Brie in Puff Pastry with Cranberry Sauce (Appetizers)

 

Makes 12 servings (with 3 crackers each)

Cranberry sauce

• 1 cup fresh cranberries
• 6 tablespoons packed brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon orange juice
• ½ teaspoon grated orange peel

1. In 1-quart saucepan, stir cranberries, brown sugar and orange juice until well mixed.
2. Heat to boiling, stirring frequently ; reduce heat.
3. Simmer uncovered 15 to 20 minutes, stirring frequently, until mixture thickens and cranberries are tender.
4. Stir in orange peel ; remove from heat.

Brie in pastry

• 1 tablespoon butter 
• One-third cup sliced almonds
• 1 frozen puff pastry sheet, thawed
• 1 round (14-15 oz) Brie cheese
• 1 egg, beaten
• Assorted crackers or sliced fresh fruit

1. In 8-inch skillet, melt butter over medium heat ; cook almonds in butter, stirring frequently, until golden brown, remove from heat.
2. Heat oven to 400F (200C) ; spray cookie sheet with cooking spray.
3. On lightly floured surface, roll pastry into 16 x 9-inch rectangle ; cut out one 8½-inch circle and one 7-inch circle.
4. Place cheese round on center of large circle ; spoon cranberry sauce and almonds over cheese.
5. Bring pastry up and press around side of cheese ; brush top edge of pastry with egg.
6. Place 7-inch circle on top, pressing around edge to seal ; brush top and side of pastry with egg.
7. Cut decorations from remaining pastry and arrange on top ; brush with egg and place on cookie sheet.
8. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown ; cool on cookie sheet on wire rack 30 minutes before serving.
9. Serve with crackers.

BON APPÉTIT