Brie with Brandied Cranberries and Figs

Brie with brandied cranberries is the kind of appetizer that looks fancy but takes almost no effort. A wheel of brie goes soft and warm in the oven under a glossy topping of cranberries, figs, and onion simmered with a splash of brandy. It is sweet, tart, savory, and ready to scoop in about half an hour.

This is the appetizer to make when you want something memorable but have no time to fuss. The topping cooks while the oven heats, and the brie does the rest on its own.

Serve it the moment it comes out of the oven, while the cheese is still soft and scoopable.

Why You’ll Love This Brie with Brandied Cranberries

• The contrast of warm, creamy cheese and tart-sweet fruit is hard to stop eating.
• The brandy and brown sugar give the topping a rich, glazed flavor.
• This brie with brandied cranberries comes together fast, so it is a stress-free addition to any spread.

Ingredient Notes

These notes are about what each part brings to the dish, not amounts. You will find the exact measurements in the recipe card below, so read here for the why.

• Brie is the creamy base; a small wheel melts evenly and scoops easily.
• Fresh cranberries bring the tart pop that balances the sweetness.
• Figs add a jammy, mellow sweetness and a little texture.
• Brandy and brown sugar reduce into a glossy, glazed topping.

For equipment, you need a large saute pan, a small oven-safe baker that fits the brie, and crackers or crusty bread for serving. A rubber spatula helps you spoon every bit of topping over the cheese.

How to Make Brie with Brandied Cranberries

This brie with brandied cranberries comes together in two quick stages: the topping on the stove, then the bake. Here is the friendly walkthrough.

1. Heat the oven to 400 degrees and set the brie in a suitable baker.
2. Melt the butter and cook the onions for 3 to 4 minutes until softened.
3. Add the figs, cranberries, brandy, brown sugar, and salt and cook 5 more minutes.
4. Spoon the fruit and onion mixture over the brie.
5. Bake for 20 minutes, until the cheese is soft and the topping is bubbling.
6. Serve right away with crackers or crusty French bread.

This serves about 6 as an appetizer, and you can double the topping for a larger wheel if you are feeding a crowd. You can cook the cranberry fig mixture up to 2 days ahead and refrigerate it, then top and bake when guests arrive.

Storage Options

Baked brie is best fresh, but leftovers still have a place. Keep the cheese and topping covered once cooled.

1. Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
2. Reheat gently in a 325 degree oven for 10 minutes to soften the cheese again.
3. Store extra cranberry fig topping on its own for up to 5 days.

Variations & Substitutions

The recipe is flexible, so adjust it to what you have. These swaps keep this cranberry brie appetizer interesting.

1. Use Camembert in place of brie for a similar melt.
2. Swap the brandy for orange juice or apple cider to keep it alcohol-free.
3. Use dried cranberries if fresh are out of season; reduce the cook time slightly.
4. Add a handful of toasted pecans to the topping for crunch.

What to Serve with Brie with Brandied Cranberries

Brie with brandied cranberries is the centerpiece, so surround it with simple dippers and a few other bites. Here are some pairings.

1. Crusty French bread or toasted baguette slices.
2. Plain water crackers that let the topping shine.
3. Sliced apples and pears for a fresh, crisp option.
4. A warm dip like this creamy hot shrimp dip to round out the appetizer table.

A few common questions come up before this one hits the oven.

Set this out at your next gathering and watch it disappear before the main course. It is proof that the easiest dishes are often the most loved. For another crowd-pleasing starter, try this cheesy bacon pull-apart bread.

A Beautiful Bite

Brie with Brandied Cranberries and Figs

4.86 from 7 votes

Brandied fruits and caramelized onions over bubbly baked brie. A quick and easy appetizer.

Prep:10 minutes mins

Cook:20 minutes mins

Total:30 minutes mins

Servings:6 serving

Author:A Beautiful Bite

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Ingredients  

1x2x3x

• ▢ 1 8 oz wheel of brie
• ▢ 3 Tbsp butter
• ▢ ¾ cup vidalia onions chopped
• ▢ ½ cup figs finely chopped
• ▢ 3 oz fresh cranberries
• ▢ 3 Tbsp brandy
• ▢ 1½ Tbsp brown sugar
• ▢ 1 tsp kosher salt

Instructions 

• Preheat oven to 400º. Place brie in suitable sized baker.
• In a large saute pan, heat butter over median-high heat until melted. Add onions and cook for for 3-4 minutes. Add figs, cranberries, brandy, brown sugar and salt. Continue to cook for five more minutes. Remove from heat.
• Spoon fruit/onion mixture over brie. Bake in a 400º oven for 20 minutes. Serve with crackers or crusty French bread.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 68kcalProtein: 0.1gFat: 5.8gSaturated Fat: 3.7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.2gMonounsaturated Fat: 1.5gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 15mgSodium: 433mgPotassium: 1.9mgVitamin A: 8850IUCalcium: 19mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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