Brie En Croute
Marin French
Cheese Co.
Grilled cheese lovers know that there is no textural combination better than gooey melted cheese paired with perfectly toasted crunch. This divine contrast of textures and rich flavors is almost universally appreciated and adored. At Marin French Cheese Co. we take this combination to the next level with our Brie en Croute. “En croute” translates to “in crust” and refers to a food that is wrapped in puff pastry. At Marin French Cheese Co. we make a Brie en Croute with that crispy, buttery, flakey outside and gooey, rich, cheesy inside that is basically what dreams are made of. Our decadent Traditional Brie is wrapped in puff pastry from the iconic La Boulangerie de San Francisco pastry and is already prebaked. This makes for easy finishing at home and a final treat that is pure pleasure.
Baking Directions
Open the box, remove the plastic, and place the Brie en Croute on an oven-safe baking sheet. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Bake for 22-26 minutes.
Serve! The outside should be golden brown, toasted and crispy, with an inside filled with warm gooey cheese.
This dish is ready to eat all on its own and can be served as a decadent hors d'oeuvres, especially when enjoyed with your favorite wine in front of a roaring fireplace. It can also be eaten as dinner for one on any given night while watching your favorite crime show. Try it as a low-maintenance appetizer for your next party. It can be popped in the oven at the last minute, and never fails to please a crowd.
Want to add a little flare? There are so many options to serve alongside our Brie en Croute. Try a savory onion jam, fruit preserve, or spicy jelly. Slice some fresh fruit or savory charcuterie, it’s almost impossible to go wrong with a perfect pastry and melted Brie as your base. See below for more ideas on making Brie en Croute for yourself!
DIY Brie En Croute RECIPE
The phrase “leave it to the professionals” is never more fitting than when applied to pastry dough. If you’re capable of making your own puff pastry, you probably don’t need this recipe, so when we say “DIY” Brie en Croute, we mean do it yourself filling and assembly. You can easily find frozen puff pastry in your local grocery store to wrap around your brie, along with any other fillings that you’d like to add.
Ingredients
8oz wheel of Marin French Cheese Co. Traditional Brie
14oz frozen puff pastry sheet
1 egg
Flour (optional, in case your puff pastry starts to stick)
Fillings of your choice
Purchase your cheese. Marin French Cheese Co.’s Traditional Brie (8oz) is creamy with rich, yet delicate flavors that make it the perfect melting brie that can accommodate sweet or savory additions. Keep the cheese cold until ready to start wrapping.
Choose your fillings (or don’t). Brie and puff pastry are really all you need, but there are so many options that can add delightful flavors to this already delectable base. You can wrap your Brie in thinly sliced prosciutto or other cured meat, add fresh or dried fruits, herbs, or even chopped nuts.
Grab your favorite jelly, pesto, tapenade, or other spread. Whatever your heart and stomach desire, if it sounds good to you, it will probably taste good in your Brie en Croute.
Wrap it up. The key here is making sure that your frozen puff pastry completely envelops your wheel of cheese. It should be about ¼ inch thick, so if yours looks too thick just roll it out a bit on a floured surface. Place your square of pastry down and set your wheel of cheese in the middle, along with any toppings. Fold the dough over the cheese, pinching to seal together in the middle. It should look like a nicely wrapped present. Whisk an egg and brush over the sealed dough.
Into the oven. Line your baking pan with parchment and bake in a preheated oven at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for about 25 minutes. Your puff pastry should look golden brown when done.
Enjoy! Fresh from the oven, the Brie will be very gooey and may run out onto your serving dish. If you prefer, waiting 5-10 minutes will allow the cheese to set a bit for easier and neater serving.
Life of the party, here you come!