Cranberry Brie Pull Apart Bread.

If you need a guaranteed-gone appetizer, this is it—warm, melty brie tucked into tear-and-share bread with sweet-tart cranberries and a kiss of honey. It’s festive, fast to pull together, and always the first empty plate on the holiday table.

Serve it straight from the oven with fresh herbs and a little flaky salt. Everyone pulls a piece, cheese stretches, and the room gets quiet for a second—best kind of party trick.

Yes, this is totally happening right now and I am so exited about it! It’s true what they say, sometimes the simplest things are the best, and this bread is simply the best.

I mean, come on do you see all that brie? What’s not to love about that? No joke, this bread is full on amazing. I might just eat it over turkey. No, I would totally eat it over turkey. Cheese and carbs for the win…my mom would be so proud! But guys, in all seriousness this is truly a great recipe to have on hand during the holiday season. I’ve already made it twice and definitely plan on making it again on Thursday as Thanksgiving appetizer. Even though we’re missing a few family members this year, we still have a large crowd and appetizers are a must.

Speaking of Thanksgiving, did you all spend your weekend planning and prepping? I know a lot of you might not be cooking, but those of you who are, are you ready? I should have been planning and prepping, but I totally did not. My game plan is not one I recommend to others, I’m going to cook everything on Thanksgiving Day.

I know, I know, how stupid is that? STUPID. But I’ve got lots to do leading up to Thanksgiving. That leaves me with just one day to prepare food. It’s totally cool though because I actually look forward to this kind of cooking day all year-long. I was telling my mom the other day that Thanksgiving is what I call a “fun, no pressure” cooking day. Normally I’m on the clock trying to get recipes tested and photographed before the sun sets, trying to be creative and plotting out how make my recipes look their absolute best. But on Thanksgiving, I’m just cooking dinner for my family. We listen to Christmas music, bake pies with mom, and Asher usually joins in to help with the sweets…along with making a giant mess…oh well. Now don’t get me wrong, I want to create a delicious meal for my family, but as long as they have turkey, gravy, rolls and mashed potatoes they’ll all be very happy. They are simple, nothing too fancy, kind of people, so it’s not a crazy hard meal to cook. Plus, I think I’ve said this before, but we always get our Christmas tree on Thanksgiving so that makes the day extra fun!

Not that you needed to know all that info, but that’s basically my Thanksgiving day in a nutshell. What do you guys do? I’d love to know your family (or friend) traditions!

Ahh ok, so back to this cranberry brie pull apart bread!

I am sure you guys know about pull apart bread, but have you have seen it with cranberries and brie? When this concept came to mind, I was way too excited about it. Cranberries and brie have got to be one of the best combos. For one, who doesn’t like brie? I feel as though it’s got to be one of the most loved cheeses out there. And with good reason, it’s buttery, and so gooey when warmed.

Perfect for pull apart bread!

Here’s how this works. You cut your bread in a cross hatch type of way, then stuff it with butter, brie, pecans and cranberries – bake, pull apart and eat. Yes, it’s truly as simple as that.

People go crazy for this. When I presented it to my family it was gone in minutes. There’s really nothing not to love. It’s excellence in every which way, and the perfect appetizer for both Thanksgiving and Christmas festivities. <–truth.

PS. these are personal size cheese breads right….yeah right, JUST KIDDING…but not really. 🙂

Ingredients:

• Bread: A soft pull-apart base or a scored round loaf both work. Choose something with a tender crumb so it soaks up butter and bakes up golden (avoid very dense loaves).

• Brie: Young/brie double-cream melts smoothly. Keep it cold for clean slices; rind on is fine and adds flavor.

• Cranberries: Dried cranberries.

• Sweetness: Honey or maple for a shiny finish; start light so the tart cranberries stay front-and-center.

• Herbs & spice: Rosemary or thyme for aroma; a pinch of chili flakes balances the richness.

• Crunch (optional): Toasted pecans or walnuts add texture; chop small so pieces nestle into the bread.

FAQ:

What kind of bread works best for pull-apart?
A soft, enriched pull-apart or a medium-soft boule scores well and crisps at the edges. Very crusty artisan loaves can be harder to pull and won’t soak in as much butter.

How do I keep the cheese from leaking out?
Keep the brie cold when slicing and tuck it deeper into slits or between rolls. Bake on parchment so any melty overflow is easy to scoop back on.

Can I assemble this ahead for a party?
Yes—assemble earlier in the day and refrigerate; brush with butter and bake right before guests arrive. Rewarm gently in a low oven if needed so the bread stays soft and the cheese remelts without over-browning.

Cheese me please!