Baked Brie Cranberry Pasta (Printable)
Creamy baked Brie, cranberries, and toasted walnuts tossed with tender pasta for a festive, comforting dish.
# What You'll Need:
→ Pasta
01 - 12 oz short pasta (penne or fusilli)
02 - 1 tbsp olive oil
03 - Salt, to season pasta water
→ Cheese & Cranberry
04 - 7 oz Brie cheese, rind removed, cut into cubes
05 - 3.5 oz fresh or frozen cranberries
06 - 2 tbsp honey (or maple syrup for vegan option)
07 - 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves
08 - 0.5 tsp freshly ground black pepper
→ Nuts & Garnish
09 - 1/3 cup walnuts, roughly chopped
10 - 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
11 - Zest of 1 orange (optional)
# How-to Steps:
01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F.
02 - Boil pasta in generously salted water according to package directions. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup of pasta water, and set aside.
03 - Place Brie cubes in a small baking dish. Scatter cranberries over the Brie. Drizzle with honey, then sprinkle thyme leaves and black pepper evenly on top.
04 - Bake the Brie and cranberry mixture for 12 to 15 minutes until Brie is melted and bubbly and cranberries have softened.
05 - While Brie bakes, toast walnuts in a dry skillet over medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes until fragrant. Remove from heat and set aside.
06 - Transfer drained pasta to a large mixing bowl. Pour the baked Brie and cranberry mixture over the pasta, add a splash of reserved pasta water, and toss gently until evenly coated and creamy.
07 - Stir in half of the toasted walnuts and chopped parsley to the pasta mixture.
08 - Serve immediately, garnished with the remaining walnuts, parsley, and orange zest if desired.
# Expert Pointers:
01 -
- It feels like a cozy hug from a close friend, warm yet with a surprising burst of festive tang.
- The combination of creamy cheese and fresh fruit became an instant favorite that tastes effortlessly luxurious.
02 -
- Don’t skip reserving pasta water—it’s the secret to getting the sauce perfectly creamy without being runny.
- Using fresh thyme and baking the cranberries just right transformed the dish from good to unforgettable.
03 -
- Toast your walnuts slowly over medium heat to avoid bitterness and bring out their natural sweetness.
- Baking the Brie with cranberries releases a beautiful meld of sweet and tart that no one expects but everyone loves.