BAKED BRIE WITH FIG PRESERVES
Recipe by
George Graham
Prep Time
40 min
Cook Time
1 hour
Total Time
1 hour 40 min
Serves
6 to 8
Ingredients
• 1 (9-inch) store-bought piecrust
• 1 apple, peeled, cored, and sliced
• ½ cup pecan halves
• 1 (8-ounce) wheel of brie cheese, with rind
• ½ cup fig preserves
• 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1 package Pepperidge Farm Puff Pastry sheets
• 1 beaten egg
• Sea salt
Instructions
1. Preheat your oven to 350ºF.
2. Place the piecrust in a baking dish or a disposable aluminum pie pan. Spread the apple slices over the bottom and place the pecans throughout to build a base foundation. Cut the wheel of brie in half through the middle and position the bottom half over the foundation of the piecrust. Spread the center of the brie with a thick layer of fig preserves. Sprinkle the figs with red pepper flakes. Add the top half of the brie.
3. Drape one of the puff pastry sheets over the top of the cheese and tuck in the sides along the edge of the pie pan. Cut decorative shapes (leaves, stars, etc.) from the remaining puff pastry dough and add to the top. Brush with beaten egg and sprinkle with sea salt.
4. Bake in the oven until the top is golden brown and the cheese inside has melted, 40 to 60 minutes.
5. Serve with crackers on the side.
Notes
The pecans and apple act as a buffer to keep the base of the piecrust as dry as possible to allow the bottom to bake without becoming soggy. No need to precook the apples since they will soften during the baking and add texture to the hot melted cheese. The rind is completely edible and should be left on the cheese. Buy your artisan-made fig preserves at your local farmers market, or if that is not convenient, I see various brands of fig jam in specialty stores nationwide, so try one of those. Feel free to improvise with ingredients; I’ve made this recipe with orange marmalade, satsuma jelly, and even cranberries for a holiday version. It is very versatile. If there are any leftovers, reheat in the oven, not a microwave (to prevent the crust from becoming soggy). Camembert cheese is a good substitute if brie is unavailable.
