Learn how to make a beautiful and festive Christmas Appetizer – a baked Brie Wreath!
Baked Brie is always a crowd pleasing sharing plate during the holidays and like most of my easy recipes, just takes a few ingredients to make!
One of my favorite crowd pleasing Christmas appetizers for the last 10+ years has been baked brie in puff pastry. It has been my entertaining go to because it’s incredibly easy and uses just 3 ingredients.
From the first bite you’ll hear guests go wild over this easy Christmas appetizer. A Brie Wreath is a festive way to celebrate the holidays and a fun twist on baked brie in puff pastry!
This Baked Brie Wreath is gooey, buttery and downright delicious! The puff pastry gives in a nice texture. The brie wreath makes perfect portions for guests and are easy to separate. It doesn’t have to be perfect to feel perfectly festive, either! It’s such a great holiday appetizer to serve to friends and family.
Ingredients
This delicious holiday cheese appetizer needs just a handful of ingredients.
- Puff pastry: A ready made sheet
- Brie wheel: As good as you can afford, it is the star of the show!
- Egg: Free run / organic
- Water
To Garnish:
- Fresh cranberries
- Fresh rosemary sprigs
How to Make a Brie Wreath
- Cut a brie wheel into multiple circles using a knife or petit four cutter. If using a knife, you can roll the brie into balls to help make the wreath consistent in shape and size. If you’re really lucky, you’ll find brie bites / individual bries in your grocery store to speed up the process, otherwise it just takes 5-10 minutes to cut them yourself.
- After rolling out your puff pastry dough according to package instructions, place your brie rounds on the pastry and cut squares around them.
- Wrap the pastry around the brie, press to seal and cut to remove any excess.
- Brush with egg and water mixture (learn how to make an egg wash here) to seal and place on a parchment lined cookie sheet in a circle to create a wreath.
- Bake and allow to cool.
- Garnish with rosemary and cranberries using toothpick. Cut 1/3 of a toothpick, insert into one half of a cranberry and secure through rosemary and brie wreath.
Make Ahead
For easy entertaining during the holidays, make ahead recipes are a must! You can roll the brie in the puff pastry to form the balls and then pop them in the fridge for up to a couple of hours. Bake it in the oven just before serving.
You can also freeze the balls individually on a baking sheet and then place in a ziplock bag. Let it defrost in the refrigerator the night before baking.
Tips
- Bake in a pre-heated oven for the best results.
- Thaw your pastry before using it.
- Ensure that your pastry is completely sealed so that the cheese doesn’t leak out.
- Bake on a baking sheet lined with parchment.
- Let cool for 10 minutes before serving.
- Serve with your favorite crackers and you can also serve with cranberry chutney or jams as part of a bigger cheese board.
More Brie Appetizers
Brie Wreath Christmas Appetizer
Ingredients
- 1 puff pastry sheet
- 1 brie wheel
- 1 egg
- 1 tablespoon water
To Garnish
- 3 cranberries
- 2 sprigs rosemary
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
- Thaw and unfold pastry on floured surface per package directions. Roll out using flour as needed.
- Cut brie wheel into equal circles using a knife or petit four cutters.
- Place brie circles on puff pastry and cut squares to cover them.
- Cover each circle pressing puff pastry to seal on bottom. Make sure they are sealed tight so brie doesn’t leak out.
- Mix water and egg to create an egg wash. Brush onto the bottom over the seal. Form into a wreath shape and coat the wreath.
- Bake 13. Remove and allow to cool 10 minutes before serving.
Julie’s Tips
- Bake in a pre-heated oven for the best results.
- Thaw your pastry before using it.
- Ensure that your pastry is completely sealed so that the cheese doesn’t leak out.
- Bake on a baking sheet lined with parchment.
- Let cool for 10 minutes before serving.
- If any brie leaks during baking, don’t fret, after it has cooled for 10 minutes remove excess with a knife and transfer to serving dish.
Estimated nutrition information is provided as a courtesy and is not guaranteed.
So festive! Could this be assembled, freeze and bake when needed?
I haven’t tested it, but it should – both puff pastry and brie freeze well. Enjoy!
This looks incredible! I need to try it this year!
Thanks, Michelle!
This looks festive & delicious. I’m curious if this can be made a bit ahead?
You can warm it back up but this recipe is truly best served shortly after being removed from the oven.
I can’t wait to make this! You make it look so easy!
Thank you, Lauren! It is so easy! Enjoy!
LOVE this idea! So festive and delicious!