For your upcoming Christmas, New Year’s Eve or other holiday party, consider baking up this indulgent holiday appetizer, courtesy of cookbook author Palestrina McCaffrey, in her new cookbook “The Unofficial TikTok Cookbook, Volume 2” (Adams Media, $20). It’s a social media favorite, and for good reason.
“Topped with fresh thyme, sweet honey, and tangy cranberry sauce, a whole round of soft Brie cheese is wrapped in golden, flaky puff pastry. Sooo cozy! Celebrate holidays, parties, and even just regular weekdays with the most decadent appetizer there is,” she writes.
Baked Brie Puff Pastry
Yield: Serves 12
INGREDIENTS
1 (10-by-15-inch) sheet puff pastry, thawed
1 (8-ounce) wheel Brie cheese
2 tablespoons cranberry sauce
1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
3 tablespoons finely chopped almonds
1 tablespoon honey
1 large egg, beaten
1 medium apple, cored and thinly sliced
Toasted wheat crackers
Nut Thins crackers
DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
Place puff pastry on the prepared baking sheet and set Brie in the center. With a sharp knife, lightly score the top of the Brie to allow steam to escape.
Spread cranberry sauce evenly on top, then sprinkle with thyme and almonds. Drizzle with honey.
Gently fold puff pastry over Brie, creating folds as you go. Brush edges with egg to secure each fold, ensuring cheese is fully enclosed. Brush entire pastry with egg, then lightly score the top with a paring knife for decoration.
Bake 30-35 minutes until pastry is golden and puffed.
Allow to cool at least 5 minutes before serving. Serve warm with apple slices and crackers. Enjoy!
From “The Unofficial TikTok Cookbook, Volume 2” by Palestrina McCaffrey. Photographs by Harper Point Photography. Copyright © 2025 by Simon & Schuster, LLC. Used by permission of the publisher. All rights reserved.