Baked Brie with Slivered Almond & Dried Cherries OR Fig & Almond Appetizer

There are hundreds of ways to alter this recipe and pretty much every single possibility is delicious!  I mean, how could pastry dough baked up with brie and anything else stuffed in it not be good?  This is  not gluten free, and I cannot even say it is a healthy option necessarily...but the splurge is so worth it. This is definitely one of the recipes that I have been asked for most often from anything I ever make.  It is a Holiday Staple for us!  Imagine all the possibilities! It is lovely with Granny Smith Apple slices, Figs and Fig Preserves or even Lump Crab Meat!

One of the best things about this recipe is that you can make it ahead, wrap it in parchment paper and place in a large Ziploc and it will keep in the freezer ready to rock!  Just thaw it for a few hours and bake!  During the holidays I make several at a time and keep them all in the freezer with Christmas cutouts on them - they make lovely gifts with an attached recipe and a nice cracker trio!

Serve and try to maintain composure! 

What you need...
1 package of Pepperidge Farms Pastry Dough
1 wheel of brie (you can vary it for any size depending on how many you are trying to serve)
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1/4 cup dried cherries
1/4 cup sliced almonds
cooking spray
cookie cutters (optional)
pastry roller

Preheat oven to 400F.  Open brie, using a knife scrape some of the rind off.  Slice the brie in half to make 2 circles.  Fold out one piece of pastry dough and lightly roll it out to about 2" wider and longer.  Place 1 circle of brie in the center.  Top with 1 tablespoon brown sugar, half the almond and half the cherries.  Place second circle on top and repeat, reserving a few almond for garnish.  Fold corners of the pastry dough to the center of the brie, press to seal.  Flip the brie oven and place into a lightly greased baking dish.  Garnish with cutouts using the other piece of pastry dough from the package and the remaining almonds.  Spray the dough with cooking spray and place into the oven.  Bake for 40 minutes or until brown and puffy.  Slice open to spill the bubbly cheese and serve!

What you need!

Open Brie and trim rind.

Just scrape some of the rind off with a knife.  Leaving some won't make a difference!

Fold out the sheet of pastry dough and gently roll out with a rolling pen or pastry roller.

Slice the brie in half to make 2 circles.

Lay one half directly onto the pastry dough, then top with 1 tablespoon of brown sugar, half of the cherries and half of the almonds.

Add the other half of the brie and top with remaining sugar, cherries & almonds, reserve a few almonds for the top.

Fold all the corners to the center of the brie.

Once all corners are folded in, flip the brie over and place into lightly greased baking dish.

For decorative purposes, use remaining sheet of dough to cut out shapes and place on top of brie, sprinkle remaining almonds and spray the dough with cooking spray.  Alternatively you can brush it with egg/water to achieve the browning and shine, but the spray is much easier!

Bake at 400F for 40 minutes or until golden and puffy.