This is the perfect dish to serve before a dinner party, or as an appetizer to tide people over before the big dishes are served. The sweet and savory elements of this small dish are worth their weight in gold – you are sure to have every guest begging you for the recipe by the end of the night!
Ingredients:
- 1 whole wheel of Brie Cheese
- ½ honey crisp apple, minced
- 10 dried apricots, minced (if apricots are in prime season, feel free to use fresh apricots, just be sure to mince finely)
- ¼ cup currants
- ¼ cup pecans, chopped
- 1/3 cup white wine
- 1 Tbs. brown sugar
Heat oven to 350 degrees.
Begin by setting the Brie cheese out to soften for 15 minutes prior – it should not sit out longer than this, as it will become too soft and hard to cut.
Meanwhile, combine minced apple, minced apricots, currants, pecans and white wine in a small bowl. Set aside for fruit and nuts to absorb the white wine.
Take a sharp knife and cut half an inch inside from the outer edges of the wheel all around the circle of the Brie. Do not cut all the way through – we are simply taking the “lid” off the Brie wheel momentarily. Spoon out half of the cheese in order to make room for the fruit and nuts to go inside the inner circle of the cheese.
Remove and set the “lid” of the Brie cheese aside. Begin to spoon soaked fruit and nuts into inner hollow of Brie wheel – allow the white wine to drizzle over top as it will be soaked up during baking. Once the hollow part of the wheel is full, spoon any remaining fruit and nuts around the brie on a baking sheet, with a sheet of foil.
Place the Brie “lid” back on the wheel of cheese, but only partially – allow the middle fruits and nuts to show, and the “lid” cheese will melt down into the center.
Sprinkle brown sugar on and around the cheese, fruit, and nuts.
Place into oven for 20 minutes – frequently check in on the dish to be sure the cheese is partially melting but not burning.
Remove the dish from the oven once you can see the cheese is perfectly melted and the fruit and nuts are slightly toasted.
Cut up thin slices of baguette and serve with cheese knife. Guests can pile melted brie and wine-soaked fruit and nuts onto toasted bread points or fresh baguette.
Let us know how this affordable, delicious dish works out for you and your guests!
