Cranberry Orange Baked Brie in Sourdough Bread – The Perfect Holiday Appetizer! 🎄🧀🍞
Looking for a showstopping holiday appetizer that’s both delicious and easy to make? Look no further than Cranberry Orange Baked Brie served inside a warm, homemade sourdough bread loaf! This festive dish combines the tangy sweetness of cranberry and orange sauce with the creamy richness of melted brie, all nestled inside a crusty, freshly baked sourdough.
❤️ Why You’ll Love Cranberry Orange Baked Brie:
Crowd-Pleasing: The warm, gooey brie paired with the aromatic flavors of cranberry and orange in a sourdough bowl is sure to be a hit at any gathering, from family dinners to holiday parties.
Perfect Holiday Appetizer: Impress your guests with a beautiful and delicious centerpiece that is as visually stunning as it is mouthwatering.
Zesty & Creamy Flavor: The cranberry orange sauce adds a refreshing, zesty twist to the melty, rich brie, creating a balance of savory and sweet that everyone will love.
Easy to Make: Whether you choose homemade sourdough bread or a store-bought loaf, this recipe is incredibly accessible and simple to prepare, making it perfect for both novice and experienced bakers.
🍲 Ingredients
Sourdough Bread – This can really be made with any kind of loaf of bread, but if you make sourdough from scratch, I’ve linked my recipe here to use as a reference!
Brie – 8 oz wheel of brie cheese, but keep in mind that quality matters with the flavor or meltiness of the cheese. So, make sure to get a good quality brie!
Cranberry sauce – Homemade or storebought will work for this! I like to use a “chunkier” sauce for the texture, but you can use what you like best!
Brown sugar – Because the cranberry sauce is so tart, the brown sugar balances it out with some extra sweetness.
Oranges – The pairing of cranberry and orange just screams holiday, this recipe uses the juice and zest of one orange.
👩🍳 How to Make Cranberry Orange Baked Brie
- Start with making and baking your sourdough bread. When there is 10 minutes left, remove your bread and let cool for 15 minutes.
- In a small bowl, combine the cranberry sauce, orange juice, and brown sugar.
- When your bread has cooled, remove your brie from the packaging and using your bread knife, cut a circle into the top of your bread that is the shape of the cheese. Remove the top of the bread and place on the side.
- With a knife, score the top of the brie into a crisscrossed checkered pattern and place into the open space of the bread.
- Top the brie cheese with cranberry sauce mixture and smooth evenly to cover the cheese. Zest your orange right over the top.
- Transfer the loaf of bread to a parchment lined baking sheet (or small cast iron pan)
- Bake at 415 degrees for 15 – 20 minutes until the cheese is golden and melty.
- Cut slices in the sides of the loaf for easy serving! Pair with extra bread and crackers and enjoy!
🪄 Tips and Tricks
- Choose Quality Brie: Look for a high-quality wheel of Brie with a creamy texture. Avoid those that are overly dry or have a strong ammonia smell.
- Fresh Cranberries vs. Canned: While fresh cranberries can create a vibrant sauce, canned cranberry sauce is convenient and can still be delicious. If using fresh, consider sweetening them with sugar and cooking them beforehand.
- Herbs and Spices: Consider adding fresh herbs like thyme or rosemary for an earthy contrast. A sprinkle of cinnamon or nutmeg can enhance the flavors, especially if you’re using cranberries.
- Nuts and Crunch: Adding chopped nuts, such as pecans or walnuts, can add crunch and depth. Toast them lightly to enhance their flavor.
- Drizzle of Honey: For extra sweetness, drizzle some honey on top before baking.
🗒 Variations
Baked brie is the perfect vessel for seasonal flavors, there is a never-ending possibility of flavors! This one is definitely more geared towards Thanksgiving/ Christmas… But here are more options for you to try!
