I have a thing for cheese. Hard cheeses, soft cheeses, creamy cheeses, stinky cheeses, mild cheeses…I think you get the picture. One of my favorite decadent cheese indulgences though is baked brie. It’s so creamy, flavorful, rich, and it fits as either an appetizer before a meal, or a dessert following a meal. This Cranberry Blood Orange Topped Baked Brie will tickle your tastebuds.
The compote on top is a variation of cranberry sauce, which is probably one of my favorite things. It’s simple, no frills, but the tanginess and zing of the cranberries are a match made in heaven with the luxurious creamy brie. The blood oranges, as we near the end of their season, help to mellow the flavors out and contribute and subtle sweetness to the compote. Quite honestly, you could spread this compote on top of anything you want, but cheese is my vessel of choice.
Baking brie is incredibly easy, and you don’t need any magical dishes. It melts quite quickly and remains gooey for quite a long time. The way it oozes out of the rind when you cut it open is an instantaneous dramatic presentation, with very little effort. Though I will say, oozing cheese is very challenging to photograph. But believe me, it comes out silky and smooth.
I used a 6 oz wheel of brie for this recipe, but you can use whichever size you find. I served it up with crackers and some crusty baguette bread, and it was amazing. This Cranberry Blood Orange Topped Baked Brie packs a punch of flavors, so keeping the crackers and bread simple is a great way to go.
How do you like to eat your baked brie? Let me know!
Cranberry Blood Orange Topped Baked Brie
Ingredients
- 1/2 Cup Fresh or frozen cranberries, whole
- Zest of 1 blood orange
- 1 Blood orange, segmented
- 1/3 Cup White sugar
- 1/2 Cup Water
- 1 Wheel Brie cheese (5.5-8 oz)
- 2 Tbsp. Hazelnuts, chopped
Instructions
- In a small sauce pot, combine the cranberries, blood orange zest, blood orange segments, sugar and water. Heat over medium high heat, stirring to combine.
- Continue cooking for about 12 minutes until the mixture begins to thicken, stirring frequently. Set aside and let cool at room temperature.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Place Brie on a flat oven proof dish, lined with parchment paper. Bake in oven for 10-15 minutes, or until the center of the cheese feels soft when lightly touched.
- Remove from oven and carefully place on serving dish. Top with Cranberry Blood orange compote and chopped hazelnuts. Serve with bread or crackers.