Baked Brie with Hot Honey, Cranberries and Puff Pastry

Baked brie with hot honey is the holiday appetizer that disappears before anything else on the table. A whole wheel of creamy brie is wrapped in flaky puff pastry with tart cranberry sauce and toasted pecans, baked until golden, then finished with a sweet-spicy drizzle.

It is an easy Christmas baked brie that looks like you fussed for hours, yet it takes just 15 minutes of prep. Hot honey has become a go-to viral ingredient, and paired with cranberries and melted cheese it is hard to beat.

Recipe at a Glance

Prep time: 15 minutes

Cook time: 25 minutes

Total time: 40 minutes (plus 10 minutes resting)

Servings: 8

Category: Appetizer

Why You’ll Love This Baked Brie with Hot Honey

• It looks like a showstopper but needs only 15 minutes of prep.
• Sweet, spicy, salty and tangy in every single bite.
• Make it ahead: wrap the brie and refrigerate for up to 24 hours before baking.
• Easy to scale for a party by baking two wheels at once.
• Pairs with crackers, baguette, apples and pears, so it fits any cheese board.

Ingredients You’ll Need

• 1 wheel (8 oz / 225 g) Brie, cold
• 1 sheet (about 9 oz / 250 g) all-butter puff pastry, thawed
• 1/3 cup (80 g) whole-berry cranberry sauce
• 2 tablespoons chopped pecans or pistachios
• 2 tablespoons hot honey, plus more for drizzling
• 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves, plus sprigs for garnish
• 1 egg, beaten with 1 tablespoon water
• All-purpose flour, for dusting
• Crackers, baguette slices, apple and pear slices, for serving

How to Make Baked Brie with Hot Honey in Puff Pastry

1. Heat the oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Stir 1 tablespoon of the hot honey into the cranberry sauce. Roll the puff pastry on a floured surface into a 12-inch (30 cm) square.
3. Spoon the cranberry mixture into the center of the pastry, then scatter on the nuts and thyme. Set the cold brie on top.
4. Fold the pastry corners up and over the brie, pinching the seams to seal. Trim any excess and cut decorative leaves from the scraps.
5. Flip the parcel seam-side down onto the baking sheet, press on the decorations, and brush all over with egg wash.
6. Bake for 22 to 25 minutes until deep golden brown.
7. Rest for 10 minutes, drizzle with the remaining hot honey, garnish with thyme and serve warm.

Tips for the Best Baked Brie with Hot Honey

• Keep the brie and pastry cold so the pastry puffs and the cheese does not leak.
• Seal the seams well, because any gap lets the cheese escape.
• Chill the wrapped brie for 15 to 30 minutes before baking for extra-flaky pastry.
• Do not overbake. If cheese starts to push out, pull it from the oven.
• Rest it for 10 minutes so the center is molten but not runny.

Variations to Try

• Swap the cranberry sauce for fig jam, or pear and rosemary.
• Skip the pastry and bake the brie in its rind for 15 minutes with the same toppings.
• Use pistachios and dried cherries for a festive twist.
• Try roasted garlic and rosemary for a savory version with no honey.
• Use crescent roll dough if you cannot find puff pastry.

How to Store It

This is best served fresh, but leftovers keep wrapped in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat at 350°F (175°C) for 10 to 12 minutes to re-crisp the pastry. An unbaked, wrapped brie can wait in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. Do not freeze it once baked.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make baked brie in puff pastry ahead of time?

Yes. Assemble it, cover and refrigerate for up to 24 hours, then brush with egg wash and bake straight from the fridge.

Do you remove the rind from brie before baking?

No. The rind holds the cheese together and is completely edible once baked.

What temperature do you bake brie in puff pastry?

Bake at 400°F (200°C) for 22 to 25 minutes, until the pastry is deep golden.

What goes with baked brie?

Crackers, baguette slices, apple and pear slices, grapes and extra hot honey are all great for dipping and spreading.

Baked Brie with Hot Honey

Creamy brie wrapped in flaky puff pastry with cranberry sauce, pecans and hot honey. An easy holiday appetizer that looks like a showstopper.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 25 minutes mins

Servings: 8

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Calories: 320

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

  

• 1 wheel 8 oz Brie, cold
• 1 sheet puff pastry about 9 oz, thawed
• 1/3 cup whole-berry cranberry sauce
• 2 tablespoons chopped pecans or pistachios
• 2 tablespoons hot honey plus more for drizzling
• 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
• 1 egg beaten with 1 tablespoon water
• All-purpose flour for dusting
• Crackers baguette slices and apple slices, for serving

Equipment

• Rimmed baking sheet (for baking)
• Parchment paper (for lining the sheet)
• Rolling pin (for rolling out the pastry)
• Pastry brush (for the egg wash)

Method

 

1. Step 1: Heat the oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment.
2. Step 2: Stir 1 tablespoon of hot honey into the cranberry sauce. Roll the pastry into a 12-inch square.
3. Tip: Dust the counter lightly so the pastry does not stick.
4. Step 3: Spoon the cranberry mixture into the center of the pastry, add the nuts and thyme, and set the brie on top.
5. Step 4: Fold the pastry up and over the brie and pinch the seams to seal. Trim excess and cut decorations from the scraps.
6. Tip: Chill for 15 to 30 minutes for extra-flaky pastry.
7. Step 5: Flip seam-side down onto the baking sheet, add the decorations and brush with egg wash.
8. Step 6: Bake for 22 to 25 minutes until deep golden brown.
9. Step 7: Rest for 10 minutes, drizzle with the remaining hot honey, garnish with thyme and serve warm.

Notes

Keep the brie and pastry cold until it goes into the oven so the cheese does not leak.
Can be assembled and refrigerated up to 24 hours ahead. Reheat leftovers at 350°F (175°C) for 10 to 12 minutes.