Baked Brie with Candied Pears and Walnuts
Baked Brie with Candied Pears and Walnuts- Rich and creamy baked wheel of Brie cheese topped with simple candied pears and walnuts. The perfect comforting appetizer to warm you up in these cold winter months.
This is my last holiday recipe post of the year and it makes me a little bit sad! Between coping with a broken ankle and moving back to Tennessee, I really struggled with keeping my holiday cheer. Every year I put a lot of pressure on myself to make Christmas special ( as many of us do! ) and I kept feeling as if I was dropping the ball. But, my sweet husband reminded me that it doesn’t have to be perfect. It’s just about making memories and doing things that bring you joy. Sometimes that joy comes from the simplest things- like making a delicious cheese appetizer!
Enter in this delicious-y simple baked Brie.
I really wanted to make a winter themed charcuterie and felt like I needed a star of the show. Of course, Brie cheese came to mind. What could be more delicious than warm gooey cheese? I decided to go with a winter fruit, the pear, and since everything in the south at the holidays revolves around homemade sweets, why not candy the pear with walnuts. The result- seriously delicious.
This one is so easy y’all. So, let’s get into it!
How to Make Baked Brie with Candied Pears and Walnuts
Gather the ingredients
Wheel of Brie cheese
Pear- I used a Bartlett pear for this recipe. You can use a Bosc or Anjou pear but it will have a more firm texture when cooked down.
Walnuts
Butter
Maple syrup- Pure maple syrup works best for this recipe. Pancake syrup can be too sweet.
Allspice
What is in allspice? Typically this dried spice contains cloves, cinnamon and nutmeg with a hint of ginger. It is the perfect all purpose winter spice blend for sweet treats.
Salt
Start by coring and dicing the pear into small pieces and set it aside.
To a skillet add the butter and melt over medium low heat. Once the butter is bubbly and fragrant, add the maple syrup, allspice and a touch of salt. Simmer for 2-3 minutes until the mixture has thickened slightly.
Next, add in the diced pears to the skillet and stir to coat. Cover the skillet and allow the pears to steam and soften for 5-10 minutes. Meanwhile, place the wheel of Brie on a parchment lined baking sheet and bake until warmed through.
When the pears are soft, stir in the chopped walnuts to the candied mixture.
Remove the brie from the oven and top with candied pears and walnuts.
Looking for more easy appetizers?
Simple Bacon & Strawberry Jalapeño Jam Goat Cheese
Sweet & Salty Baked Brie in Puff Pastry
Garlick-y Whipped Ricotta with Feta
Before you go, if you make this baked Brie with candied pears and walnuts, comment and/or rate it down below. I’d love to hear what you think!
Baked Brie with Candied Pears and Walnuts
Ingredients
- Wheel of Brie cheese
- 1 medium pear
- 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
- 1 TBSP butter
- 1/3 cup pure maple syrup
- 1/4 tsp allspice
- tiny pinch of salt
- crackers or crostini for serving
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Core and dice the pear into bite size pieces and set aside for now.
- In a skillet over medium low heat, add the butter and allow it to bubble and start to brown. Next, add the maple syrup, allspice and a pinch of salt. Let this mixture simmer and slightly thicken for 2-3 minutes.
- To the skillet of maple syrup, add the diced pears. Cover the skillet to allow the pears to steam and soften. This will take 5-10 minutes depending on how ripe your pear is. Meanwhile, add the wheel of Brie to the parchment and bake until warmed through. This will take about 15 minutes.
- Once the pears are cooked through, add the chopped walnuts and stir to combine.
- Remove the hot Brie from the oven and spoon on the candied pear and walnut mixture and serve immediately. This appetizer is best served warm!Enjoy!
