A Pumpkin Baked Brie For Your Fall Gatherings

The other weekend I went to a family picnic. Most of the main entrees were already chosen for the pot luck style gathering, so I decided to bring along an appetizer instead. I wanted something simple, but a crowd pleaser. I usually bring along a cheese board because they are easy to make and typically a favorite. I love filling these boards with everyone’s favorite meats, cheeses, spreads, fruits, and crackers. And with it being autumn I also wanted to fit the theme. I have seen a lot of pumpkin baked bries on my Instagram feed this season and thought it was about time I tried one out for myself.

I often make baked bries around the holidays and add my favorite fig sauce. The only difference with this recipe is using baking twine around the puff pastry to shape it into a pumpkin.

For this recipe you will need:

A full round brie
A sheet of puff pastry
Baking twine
An egg
Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Spread
A cinnamon stick

The first step is to take your puff pastry out of the freezer if you are using store bought and bring it to room temperature. Then pre-heat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

When your puff pastry is at room temperature, lay it out on a baking sheet or baking mat. Add a thin layer of Trader Joe’s pumpkin spread (or your favorite jam or fig sauce) to the puff pastry and put your full brie in the center.

Gently wrap the entire brie with the puff pastry until it is thoroughly wrapped and the sauce cannot ooze out of the bottom.

Wrap your baking twine four times around to make a pumpkin shape and tie it tightly without ripping the puff pastry.

Scramble up your egg to brush on a thin egg layer to your puff pastry covered brie. This will give it that lovely golden color when baked.

Bake your brie for about forty-five to sixty minutes, or until lightly golden.

Allow your brie to cool for about ten minutes before attempting to remove the twine. You will want to be careful and perhaps cut the twine into smaller sections to remove so that you do not spill the creamy cheese and sauce inside. Once that is done, transfer it to a serving board and place the cinnamon stick in the top to make it look more like a pumpkin.

Decorate the brie board with other complimentary finger foods and fruits and crackers. My cheese board was. bit small so I had another one with crackers and various other cheeses and meats. On this board, I added complimentary fruits. I highly suggest nuts and dried fruits like cranberries and apricots. I also sliced apples and put tiny oranges around for additional snacking.

Enjoy the beauty of your autumnal brie creation…..