Brie en Croûte Pine Tree (Printable View)

Golden puff pastry encloses brie, cranberry, and pecans for a deliciously festive appetizer.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Dairy

01 - 1 whole wheel brie cheese, approx. 8 oz

→ Pastry

02 - 1 sheet puff pastry, thawed

→ Filling

03 - 3 tablespoons cranberry sauce
04 - 2 tablespoons toasted pecans, roughly chopped

→ Topping

05 - 1 egg, beaten (for egg wash)
06 - 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary, finely chopped (optional)
07 - 1 tablespoon honey (optional, for drizzling)

# How To Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - Unroll puff pastry on a lightly floured surface and cut out a large triangle resembling a pine tree large enough to cover the brie; reserve the scraps.
03 - Place the brie wheel in the center of the pastry. Spread cranberry sauce over the brie and sprinkle with toasted pecans.
04 - Fold the pastry over the brie, shaping it to resemble a pine tree. Use reserved scraps to cut small triangles or strips for branches to decorate the tree.
05 - Transfer wrapped brie to the baking sheet and brush all surfaces with beaten egg.
06 - Sprinkle finely chopped rosemary over the pastry if using, then bake for 20 to 25 minutes until golden and crisp.
07 - Let baked pastry cool for 10 minutes and optionally drizzle with honey before serving.
08 - Serve warm accompanied by crackers, apple slices, or fresh bread.

# Best Practices:

01 -
  • Elegant holiday presentation
  • Delicious combination of sweet and savory flavors
02 -
  • Substitute cranberry sauce with fig or apricot preserves for a different flavor
  • For a nut-free version, omit pecans
03 -
  • Brush the edges of the pastry with water to better seal the folds
  • Use a sharp knife to create clean decorative cuts
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