Baked brie

June 23, 2:31 PMBirmingham Baking ExaminerAnne-Harris Jones

Brie cheese is a classic favorite that can be used in a variety of sweet and savory dishes. One of the best ways to use Brie is to pair it with a fruit jam or chutney and bake it with a flaky crust. While many people think this sounds difficult and fancy, it is quite easy to make. It will always make a great impression no matter which way you make it.

Brie is a soft-ripened cheese which means that it is shaped and ripens from the inside outward. Therefore, the cheese has a soft, thin white covering or rind which can be eaten or trimmed and removed.

• Refrigerated pie crust* (the rolled kind)
• 6-inch round of Brie cheese
• 2/3 cup Black Cherry Preserves*
• 1 ½ teaspoons cinnamon
• 2/3 cup brown sugar (dark or light)
• 2/3 cup all-purpose flour
• ¼ cup butter, melted
• 2/3 cup chopped walnuts
• 1 egg white

Preheat the oven to 375. Allow the Brie to come to room temperature before baking. Unroll your pie crust and place on a parchment paper covered baking sheet. Place the Brie in the middle of the crust. Spread the preserves over the top of the cheese. Blend the brown sugar, cinnamon, flour, walnuts, and butter together with a pastry cutter or in food processor until the mixture resembles coarse meal. Sprinkle half of this mixture over and around the cheese. Fold the crust up and over the cheese. Beat the egg white with a splash of water until mixed. Brush over the crust. Sprinkle remaining brown sugar mixture over crust. Bake for 20-30 minutes or until crust is golden brown. Allow the baked Brie to sit for about 15 minutes before serving. Serve with crackers and fruit.

* I chose to use Black Cherry Preserves but any high quality fruit jam or preserves would be fine to use. Whole cranberry sauce or cranberry chutney would also be a wonderful pairing, especially during the holidays. You can add more jam or chutney based on personal preference as well. You can also use Puff Pastry to wrap your Brie in if you would like. I picked the refrigerated pie crusts because I tend to have a package of those in the freezer and they are cheaper. Although, Puff Pastry would add even more flakiness to your Brie.

For more recipes using Brie, check out these Southern Living recipes. Keep in mind you don't always have to bake Brie to enjoy it. It's great on sandwiches, too.