I’d been collecting appetizer recipes to make for the holidays but just kept procrastinating making them. I finally decided instead of making them for a party, we would feast on appetizers for dinner. And what a feast it was! All of these appetizers are really addicting and they would be a perfect addition to any holiday party.
My boys favorite appetizer was Sweet Chicken Bacon Wraps. What’s not to love about chicken wrapped in bacon, coated in spicy brown sugar and baked until crispy. It’s a Paula Deen recipe and I stumbled across it in Mags, The Other Side of Fifty, Christmas App post. Thanks for posting this one Mags!
My boys also loved the Cuties Bruschetta with Goat Cheese. I already knew I would love it because Cuties served it at Blogher Food and I’d been wanting to make it for my family ever since. It is a great combination of savory and sweet (mandarin oranges, red onions, tomatoes and basil) with smooth and creamy, mild Chevre goat cheese on crispy baguette slices. The original recipe also includes calamata olives, but we’re not olive lovers and I omitted those.
This Jalapeño Cheesecake appetizer is so easy but I couldn’t stop snacking on it. Alouette has a creamy, slightly-sweet, limited edition Cheesecake Spreadable Cheese available for the holidays and using Megan’s, Megan’s Cookin’, Cranberry Jalapeno Cheesecake as inspiration I served it topped with Cranberry Pepper Jelly.
Alouette sent me a wonderful package of their fabulous cheeses to try for the holidays. My family isn’t usually very adventurous in trying new cheese, so this was a great opportunity to expand our horizons.
The finally recipe I made was one that I’d been wanting to try for some time. Pepperidge Farm had ads in several cooking magazines with a gorgeous Brien en Croute and it looks irresistible. It really isn’t very difficult to make, but looks very impressive and tastes decedant.
I changed up the recipe a bit to use ingredients I had at home, walnuts and cranberry pepper jelly. Barbara, Vino Luci, gave me tips on Twitter on baking the Brie, including using a rimmed baking sheet because it always leaks.
Ingredients
- 1 sheet Puff Pastry
- 1 egg
- 1 tablespoon water
- 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1/4 cup cranberry pepper jelly
- 1 Brie cheese round (I used an 8 oz Baby Brie)
Directions
- Thaw pastry sheet at room temperature until it's easy to handle (approximately 40 min.)
- Combine the walnuts and sugar in a small skillet. Cook over medium heat stirring constantly until the sugar starts to liquefy. Continue stirring constantly until the liquid reaches a golden color and coats the nuts. Remove from heat and spread candied nuts onto a greased cookie sheet or plate and allow to cool completely. Stir occasionally as it cools to break up large pieces.
- Preheat oven to 400º. Beat egg and water in a small bowl. Mix cooled walnuts and jelly together in a small bowl.
- Unfold the pastry sheet on lightly floured surface. Roll sheet into a 12 inch x 16 inch rectangle. Cut 4 inch off 16 inch edged to decorate top. Spread walnuts jelly mixture in center of large square. Top with cheese. Brush edges of pastry with egg mixture. Fold two opposite sides over cheese. Trim remaining two sides of square to 2 inches from edge of cheese. Fold sides up onto sheese and press edges to seal.
- Place seam-side down onto baking sheet. Decorate top with pastry scraps. Brush with egg mixture.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes or until pastry is deep golden brown. Let stand for 20 minutes.
Wishing you a New Year filled with all your favorite foods!
Some of the links in my posts may be “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Thank you for supporting Barbara Bakes when you shop!
I love to bake, especially cookies, cakes, and pies. I’ll post my adventures in the kitchen, my favorite new recipes, as well as our family favorites.
Mmmhh, I love cooking and baking with cheese! Delicious fingerfood here.
Cheers,
Rosa
Your Brie en croute came out gorgeous, Barbara! I was all set to make this a few weeks ago for a party and then our plans changed. I still have all the ingredients, so now I’ll make it for New Year’s instead.
Pass me a cracker please. That brie is calling to me. Happy New Year.
What a wonderful package of cheese. I LOVE cheese of all kinds. I love apps for dinner but it’s usually a girl’s night out kind of dinner. The men always want “real” food. What ever that means. LOL This spread looks like the perfect dinner.
Thanks for the linky love!
I think a meal of appetizers sounds excellent.
I love fingerfood for parties. Your post is mouthwatering and the brie en croute just made me drool…
Happy New Year!
I not a huge cheese fan (I know..shudder…horror!) but your baked brie does look like something I would love! Happy New Year!
I love baked Brie; last time I made some a friend who was visiting finished off the entire cheese in one sitting. Yours looks splendid.
I love Brie en Croute! Lovely collection of apps Barbara.. but i have to say pastry wrapped cheese is my fav!
I am a huge Brie fan – especially when combined with something sweet. I’m going to have to look for cranberry pepper jelly. Where did you get yours?
