This delicious Baked Brie with Pecans and Cherry Sauce has a brown sugar coating on the Brie, roasted pecans, and a sweet cherry vanilla balsamic sauce that perfectly complements the brie. We use frozen cherries to make it a year-round treat. It is one of my favorite appetizers; we love serving it with baguette slices or crackers. It is perfect served on its own or as part of a larger charcuterie board; it is both beautiful and delicious!
What we love about this Baked Brie with Pecans and Cherry Sauce
I love brie cheese. I am a cheese and crackers girl 100%. I make various baked bries, and love them with a brown sugar crust on top, combined with a topping. This recipe is my favorite. The inspiration for this recipe came from the cookbook Platters and Boards by Shelly Westerhausen. She uses a cherry balsamic sauce with Camembert cheese. I prefer the addition of vanilla to the sauce, reduce the balsamic, and make other slight changes with ingredient amounts.
This is a perfect recipe for charcuterie boards, bridal showers, book clubs, family gatherings, and it is beautiful as an appetizer for the 4th of July, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. I love how versatile the frozen cherries are in the recipe, because this truly is a year-round treat.
Looking for other delicious appetizers? Try our Shrimp with Bang Bang Sauce or our Shredded Beef Sliders!
What you need to make this Baked Brie
You will need the following ingredients:
- Brie cheese
- Brown sugar
- Pecans
- Frozen cherries
- Balsamic Vinegar
- Vanilla
Baked Brie Recipe Substitutions
I know what it’s like when you don’t have everything on hand and the last thing you want to do is run to the store and pick something up. Here are a few ideas to substitute items on the ingredients list if needed:
- I have used a brie wedge instead of a wheel. You could use Camembert or triple cream cheese in place of the brie cheese.
- I think other fruits could be lovely. While I haven’t tried it, frozen blueberry, cranberry, or blackberries could be alternatives to the cherries.
- You could replace the brown sugar in the sauce with sugar, honey, or maple syrup for a slightly different flavor profile.
- Walnuts, pistachios, or almonds could all substitute for the pecans if desired.
- I have tried this with and without balsamic vinegar, and it definitely tastes better with the vinegar. The balsamic vinegar doesn’t make the sauce taste like vinegar; rather, the acidity of the vinegar balances the natural sweetness of the fruit and sugar and enhances the flavor of the fruit. It adds more depth and complexity to the sauce. I don’t recommend omitting it; the sauce definitely tastes better with it.
Step-by-step Instructions for this Baked Brie with Pecans
Step 1. Put the Brie cheese wheel on the baking sheet and top the Brie with 2 tablespoons of the brown sugar, spreading evenly to cover the entire Brie.
Step 2. Bake the Brie for 8 minutes, then remove the dish from the oven, spread the pecans in an even layer on the pan around the Brie, and bake for an additional 4 minutes.
Step 3. While the Brie bakes, in a small pan, combine the remaining 2 tablespoons of the brown sugar, the frozen cherries, balsamic vinegar, and vanilla. Bring the cherry mixture to a simmer over medium heat, stirring often until the brown sugar has dissolved.
Step 4. Using a spatula or a straight edge dough scraper, transfer the baked Brie to a small serving dish. Top with the cherry sauce and pecans, and serve warm with crackers, baguette slices, or crostini.
Tips
- I have tried this with and without balsamic vinegar, and it definitely tastes better with the vinegar. The balsamic vinegar doesn’t make the sauce taste like vinegar; rather, the acidity of the vinegar balances the natural sweetness of the fruit and sugar and enhances the flavor of the fruit. It adds more depth and complexity to the sauce. I don’t recommend omitting it; the sauce definitely tastes better with it.
- My local grocery store only carries a mix of sweet and sour frozen cherries. You can use either, or a mix of both here.
