This Baked Cranberry Brie Bread Bowl is an easy holiday appetizer made with melted Brie cheese and sweet, tart cranberry sauce baked right inside a loaf of bread. It’s the perfect appetizer for a holiday gathering!
One of my favorite things about this appetizer is that the bread bowl doubles as a serving dish! You start by hollowing out a round loaf of bread, fill it with cranberry sauce and Brie, and bake until the cheese is warm and gooey. Cut the bread around the edges so guests can pull off pieces and dip them right into the melted cheese.
It looks fancy but you only need three ingredients to make it. Plus, there’s hardly any cleanup afterward!
If you’re looking for more holiday appetizers, try my crockpot grape jelly meatballs or bacon deviled eggs.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Perfect for a last minute appetizer: You can have everything assembled in just a few minutes before popping it in the oven.
- No extra serving dishes: Everything gets served in the bread bowl so there’s one less dish to wash afterward.
- Easy to customize: Add chopped pecans, drizzle of honey or a fresh rosemary for a little something extra.
Baked Cranberry Brie Ingredients
- Round Bread Loaf: A round sourdough or crusty artisan bread works best. Choose one that’s large enough to hold the Brie and has a sturdy crust to hold its shape while baking.
- Cranberry Sauce: You can use homemade or store-bought.
- Brie Cheese: Use a wheel of Brie that will fit inside your bread bowl.
How to Make Baked Cranberry Brie
Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350℉. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Step 2: Place the Brie wheel on top of the bread to measure the opening. Cut a circle into the top of the bread, making it slightly larger than the cheese. Remove the top and hollow out enough bread to make room for the filling. Don’t cut to the bottom.
Step 3: Add ½ cup of cranberry sauce to the bottom of the bread bowl.
Step 4: Slice a thin layer of rind from the top and bottom of the Brie.
Step 5: Place the Brie on top of the cranberry sauce in the bread bowl.
Step 6: Place the bread lid back on top and bake for about 20 minutes, or until the Brie is soft and melted.
Step 7: Remove from oven and take the bread lid off. Gently stir the cranberry sauce and melted Brie.
Step 8: Make cuts around the outside of the bread, stopping before you reach the bottom, so guests can easily pull off pieces and dip into. Serve immediately while warm.
Helpful Tips and Variations
- Choose the right bread. Use a sturdy bread to hold up once the cheese melts. A round sourdough loaf is a good one to use.
- Don’t hollow out too much bread. Leave a thick layer along the bottom and sides to prevent the melted cheese from leaking out.
- Save the bread pieces. Don’t throw away the bread you remove from the center! Cut it into bite-sized pieces and serve it alongside the appetizer for dipping.
- Be sure to remove the Brie rind before baking. Removing the rind is an important step in this recipes and makes the cheese melt easier and stir into the cranberry sauce.
- Try a drizzle of honey. A little honey adds sweetness and pairs nicely with the tart cranberries and creamy Brie.
How to Store Leftovers
Allow to cool and store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven at 325℉ for a few minutes until cheese is heated through and melted again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can. Place the Brie in a small oven-safe baking dish and spoon the cranberry sauce over the top. Bake at 350℉ for about 10-15 minutes or until melted. Serve with crackers, toasted baguette slices or fresh bread.
Camembert is a good substitute because it has a similar texture and melts nicely.
Recipe
Cranberry Brie Bread Bowl
Ingredients
- 1 Round Loaf Bread
- ½ cup cranberry sauce
- 1 wheel Brie cheese
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350℉. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Place the Brie wheel on top of the bread to measure the opening. Cut a circle into the top of the bread, making it slightly larger than the cheese. Remove the top and hollow out enough bread to make room for the filling. Don't cut to the bottom.
- Add ½ cup of cranberry sauce to the bottom of the bread bowl.
- Slice a thin layer of rind from the top and bottom of the Brie.
- Place the Brie on top of the cranberry sauce in the bread bowl.
- Place the bread lid back on top and bake for about 20 minutes, or until the Brie is soft and melted.
- Remove from oven and take the bread lid off. Gently stir the cranberry sauce and melted Brie.
- Make cuts around the outside of the bread, stopping before you reach the bottom, so guests can easily pull off pieces and dip into. Serve immediately while warm.
Nutrition
Nutrition Disclosure
Nutritional facts are estimates and are provided as a courtesy to the reader. Please utilize your own brand nutritional values to double check against our estimates. Nutritional values are calculated via a third party. Changing ingredients, amounts or cooking technique will alter the estimated nutritional calculations.
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