baked brie with mulled wine-soaked fruit

Remember that delicious mulled wine we made last week? We’re repurposing it today for a stunning, but amazingly easy holiday appetizer: baked Brie with mulled wine-soaked fruit.

Around the holidays, I find myself running around like crazy, trying to do everything I possibly can with every group under the sun. Next Saturday alone I am meeting up with five groups of people for five different events from 9am-11pm. I know it is a crazy schedule, but I love all of the people I get to see and have fun at every event, which makes it difficult to cut back. But doing everything and being everywhere can be exhausting, and leaves me with no time to prepare. That is one reason I love this baked Brie so much – while it looks fancy, you can have this app ready in 15 minutes!

The short timeline, but impressive display makes it perfect for holiday parties and potlucks. Since the baked Brie steals the show, I often don’t even pair it with other cheeses, which makes this fancy cheese board so much more affordable than other elaborate hors d’oeuvre spreads. Fast, fancy, easy, and affordable? We’re winning the holiday party game this year.

I love a good melty baked Brie, and it is an added bonus when the accouterments are soaked in spiced wine and absolutely delicious too. Each bite of warm, creamy Brie pairs so well with the spices from the wine-soaked fruit. It is like a holiday match made in heaven. I don’t know why I never did this before, but you can bet I’ll be doing it again before the season is over.

If you make this recipe, I’d love to see it! Tag me (@hopehwoodhouse) on Instagram so I can follow along on your culinary adventures!

Baked Brie with Mulled Wine-Soaked Fruit
1 wheel of Brie
1 cup mulled wine, homemade or store-bought (I found some at Aldi!)
1 apple or pear, peeled and diced
1/8 cup whole cranberries

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

In a small saucepan over medium heat, warm the mulled wine until just simmering. Add the apple or pear and cranberries and let them cook for 10-15 minutes, until they are wine-colored. The apple or pear will be tender when you poke the pieces with a fork, but shouldn’t fall apart. Remove from the heat and set aside while you prepare the Brie.

Spray a baking dish or small pie plate with nonstick spray. If possible, use the dish you will serve the Brie in, to prevent having to transfer hot cheese. Place the Brie in your prepared dish and bake for 10-15 minutes. The Brie should be close to bursting, but should still be in tact when you take it out of the oven. Use a slotted spoon to gently place the mulled wine-soaked fruit on top and to the sides of the baked Brie. Top with a sprinkle of brown sugar and a sprig of rosemary, if desired. Pair with crackers or bread and serve immediately.

If you have leftover fruit, or extra that doesn’t fit on your spread, you can store it in the fridge for a week to use for other delicious meals, appetizers, and drinks.