For more than one holiday, my sister and I have wrapped a small round of brie (to bake) in puffed pastry. Before it’s wrapped, we top the brie with walnuts, dried cranberries, and honey. It’s served with (buttery) crackers, and it’s amazing. One could lighten it up by serving it with some apple slices or celery… You do you. Naturally, due to my butter inclination, it lead to that would make a good pie.
2 – Pie Crusts, homemade or store bought
5 medium Apples (up to 7 small), peeled and sliced about ½ inch thick
Juice of 1 Lemon
1 Tbsp Flour
2 Tbsp granulated Sugar, plus more for sprinkling
3 Tbsp Brown Sugar
1/2 tsp Cinnamon
1/8 tsp Nutmeg, freshly grated
1 Tbsp Honey
1 sprig fresh thyme, finely chopped (or small leaves striped from stem)
1/2 cup dried Cranberries
5 oz. Brie cheese, diced into ½ inch cubes
2 oz. White Cheddar, shredded
1/2 cup Walnuts, chopped
1 Egg white + 1 splash water, for egg wash
Preheat the oven to 375º.
Blind bake 1 pie crust in a baking dish 10-12 minutes. (Blind bake means to pre-cook the crust, without filling using pie weights, rice or dry beans in parchment paper set on top of the crust.) Set aside.
Meanwhile, place apple slices, lemon juice, flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, thyme, and cranberries in a bowl.
Gently toss until all is mixed well. In the pre-baked crust, evenly distribute apple mixture and brie pieces. Cover the apple and brie filling with an even layer of shredded cheddar cheese. Next place an even layer of chopped walnuts over the cheese.
Carefully lay the second pie dough (in a pattern or not) over the top of the layered pie filling.
Side note: My inspiration for the diamond pattern came from the latest issue of Martha Stewart’s Living Magazine:
(If you do not have a pattern, cut a few slices in the top of the dough to release steam.) With a pastry brush (or spoon), lightly cover the pie dough with the egg wash, and sprinkle with sugar.
Bake for 30-35 minutes, until cheese is oozy, crust is browned, apples are softened but still a little firm, walnuts are toasted, and flavors are melded.
Let stand 10-15 minutes. Serve warm.
…Or at room temp.
…Or for breakfast the next day.
…(Because I can easily eat cheese, crackers and fruit for breakfast. Same thing?)
Ingredients
- 2 pie crusts, homemade or store bought
- 5 medium Apples (up to 7 small), peeled and sliced about ½ inch thick
- Juice of 1 Lemon
- 1 Tbsp Flour
- 2 Tbsp granulated Sugar, plus more for sprinkling
- 3 Tbsp Brown Sugar
- 1/2 tsp Cinnamon
- 1/8 tsp Nutmeg, freshly grated
- 1 Tbsp Honey
- 1 sprig fresh thyme, finely chopped (or small leaves striped from stem)
- 1/2 cup dried Cranberries
- 5 oz. Brie cheese, diced into ½ inch cubes
- 2 oz. White Cheddar, shredded
- 1/2 cup Walnuts, chopped
- 1 egg white + 1 splash water, for egg wash
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375º.
- Blind bake 1 pie crust in a baking dish 8-10 minutes. Set aside.
- Meanwhile, place apple slices, lemon juice, flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, thyme, and cranberries in a bowl. Gently toss until all is mixed well.
- In the pre-baked crust, evenly distribute apple mixture and brie pieces.
- Cover the apple and brie filling with an even layer of shredded cheddar cheese. Next place an even layer of chopped walnuts over the cheese.
- Carefully lay the second pie dough (in a pattern or not) over the top of the layered pie filling. (If you do not have any pattern, cut a few slices in the top of the dough to release steam.)
- With a pastry brush (or spoon), lightly cover the pie dough with the egg wash, sprinkle with sugar.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes, until cheese is oozy, crust is browned, apples are softened but still a little firm, walnuts are toasted, and flavors are melded.
- Let stand 10-15 minutes. Serve warm.