Baked Brie with Apples & Cranberries

Our Toaster Oven Pan keeps this festive appetizer warm, allowing guests to savor every bite.

Ingredients

  • 1/2 medium apple
  • 1/4 cup (50 mL) sliced almonds
  • 1/4 cup (50 mL) sweetened dried cranberries
  • 1 tbsp (15 mL) packed brown sugar
  • 1/4 tsp (1 mL) cinnamon
  • 1 tbsp (15 mL) butter or margarine, melted
  • 1 4-in. (10-cm) round (8 oz/250 g) Brie or Camembert cheese with rind, room temperature
  •  Apple wedges or assorted crackers (optional)

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Chop apple with Food Chopper. Combine apple, almonds, cranberries, sugar and cinnamon in Small Batter Bowl; mix gently. Stir in butter just until ingredients are moistened.

  2. Cut Brie in half horizontally using Utility Knife. Place one half of Brie, rind side down, on Toaster Oven Pan. Spoon half of the apple mixture onto bottom half of Brie, spreading evenly. Top with remaining half of Brie, rind side up. Spoon remaining apple mixture over Brie.

  3. Bake 12-15 minutes or until Brie begins to soften. Serve with apple wedges or assorted crackers, if desired.

Yield:

  • 8  servings

Nutrients per serving:

(excluding optional ingredients) Calories 150, Total Fat 11 g, Saturated Fat 6 g, Cholesterol 30 mg, Carbohydrate 7 g, Protein 7 g, Sodium 190 mg, Fiber 1 g 

U.S. Diabetic exchanges per serving:

1/2 fruit, 1 medium-fat meat, 1 fat (1/2 carb)

Cook's Tips:

Variation: Baked Brie with Pesto & Mushrooms: Using Food Chopper, chop 4 ounces mushrooms (1 cup) and 1/2 cup seasoned croutons. In Small (8-in.) Sauté Pan, cook mushrooms in 2 teaspoons olive oil 2-3 minutes over medium-high heat; remove pan from heat. Add chopped croutons and 1/4 cup prepared basil pesto; mix gently. Assemble and bake Brie as recipe directs. Garnish with red bell pepper strips.

Prepared basil pesto, which is often packaged in tubs, can be found in the refrigerated fresh pasta or Italian foods section of the supermarket. Its distinctive flavor comes from fresh basil leaves, garlic, pine nuts, Parmesan cheese and olive oil.

Brie is a French cheese known for its soft texture and downy, white rind. When preparing Brie, leave the rind on the cheese. The entire cheese is edible, including the rind. An 8-ounce wedge of Brie can be substituted for the round.

Golden raisins or dried cherries can be substituted for dried cranberries, if desired.

Celebrate with Style: For special holiday gatherings, this elegant appetizer can be the centerpiece of a complete cheese tray. Add several other cheeses, from mild to sharp, bread sticks, crackers, apples, pears and grapes for a sophisticated party offering.

 

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