I bought mine at a little kitchen specialty store in my area, Spoons and Spice. But I also saw it at a local grocery store, Harmons.
Oh…. that is so tempting! I’ve never tried this and now I will have to. Beautiful photo Barbara – I can almost taste it.
It all looks delish! I really love brie and always have it over the holidays!
Ooo… this sounds amazing! Love the pastry puff crust and the filling is so yummy. Thanks so much for sharing. Hope you’re having a wonderful holiday. Guess, this is the first year you’ve to celebrate Christmas without your mom. Hope you’re doing well & take care!
Blessings, Kristy
This looks fabulous! I am bookmarking this one! Happy New Year to you!
Everything looks amazing, especially that Brie! Happy New Year Barb!
Oh heavens, Barbara! I could make a meal of every one of these gorgeous appetizers. And I might just start with your brie en croute tonight paired with a simple salad. I’ve actually got all of the ingredients on hand now. Can’t wait!
This is a lovely en croute, the addition of the walnuts and pepper jelly enclosed withing the puff dough and surrounding the brie is fantastic!
Tres magnifique!
Bon appetit!
CCR
=:~)
The bacon wrapped chicken is delectable! And the brie looks like something I could easily love. Brie is always a treat. Happy New Year Barbara!
Your brie looks absolutely amazing! It’s one of my absolutel favorite appetizers but I’ve never made it. I’ve always been too afraid =o)
Wow! The brie looks amazing. This is just what I needed to be Brie inspired again. I was getting tired of the same ole same ole….this one is just the answer to step it up a notch. Thanks so much for sharing.
Happy New Year!
Barbra, great appetizer line up. How fun to munch them all for dinner. That brie en Croute looks decadent & delicious! Happy almost New Year to you & your family
xo
The Brie en croute is gorgeous – I printed out the recipe to use NYE (although I need to drop the walnuts, we’ve got a nut allergy amongst the group). I may serve the nuts alongside – seems like an important part of the recipe!
Appetizers if they are top notch can be a full meal for me, and those one matches perfect!
Agree about chicken wrapped in bacon, spicy, sweet – love them too
Happy New Year!!
Cheers,
Gera
These are some fab ideas Barbara. I am especially keen on teh sweet chicken wraps – they sound delicious!
Well done mum! It all looks delicious and from the sounds of it the Sweet Chicken Bacon Wraps is pure Paula Deen!
Happy New Year coming up! xxx
Brie is one of my favorite party foods! Happy New Year!
a great idea to have appetizers for dinner, i love the chicken bacon wraps, very hubby friendly and I tried the Aloutte limited cheescake spread for thanksgiving..it was yummy, I got great reviews
sweetlife
happy holidays!!
YUM!
I do something very similar with brie… I slice a bulb of garlic very thin and lay it on top, cover it with sundried tomato pesto, wrap it all in puff pastry and 40 minutes at 400 brings pure buttery bliss out of the oven.
Yours looks so gorgeous!
Valeire
these are some really fantastic-looking appetizers! i absolutely love brie, and have been wanting to try making it for new years. thanks for the recipe!
Hey,
Gorgeous little appetizers…Mouthwatering…:)Happy new year to you!!:)
Brie at this time of year is my weakness! Looks absolutely fabulous, Barbara
Happy New Year!!
Delicious appetizers, Barbara! My favorite baked brie is with figs but it sounds great with pepper jelly…I’ll have to try that!
Yum! That looks like a good recipe to have for New Years Eve drinks tonight. I’m very envious of your cheese selection you were sent.
Great looking appetizers!!! Have a Happy New Year.
Baked bries are always terrific, but yours looks amazing! What a perfect appetizer.
What a fun idea for dinner. Those chicken skewers certainly look good.Wishing you and your family a very Happy New Year!
Woweee huh, that Brie en Croute looks amazing & I know I’m going to make it, what an awesome appetiser Barbara. Love the chicken wrapped in bacon too…, an oldie but absolutely a goldie. Great idea to make a meal out of them, I bet everyone went for them big time. Happy New Year 2011 Barbara – I really look forward to reading heaps more fabulous posts from you.
This looks fabuluous! Happy New Year Barbara!
WOW, that Brie en Croute recipe looks amazing! Looks like you had a delicious holiday. I hope that it was filled with joy and real peace. much love to you!!
Barbara, so much catching up to do here, so many amazing treats! Every year I make a brie en croute, for both Thanksgiving and Xmas. I usually use caramelized apples or pears, and some kind of lightly salted nut. Several months ago I made a hot and sweet red pepper jelly and thought it would be an ideal filling for my en croutes, but never got to it and stuck with tradition. Lo and behold, you made yours with cranberry pepper jelly and it looks amazing! Makes me want to get another en croute soon! Happy New Year to you and your family!!
I made the brie for this month’s Secret Recipe Club. I loved it! Thanks for a great recipe, Barbara! http://www.edesiasnotebook.com/2012/11/holiday-brie-en-croute.html