Baked Brie with Bacon Balsamic Blueberries

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Balsamic Blueberry Baked Brie with Bacon is the kind of ooey gooey appetizer that will make your heart go aflutter. Whether you dip crackers, apple slices, or a spoon, this swoon-worthy sweet and savory snack is sure to disappear at any party. It’s an easy gluten free appetizer recipe perfect for any occasion.

Originally published March 28, 2018.

Raise your hand if you feel like you are socially awkward?

I totally do. I make it through the “Hi, how are you, and how is your family?” stage, but beyond that I kind of lose it.

Sometimes I just don’t say anything. As the science-geek-turned-food-blogger-recluse that I am, I feel like I either stick out like a sore thumb or blend into the background totally unnoticed or totally uninteresting.

Worse than that is when I latch on to one thing someone says and then start rambling endlessly about myself or some totally obscure topic. I try to stop myself, but once I get going, well, it’s just a slippery slope.

I think I just need more practice. Soooo, who wants to invite a social misfit to some parties? Any takers? I’ll bring appetizers.

Because what I lack in social skills I make up for in my ability to provide deliciously melty Baked Brie recipes. We can go classic with Caramelized Apple Baked Brie. Give it a bit of tropical flair with Pineapple Pecan Baked Brie.

Or perhaps my piece de resistance…

Baked Brie with Balsamic Blueberries

This baked Brie recipe has a delectable combination of rich and savory flavors with the perfect amount of tangy sweetness.

A simple mixture of blueberries and balsamic vinegar is simmered together while a wheel of baked Brie cheese gets melty in the oven. Add just a bit of bacon for the perfect amount of smoky salty flavor and you have a cheesy blueberry appetizer worthy of any special occasion.

You only need a few things to make Blueberry Balsamic Baked Brie.

Ingredients

• Brie cheese – this recipe makes enough topping for the larger 17 oz. wheels of Brie that you often find at Costco.
• Bacon – optional if you want to make this vegetarian-friendly
• Shallot
• Frozen blueberries
• Balsamic vinegar
• Maple syrup – use real maple syrup, not pancake syrup
• Cinnamon
• Crackers, baguette, apple slices, etc. for serving

Directions overview – scroll to the recipe card for the full set of instructions

Here is a brief overview so you can see just how easy it is to make. Scroll down to the printable recipe card for the full quantities and details.
But don’t skip my PRO TIPS below!

To bake the Brie

1. Place your wheel of Brie on a baking sheet or in a glass pie plate.
2. Using a small paring knife, score around the top of the brie about 1/4-inch from the edge.
3. Bake the Brie in the oven at 350°F for about 15 minutes. Alternatively, a quick option is to microwave it for 3 to 5 minutes.
4. Remove the Brie from the oven and use a butter knife or small spatula to gently separate the top of the rind where you scored it from the cheese. It should peel off quite easily.
5. While it is in the oven, prepare the topping and pour it over the top of the Brie after you take it out of the oven.

To make the blueberry topping

1. Cook the bacon in a skillet until crispy. Drain on paper towels and l about 1 Tablespoon of the bacon grease in the pan.
2. Reduce heat to medium-low and saute the shallot.
3. Add the frozen blueberries, balsamic vinegar, maple syrup, and cinnamon to the pan, stir and bring to a simmer.
4. Reduce heat to low and simmer until thickened.
5. Remove from heat and stir in the bacon.
6. Pour on top of the prepared Brie. Serve immediately with crackers, bread, or fruit slices for dipping.

Brianne’s pro recipe tips

• If you can’t find a large wheel of brie (I bought mine at Costco), you could just have more berries on one of the smaller rounds from the grocery store, or use half and save the rest of the berry mixture for another use. It’s delicious on top of grilled chicken, especially if you’ve marinated it in Balsamic Blueberry Dressing.
• Baked Brie is best served immediately. While it can be rewarmed, once it has been melted and cooled completely, it does not tend to achieve that same melty consistency as it had previously. But it is still delicious.
• As mentioned, you can make this vegetarian by skipping the bacon and cooking the shallot in a tablespoon of olive oil.
• Generally, Brie cheese is considered gluten free. In the past, there were concerns that it might not be due to the source of the mold spores used to make Brie. However, there has been repeated testing that shows Brie to have undetectable levels of gluten regardless of the source of the mold spores. If you have a severe sensitivity or are unsure, you might want to consult a doctor or avoid it altogether.

More blueberry recipes

• Blueberry Cheesecake Smoothie
• Balsamic Blueberry Vinaigrette Salad Dressing
• Gluten Free Almond Blueberry Mini Muffins
• Banana Blueberry Frozen Yogurt Pops
• Frozen Blueberry Margaritas from Cooking with Curls
• Blueberry Fool from She Wears Many Hats
• Blueberry Buttermilk Sherbet from Brown Eyed Baker

Balsamic Blueberry Bacon Baked Brie Recipe

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Balsamic Blueberry Baked Brie with Bacon

An ooey gooey baked brie – a cheesy appetizer recipe with the perfect combo of sweet and savory.

Prep: 5 mins

Cook: 15 mins

Total: 20 mins

Servings: 17

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Ingredients

• 17 oz brie cheese*
• 4 slices bacon (see note)
• 1 shallot minced (2 Tablespoons)
• 1 cup frozen blueberries (I used Mountain Peak Organic Blueberries from Cascadian Farm)
• 3 Tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• 1 Tablespoon pure maple syrup
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• Crackers, toasted baguette, apples, etc., for serving.

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Place brie round on baking sheet. With a sharp knife, cut into the rind on the top of the brie about a quarter inch from the edge. Do not remove the rind.
• Bake 15 minutes, or until cheese is soft and melted.
• While the Brie is baking, in a skillet, cook the bacon until crispy. Remove bacon from the pan and place on paper towels. Leave about 1 Tablespoon of the bacon grease in the pan.
• Reduce heat to medium low, add shallot and sauté for 1-2 minutes or until they become translucent.
• Add the frozen blueberries, balsamic vinegar, maple syrup, and cinnamon to the pan, stir and bring to a simmer.
• Reduce heat to low and simmer for about 8-10 minutes until the liquid is reduced and the mixture is thickened.
• Remove from heat and stir in the bacon.
• Move the hot brie to a serving plate. Carefully remove the top rind using a sharp knife to separate it, if needed.
• Top brie with blueberry mixture and serve with crackers, baguette, apple, etc.

Notes

• Recipe adapted from the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council and RecipeGirl.
• If you can’t find a large wheel of brie (I bought mine at Costco), you could just have more berries on one of the smaller rounds from the grocery store, or use half and save the rest of the berry mixture for another use.
• If you want to make this vegetarian, omit the bacon and use 1 Tablespoon of olive oil in the pan for making the topping.

Nutrition Facts

Balsamic Blueberry Baked Brie with Bacon

Amount Per Serving (2 Tablespoons)

Calories 128 Calories from Fat 81

% Daily Value*

Fat 9g14%

Saturated Fat 5g25%

Cholesterol 31mg10%

Sodium 213mg9%

Potassium 70mg2%

Carbohydrates 2g1%

Sugar 2g2%

Protein 6g12%

Vitamin A 175IU4%

Vitamin C 1mg1%

Calcium 54mg5%

Iron 0.2mg1%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Author: Brianne @ Cupcakes & Kale Chips

Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: American

Keywords: baked brie, cheese appetizers, holiday appetizers, hot dips

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Enjoy!