Frequently Asked Questions
| How to store Baked Brie with Pecans and Cherry Sauce? Can you make it ahead of time? |
| a. Once the Brie has been baked and covered in the sauce and pecans, it will last up to 3-4 days, covered, in the fridge. To keep it food safe, it should not be out at room temperature for more than 2 hours. The pecans will soften over time once refrigerated and covered with the sauce. For best texture, I would recommend eating it within a day or two of making it. (It rarely lasts much longer before it is eaten!) c. Baked brie is best served warm on the day it is prepared, and I wouldn’t recommend making it in advance. The pecans will soften once refrigerated with the sauce as well. However, the cherry sauce can be stored for 3-5 days in the fridge and can be made in advance if desired. Once it has cooled to room temperature, place it in an airtight container and store it in the fridge. Reheat it in a small pot over medium heat, stirring occasionally, to rewarm before serving. |
| How to reheat baked Brie? |
| a. Place the Brie on a baking sheet and reheat at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 10-15 minutes or until warmed through. You can also reheat it in the microwave until heated through, about 1-2 minutes. b. The Brie can also be eaten cold as leftovers as well if desired. |
Baked Brie with Pecans and Cherry Sauce
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minutesThis delicious Baked Brie with Pecans and Cherry Sauce has a brown sugar coating on the brie, roasted pecans, and a sweet cherry vanilla balsamic sauce that perfectly complements the brie. We use frozen cherries to make it a year-round treat. It is one of my favorite appetizers; we love serving it with baguette slices or crackers. It is perfect served on its own or as part of a larger charcuterie board; it is both beautiful and delicious!
Ingredients
8 -ounce Brie cheese wheel
¾ cup chopped pecans
4 tablespoons packed brown sugar, divided
⅔ cup frozen cherries
½ teaspoon balsamic vinegar
¼ teaspoon vanilla
Directions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Put the Brie cheese wheel on the baking sheet and top the Brie with 2 tablespoons of the brown sugar, spreading evenly to cover the entire Brie.
- Bake the Brie for 8 minutes, then remove the dish from the oven, spread the pecans in an even layer on the pan around the Brie, and bake for an additional 4 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven and allow the cheese to cool for a few minutes.
- While the Brie bakes, in a small pan, combine the remaining 2 tablespoons of the brown sugar, the frozen cherries, balsamic vinegar, and vanilla. Bring the cherry mixture to a simmer over medium heat, stirring often until the brown sugar has dissolved. The cherries will begin to release their juices as they cook and create a sauce with the other ingredients. Remove from the heat.
- Using a spatula or a straight edge dough scraper, transfer the baked Brie to a small serving dish. Top with the cherry sauce and pecans, and serve warm with crackers, baguette slices, or crostini.
Notes
- My local grocery store only carries a mix of sweet and sour frozen cherries. You can use either sweet or sour cherries, or a mix of both.
- I highly recommend using the balsamic vinegar here. The acidity of the vinegar balances the natural sweetness of the fruit and sugar and enhances the flavor of the fruit. It adds more depth and complexity to the sauce. I don’t recommend omitting it; the sauce definitely tastes better with it.
- I like this best with slices of baguette, toasted or not. It is also delicious with a variety of crackers.
Love this cherry version of baked brie! So easy to make yet such a showstopper.
Thank you! It really is so easy and yummy! Thanks for the great feedback!
Wow– this looks so beautiful and delicious. I am sure mine won’t look like yours but I am making this!!
Thank you Eva! I know it will look beautiful when you make it, it really is such a pretty and delicious dish. Thanks for the great feedback!
We hosted our family the other day, and this brie was definitely the showstopper.
I am so happy to hear that! Thanks for taking the time to stop by and let me know you enjoyed it. We love this Brie as well!
I love baked brie, but have never tried it with cherries. What a great idea!
Thank you so much! I am a huge baked Brie fan too, the cherry sauce is so good with it and I love that with the frozen cherries you can make it year round. Thank you for taking the time to stop by and leave some feedback!
What a yummy combo! Baked brie is always a crowd favorite here and the cherries make it that much more! Thank you for a great recipe!
Thank you! We love this brie, the cherry sauce really tastes so good with the Brie! I’m so glad to hear that you like it, thanks for dropping by and letting me know!
You had me at brie! Cherries are my absolute favorite! Thanks for the recipe!
I am a huge Brie fan too. Thank you for taking the time to stop by, this recipe is a definite keeper and is great for entertaining. Hope you enjoy it!
I tried this baked brie recipe and they turned out amazing and my family just loved them, thanks for sharing such a wonderful recipe!