- Hot Honey Pizza Stuffed Sourdough – Acts Of Sourdough
- Maple Bacon Brie Baked Sourdough – Acts Of Sourdough
- Cinnamon Apple Baked Brie Sourdough – Acts Of Sourdough
- Peach Jalapeno Sourdough Brie Bake – Acts Of Sourdough
🗒 Substitution
Instead of baking the brie cheese + cranberry in a loaf of sourdough, you can always use a puff pastry!
- Goat Cheese: For a tangy twist, although the texture will be different.
- Cream Cheese: For a creamy filling, but it won’t have the same richness as brie.
- Cherry Jam or Sauce: Offers a sweet and tart flavor.
- Raspberry Jam: Similar in sweetness and tartness.
- Orange Zest: If fresh oranges aren’t available, use the zest of a lemon or lime for a different citrus twist.
- Pecans: A great alternative if you want a richer flavor.
- Walnuts: Provide a different texture and taste.
- Almonds: Sliced or slivered, for a lighter crunch.
🗒 Best served with
- Serve with crackers or baguette slices if you need alternatives to bread.
- Pair with fresh fruit, such as apple slices or grapes, for a contrasting flavor.
- Plate it Well: Place the baked brie on a wooden board or a pretty serving platter. Arrange the accompaniments around it for an attractive display.
👝 How to Store Leftovers
Once cooled, wrap the baked brie tightly in plastic wrap. Alternatively, you can place it in an airtight container. This will help prevent it from drying out and protect it from absorbing other odors in the fridge.
Reheating: When you’re ready to enjoy the leftover baked brie, preheat your oven to about 350°F (175°C). Remove the plastic wrap and bake for about 10-15 minutes or until heated through
🤔 Common Questions
Not at all! You can use a store-bought loaf if you don’t have sourdough. Or you can wrap and bake it in a puff pastry, but if you don’t want any bread product, place the brie in a baking dish and bake at 350 for 15 minutes.
Cranberry Orange Baked Brie
Equipment
- bread knife
- Parchment Paper
Ingredients
- 1 loaf sourdough bread
- 8 oz wheel of brie cheese
- 1 cup cranberry sauce (homemade or storebought)
- 2 tbs orange juice
- 1 tbs orange zest
- 1 tbs brown sugar
Instructions
- Start with making and baking your sourdough bread. When there is 10 minutes left, remove your bread and let cool for 15 minutes.
- In a small bowl, combine the cranberry sauce, orange juice, and brown sugar.
- When your bread has cooled, remove your brie from the packaging and using your bread knife, cut a circle into the top of your bread that is the shape of the cheese. Remove the top of the bread and place on the side.
- With a knife, score the top of the brie into a crisscrossed checkered pattern and place into the open space of the bread.
- Top the brie cheese with cranberry sauce mixture and smooth evenly to cover the cheese. Zest your orange right over the top.
- Transfer the loaf of bread to a parchment lined baking sheet (or small cast iron pan)
- Bake at 415 degrees for 15 – 20 minutes until the cheese is golden and melty.
- Cut slices in the sides of the loaf for easy serving! Pair with extra bread and crackers and enjoy!
Notes
- Choose Quality Brie: Look for a high-quality wheel of Brie with a creamy texture. Avoid those that are overly dry or have a strong ammonia smell.
- Fresh Cranberries vs. Canned: While fresh cranberries can create a vibrant sauce, canned cranberry sauce is convenient and can still be delicious. If using fresh, consider sweetening them with sugar and cooking them beforehand.
- Herbs and Spices: Consider adding fresh herbs like thyme or rosemary for an earthy contrast. A sprinkle of cinnamon or nutmeg can enhance the flavors, especially if you’re using cranberries.
- Nuts and Crunch: Adding chopped nuts, such as pecans or walnuts, can add crunch and depth. Toast them lightly to enhance their flavor.
- Drizzle of Honey: For extra sweetness, drizzle some honey on top before baking.
Nutrition
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