How to Make Baked Brie with Cranberry, the Easy Holiday Appetizer That Looks Super Fancy

If you’re after Thanksgiving or Friendsgiving appetizers, Cranberry Baked Brie is the simplest holiday recipe you’ll ever attempt! Ahead, I’m showing exactly how to make it, starting with an easy, 15-minute homemade cranberry sauce. Then, we’ll bake the brie until it’s nice and melty, brush it with maple syrup, and top with cranberry sauce.

Speaking of, let’s talk sauce, because homemade cranberry sauce is as incredibly delicious as it is incredibly easy to make. Feel free to use store bought in a pinch. If you do use store-bought, warm it up gently and add some extra flavor in the form of fun mix-ins like maple syrup, orange, zest, allspice, or even a splash of gin or bourbon.

To finish off this easy appetizer, you’ll need to score the top of a round of brie. Then, bake it at 350 degrees for 10-14 minutes. You can bake in a brie baker or similar oven-safe vessel, or simply place the brie on a sheet pan. If you bake it on a sheet pan, you’ll just transfer to your serving platter with a pancake flipper.

Brush the hot, melty brie with a little maple syrup, spoon over that gorgeous cranberry sauce, and call yourself Martha, because this is a Thanksgiving appetizer everyone is going to swoon over! Serve it up with crackers, baguette slices, and anything else you like. Scroll on for the full recipe. Happy Friendsgiving and Thanksgiving, friends!

How to Make Baked Brie

Prep time: 35 minutes

Yields: 4-8 servings

Ingredients:

• Homemade Cranberry Sauce (can use store-bought in a pinch)
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 cups fresh or frozen whole cranberries, rinsed
  • 2 Tbsp maple syrup
  • 1 tsp bourbon (can omit if needed)
  • 1 tsp orange zest
  • Pinch of allspice
• One, 8-ounce round of Brie
• 1 additional Tbsp maple syrup
• Crackers, baguette slices, etc. for serving

Instructions:

Make the cranberry sauce:

• Add sugar and water to a medium saucepan over medium high heat. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium, stirring constantly until the sugar dissolves, about 1-2 minutes.
• Next, lower the heat to a simmer over low heat and add the cranberries. Bring the mixture to a boil again (this is important for the sauce to thicken!), and then reduce the heat to a simmer over medium low heat.
• Cook, stirring occasionally, until the cranberries are mostly broken down. This will take about 10 minutes.
• Next, stir in your mix-ins of choice. Use the sauce right away, or transfer to the fridge to store for up to a week before using.

Make the baked brie:

• Place the brie round in a brie baker or similar oven-safe dish, or on a parchment lined baking sheet.
• Bake at 350 degrees F for 10-15 minutes, until nice and melty.
• Transfer to a serving platter and brush the top of the brie with the maple syrup.
• Spoon the cranberry sauce on top, and serve with crackers, baguette slices, etc.

Did you try this cranberry baked brie? Show us your Thanksgiving and Friendsgiving appetizers on Instagram or TikTok @lulus using #lovelulus and head to our Holiday Shop to outfit yourself for Friendsgiving, Thanksgiving, and beyond!

This recipe comes from our food contributor, Stephanie Simmons, of Blue Bowl. Her goal with her kitchen-tested recipes is to get you excited about cooking, show you how good food can taste, and prove that you don’t need to spend hours in the kitchen to make a good meal.