Brie en Croute
And my friends, THIS is where #Balance comes into play! I am not going to try to play like this is a super healthy recipe; it is not! However, you can customize it some many ways, with fruits, nuts and even crabmeat! I have been asked for this recipe more times than I can begin to count! It is THAT good! It makes for a beautiful appetizer to share with a group and freezes well for a break out item when you have company!
There are hundreds of ways to alter this recipe and pretty much every single possibility is delicious! I mean, how could pastry dough baked up with brie and anything else stuffed in it not be good? This is not gluten free...but the splurge is so worth it. It is a Holiday Staple for us! Imagine all the possibilities! It is lovely with Granny Smith Apple slices, Figs and Fig Preserves or even Lump Crab Meat! If you need to make it Gluten free, simply stuff it and leave the pastry off - cut your baking time in half! ;)
One of the best things about this recipe is that you can make it ahead, wrap it in parchment paper and place in a large Ziploc and it will keep in the freezer ready to rock! Just thaw it for a few hours and bake! During the holidays I make several at a time and keep them all in the freezer with Christmas cutouts on them - they make lovely gifts with an attached recipe and a nice cracker trio!
What you need... 1 package of Pepperidge Farms Pastry Dough (if I'm feeling frisky I make my own pastry - http://www.kingarthurflour.com/…/classic-puff-pastry-pate-f… 1 wheel of brie (you can vary it for any size depending on how many you are trying to serve) 2 tablespoons brown sugar or coconut sugar 1/4 cup dried cherries 1/4 cup sliced almonds cooking spray cookie cutters (optional) pastry roller
Preheat oven to 400F. Open brie, using a knife scrape some of the rind off. Slice the brie in half to make 2 circles. Fold out one piece of pastry dough and lightly roll it out to about 2" wider and longer. Place 1 circle of brie in the center. Top with 1 tablespoon brown sugar, half the almond and half the cherries. Place second circle on top and repeat, reserving a few almond for garnish. Fold corners of the pastry dough to the center of the brie, press to seal. Flip the brie oven and place into a lightly greased baking dish. Garnish with cutouts using the other piece of pastry dough from the package and the remaining almonds. Spray the dough with cooking spray and place into the oven. Bake for 40 minutes or until brown and puffy. Slice open to spill the bubbly cheese and serve!
