Cranberry Brie Pull-Apart Bread

This warm, cheesy, herbaceous bread can sure become the centerpiece of your appetizer spread– the diamond-cut pattern reveals pockets of gooey Brie and jewel-like cranberries, making it not just delicious but also visually impressive. 

Ingredients

Essential Components:

l  One large sourdough or crusty Italian bread loaf (approximately 1.5-1.75 pounds)

l  Premium wheel of Brie (8 ounces)

l  Dried cranberries (1/3 cup)

Aromatic Butter Mixture:

l  5 tablespoons unsalted butter, completely melted

l  2 tablespoons pure honey

l  Fresh rosemary, finely chopped (1 teaspoon)

l  Fresh thyme leaves, finely chopped (1 teaspoon)

l  Freshly ground black pepper (1/4 teaspoon)

l  Fine sea salt (1/8 teaspoon)

Detailed Instructions

1. Initial Preparation:

   - Set your oven temperature to 350°F (175°C)

   - Cover a sturdy baking sheet with aluminum foil

   - Prepare your workspace with all ingredients measured and ready

2. Bread Preparation:

   - Using a sharp serrated knife, create a diamond pattern across the top of your bread

   - Make diagonal cuts approximately 1 inch apart

   - Ensure cuts go almost to the bottom but leave the base intact

   - Create a crosshatch pattern by cutting diagonally in the opposite direction

3. Herbed Honey-Butter Creation:

   - In a small mixing bowl, combine the melted butter and honey

   - Incorporate the chopped rosemary and thyme

   - Add the fresh ground pepper and salt

   - Whisk until thoroughly combined

4. Cheese Preparation:

   - Slice the Brie wheel lengthwise into 1-inch strips

   - Further cut these strips crosswise into thin pieces

5. Assembly Process:

   - Carefully open the bread cuts

   - Pour half of the herbed honey-butter mixture into the crevices

   - Insert Brie pieces between the cuts

   - Distribute dried cranberries throughout

   - Drizzle the remaining butter mixture over the entire loaf

6. Baking Instructions:

   - Place the prepared loaf on the foil-lined baking sheet

   - Bake for 20-25 minutes

   - Watch for melted Brie and golden-brown bread edges

   - Remove when cheese is fully melted and bread is toasted

7. Serving Suggestions:

   - Serve immediately while the cheese is warm and melted

   - Pull apart sections to reveal melted Brie and cranberries

   - Best enjoyed fresh from the oven