Description
Festive cranberry brie bread bowl delights guests with rich, creamy textures and holiday spirit. Warm, crusty bread cradles melted cheese and tart berries, creating an irresistible appetizer you’ll want to share with friends.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 round loaf of rustic bread (bread boule)
- 1 12-oz (340 g) wheel of brie, top rind removed (preferably triple cream)
- ½ cup (120 ml) whole berry cranberry sauce
- 2 tbsps fresh thyme leaves
- Kosher salt, to taste
- Freshly ground pepper, to taste
- 2 tbsps (30 ml) olive oil
Instructions
- Oven Preparation: Warm the oven to 350°F, positioning the rack in the center. Select a round bread loaf and confidently slice off the top quarter to create a removable lid.
- Bread Excavation: Trace the brie wheel’s outline within the bread’s interior, meticulously carving a precise cavity. Create decorative perimeter cuts three-quarters deep at 1.5-inch intervals. Brush the interior with olive oil, seasoning with salt and pepper. Scatter half the fresh thyme across the bread’s inner landscape.
- Cheese Embedding: Gently position the brie wheel into the prepared cavity. Sprinkle remaining thyme over the cheese surface, then cascade cranberry sauce evenly across the top. Replace the bread lid, ensuring a snug connection.
- Baking Performance: Transfer the assembled bread vessel onto a lined baking sheet. Slide into the preheated oven, baking for 20 minutes until the cheese transforms into a molten pool and the bread develops a crisp, golden exterior. Optional: lightly toast the reserved bread pieces for additional dipping potential.
- Serving Ritual: Extract from the oven and allow a brief moment of rest. Present immediately, inviting guests to tear and share the herb-infused, sauce-laden culinary creation while the cheese remains luxuriously melted.
Notes
- Precision Carving Technique: Carefully trace the brie wheel to create a perfect cavity without compromising the bread’s structure, ensuring a snug fit for the cheese.
- Seasoning Strategy: Generously coat the bread’s interior with olive oil and season with salt and pepper to enhance the overall flavor profile and create a rich, aromatic base.
- Thyme Distribution Tip: Spread fresh thyme both inside the bread and over the cheese surface to infuse deep, herbaceous notes throughout the dish.
- Serving Suggestion: Serve immediately after baking to enjoy the maximum melting potential of the cheese and the crispy bread exterior, creating an irresistible communal dining experience.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 37 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg