Brie en Croûte with pear compote and a hint of thyme is an easy and impressive appetizer to serve at your next gathering!
The term “Brie en Croute” is French for “brie baked in a pastry crust.” This easy, but impressive appetizer is always a show stopper, particularly during the holidays.
Brie is a French cheese made from cow’s milk and is from the region of Brie. It’s an extremely creamy cheese with a bit of a fruity, nutty and tangy flavor. Unfortunately, the brie cheeses we have in America probably do not compare to the fresh cheeses of France, however there are some nice brie cheeses in the gourmet cheese section of your grocer that work great for this recipe!
Do I Remove the Brie Rind When Making Brie en Croute?
No. Leave the rind on the brie.
Delicious brie cheese accompanied with pear compote, baked in a puffed pastry.
- 1 wheel brie cheese
- 2 pears peeled, cored, chopped
- 1/4 teaspoon Apple Pie Seasoning
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 sprig fresh thyme
- 1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper
- pinch of salt
- 1 pkg. puff pastry one sheet
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 whole egg
- 1 teaspoon water
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In a saucepan on medium heat add pears, sugar, water, spices, seasonings and the thyme sprig
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Allow pear mixture to cook until the pears have broken down; use a whisk or fork to mash the pears; add lemon juice; remove the thyme sprig
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Refrigerate pear compote
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Slice cold brie wheel in half and return it to the refrigerator
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Roll out puff pastry sheet on lightly floured surface
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Preheat oven to 425º F; line baking sheet with parchment paper
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Once compote has cooled, remove it and the brie from the refrigerator
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Place a heaping spoonful of the pear compote on one half of the brie
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Replace the other (top) half of the brie over the compote
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Place brie wheel on pastry dough
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Gently pull the sides of the dough up over the brie; work around the brie, bringing up the sides of the dough; pinch the dough together on top
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Combine egg and water in a small bowl
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Using a brush, gently brush the egg wash over the pastry
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Place brie on parchment lined baking dish and bake 15-25 minutes, or until golden brown
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Use a spatula to slide under the brie and place it on a serving dish; allow for the brie to cool a bit before serving
If you like pears, you might try Wine Poached Pears.
