Brie en Croute is basically French for cheese wrapped in bread, and I can't think of anything more awesome. This one features fig jam and thyme, but the flavor combinations are endless.
Cheese and crackers were a must at the holidays in my house growing up. As a kid, French cheese was a bit beyond our means or interest. My dad used to come home and get out a big block of cheddar and a knife and just give everyone pieces of cheese as a snack, so we weren't splurging on imported fancy cheeses.
It was Hickory Farms Summer sausages, Ritz crackers, and cheddar cheese on a platter next to a bowl of Christmas M&Ms. That's what the holidays looked like at my house growing up. I absolutely loved every minute of that 80's working class deliciousness. It's clear from the contents of this blog that I've barely moved on.
What makes Brie en Croute so awesome?
I remember the first time I made Brie en Croute for my family at Christmas. That was the same year I introduced them to mimosas. My dad was instantly hooked. Gooey melted cheese wrapped in flaky puff pastry with lots of awesome flavors tucked inside is basically heaven. You can add all sorts of toppings inside. Think cranberry sauce, pecans or walnuts, fresh herbs, whatever floats your boat. This one has fig jam and fresh thyme.
This is super easy to make as well, so if you want to contribute to the party spread but you're not much of a cook, this is for you. People will be so impressed, they'll never imagine how easy it was. It's really more smart shopping than anything else. Whenever you have a dish with only a few ingredients, the quality is emphasized, so consider splurging just a little bit.
Make it magical
You can make your Brie en Croute as simple or elaborate as you like. You'll have some spare puff pastry, so this is the perfect opportunity to use sigil magick in the kitchen. I topped mine with a simple five-pointed star or pentagram. I just used a star cookie cutter. You could create a more elaborate shape with strips of puff pastry or sprinkle fresh herbs on top in a sacred spiral or infinity symbol. Just think about the intention you want to set and the vibe you want to create with the dish, and add a symbol to represent that.
For details on the magical properties of the ingredients in this recipe, check the Kitchen Magick page.
Ingredients
Here's everything you'll need to make this dish. All the details are in the recipe card below.
- Brie - you'll need a whole wheel
- Puff Pastry - do yourself a favor and buy the pre-rolled sheets, you'll need enough to cover the whole wheel of cheese completely
- Egg - to make an egg wash
- Fillings - such as jam, chutney, nuts, or herbs
Tips for making Brie en Croute
This is very simple, but there are a few things you can do to help guarantee your success. First off, make sure your oven is fully preheated, this will help your puff pastry puff higher and brown better. If the oven isn't hot enough, the butter in the pastry will just melt before it can form those flaky layers.
Also, make sure that your cheese and all your fillings are well sealed inside your pastry. Use the egg was to act as glue and really pinch your seams together. Mine had a big of a blow out, which is not the end of the world but more messy that one might like.
As for fillings, of course, the cheese is completely delicious all on its own, but if you want to compliment it with a relish, jam, or chutney, that will only make it extra awesome. Cranberry is an obvious choice, especially at the holidays, but the options are endless. Let yourself be guided by the seasons and your personal taste.
If you to add a bit of crunch, some chopped nuts such as pecans, walnuts, or hazelnuts could add some texture. With my Hawaiian background, I always love to work with macadamia nuts. You could also add fresh herbs such as thyme, marjoram, or rosemary to punch up the flavor.
FAQ
I leave the rind on because it helps the cheese hold its shape inside its pastry shell. If you remove the top of the rind, you're more likely to have cheese oozing out. The rind is perfectly edible.
I hope you try some Brie en Croute the next time you want to elevate your cheese and crackers game. It's absolutely awesome.
Looking for more awesome cheesy appetizers? Try this easy Whipped Ricotta or some gooey Swiss & Bacon Dip.
PrintBrie En Croute
Brie en Croute is basically French for cheese wrapped in bread, and I can't think of anything more awesome. This one features fig jam and thyme, but the flavor combinations are endless.
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 25
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: varies
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: French
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
- 1 wheel of brie
- 1 sheet puff pastry
- 1 egg, beaten
- 3 tablespoons fig jam or other topping
- ½ teaspoon fresh thyme or other herbs
Instructions
- Preheat your oven 375 F (190 C) and line a baking sheet with parchment or a silicone baking sheet
- Spread out your sheet of puff pastry and place the unwrapped wheel of cheese on top.
- Spoon your jam over the top, and sprinkle on herbs (and nuts if you're using them), then fold the puff pastry over the cheese to completely encase it in the pastry. Trim extra pastry and pinch together any seams.
- If you want to add any decorations with your excess puff pastry, add those now, then brush the whole things with your beaten egg. Be sure you don't create a pool of egg around the bottom though, as this will "glue" your pastry to the baking sheet.
- Bake for about 25 minutes or until puffed and golden brown. Let the whole thing cool for 5-10 minutes before cutting into it.
- Serve hot with crackers or crusty bread.
Notes
This is best served fresh, so consider how many people you want to serve when selecting the size of your wheel of brie.
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