holiday cheese board.
If you are making this for a holiday party, serve it alongside Air Fryer Chicken Sausage Bites and Sticky Honey Sriracha Meatballs. My Cranberry Bourbon Cocktail and Christmas Moscow Mule both make a great holiday cocktail pairing.
Storage & Reheating
Fridge: I doubt there will be any leftovers, but if there are, you can store the brie covered in the fridge for 1-2 days.
Make Ahead: For make-ahead, assemble the brie with the cranberry sauce and toppings, cover tightly, and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. Bake it fresh right before serving so it stays perfectly melty.
Reheat: Reheat in the oven for 5-10 minutes at 375 degrees F. You can also reheat this appetizer in the middle of serving if it gets cold before everyone has tried it.
More Cranberry Recipes
Did you make this recipe? Leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating and a comment below-I'd love to hear how it turned out! THANK YOU!
Easy Oven Baked Brie with Cranberry Sauce
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Ingredients
Cranberry Sauce
- 1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
- 2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 1 sprig rosemary
Baked Brie
- 8-12 (ounce) brie wheel
- flakey sea salt, for topping
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
- In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, add cranberries, maple syrup or honey, balsamic vinegar and rosemary. Stir occasionally until the cranberries burst and the sauce thickens about 10 minutes.1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries, 2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup, 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar, 1 sprig rosemary
- Meanwhile, place the brie in a baking dish and bake for 5-7 minutes. Remove from the oven.8-12 (ounce) brie wheel
- Spread the cranberry sauce on top of the brie, place it back in the oven and bake for another 8-10 minutes.flakey sea salt
- Serve immediately with crusty bread and/or crackers.
Sarah's Tips
- Serve this immediately after it comes out of the oven to ensure you enjoy the melted brie. The cheese can begin to harden after 15 minutes.
- Use a ripe brie with a soft velvety texture. Cheeses that are too hard or runny will not bake well.
- Don't overbake the cheese. You want gooey brie, but you don't want it to be runny.
- Bake 5 minutes longer for a bigger 16-oz wheel.
- Use gluten-free crackers if needed.
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