Balsamic Blueberry Baked Brie with Bacon
Balsamic blueberry baked Brie with bacon will make my heart goes aflutter. You’ll love the ooey gooey cheese in this sweet and savory cheesy appetizer recipe. Dip some crackers, apple slices, or a spoon into this baked brie with blueberries for an easy gluten free appetizer recipe perfect for any occasion.
Disclosures: This post is sponsored by Cascadian Farm and I was compensated for writing this post. As always, all opinions are my own. Also, there are affiliate links in this post, meaning that if you click and make a purchase, the cost to you is the same, but I will receive a small commission.
The other day I was reminded how socially awkward I truly am. On the morning radio show I listen to, they were talking about small talk, and I realized how I manage to screw up small talk in different settings. I make it through the “Hi, how are you, and how is your family?” stage, but beyond that, I’m kind of a bumbling fool, especially when I don’t know people very well.
Sometimes I just don’t say anything. I’ll make a snap decision that I’m just not fitting in well, you know, as the science-geek-turned-food-blogger-recluse that I am. I used to spend my days mixing chemicals in a lab, and now I spend my days taking pictures of things like easy peanut butter banana snacks and sharing it on social media and “talking” to my friends who live in my computer. So I just 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, and then say something that is just weird or goofy or too much information or, heaven forbid, unintentionally offensive. I try to stop myself, but once I get going, well, it’s just a slippery slope, and it’s not until hours later that I realize I should have asked the person I was talking at something about themselves.
I think I just need more practice. Soooo, who wants to invite a social misfit to some parties? Any takers? I can bring food.
Because who needs small talk when you and other party guests can just gather around a dish of melted cheese…
This Balsamic Blueberry Baked Brie Recipe is the perfect combination of rich and savory, with the perfect amount of tangy sweetness, and just a bit of smoked, salty bacon.
Because, well, duh, bacon. Sure you can spread it on some crackers, but I was literally eating it off a spoon. I actually even put it on some chicken I made for dinner. Oh wait, hmmm, maybe that’s a future recipe idea.
I used a technique for this baked brie recipe that I discovered from RecipeGirl when I was searching Pinterest. In my Honey Nut Baked Brie recipe, I prepare the topping, slice the top rind off of the brie, then put on the topping and pop it in the oven or microwave to get all gooey. In this case, I cut a circle in the top of the rind and bake it. While it is in the oven, I make the super easy blueberry bacon balsamic compote and just pour it over the top. Done and done.
And those blueberries, well they are pretty special too, because they are Mountain Peak Organic Blueberries from Cascadian Farm.
You guys, just look at that awesomeness…
Found exclusively at Whole Foods and grown on the Home Farm in Skagit Valley, WA, Mountain Peak Organic Blueberries are a combination of four varieties of berries that have been grown in that location for 25 years. This flavorful blend is frozen at the peak of freshness so that you can have the sweet flavor of these delicious berries any time of the year. Just look at those big, juicy berries. Make sure you pick up some Mountain Peak Organic Blueberries the next time you are at Whole Foods so that you can make some smoothies, parfaits, and a platter of balsamic blueberry baked brie with bacon!
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Here are some more blueberry recipes…
- Blueberry Peach Smoothie
- Blueberry Balsamic Vinaigrette Salad Dressing
- Gluten Free Almond Blueberry Mini Muffins
- Banana Blueberry Frozen Yogurt Pops
Blend those berries into Frozen Blueberry Margaritas from Cooking with Curls. Blueberry Fool from She Wears Many Hats is a simple sweet treat. Or churn some delicious Blueberry Buttermilk Sherbet from Brown Eyed Baker.
Balsamic Blueberry Bacon Baked Brie Recipe
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. Here’s a brief video tutorial for how to make Balsamic Blueberry Baked Brie with Bacon.
Balsamic Blueberry Baked Brie with Bacon + VIDEO
Ingredients
- 17 oz brie cheese*
- 4 slices bacon
- 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.
Nutrition
Enjoy!
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Alli says
Hi, I hope you still read comments on these posts 🙂 I’m just curious, as I have 3 huge blueberry bushes that will be pumping out berries over the next couple of weeks. To use fresh berries for this recipe, do I need to smash them, do I need to add liquid (to compensate for the liquid that would defrost off frozen berries), is the cook time less?
This looks fabulous and I can’t wait to try it
Brianne @ Cupcakes & Kale Chips says
Yes, I got a bit behind on comments because summer is crazy with the kiddos. I don’t think you need to smash them, but you might need a little extra liquid. However, with the balsamic and a bit of coking, even the fresh berries will give off some liquid, so I wouldn’t add much or hold off rill you let it cook a bit.