Baked Brie in Bread Bowl with Cranberry Sauce and Thyme

There’s something about melted cheese that feels like a little bit of magic, isn’t there? Especially when it’s tucked into warm bread, bubbling just enough to pull apart in slow, gooey ribbons. That’s exactly what this recipe is — the kind of thing that makes people go quiet when they take the first bite. Not fancy-restaurant quiet, but that soft, eyes-closed, oh wow kind of quiet.

I made this for the first time on a cold Sunday evening when I wanted something that felt indulgent but not overcomplicated. I’d picked up a small wheel of Brie that was just sitting in my fridge waiting to be useful, and there was a round loaf of sourdough on the counter — perfect size, perfect crust. And then I spotted half a jar of cranberry sauce leftover from another meal and a tiny jar of honey I keep for “occasional drizzle moments.” You know the kind.

The whole thing came together like it was meant to be. I didn’t even plan it. Just hollowed out the bread, tucked in the Brie, poured the cranberry sauce on top, and drizzled honey until it looked like a holiday postcard. The smell that came out of the oven — sweet, savory, buttery — was ridiculous. The thyme adds this quiet, earthy note that makes it taste fancier than it really is. And when you pull that first chunk of bread, and the cheese stretches just enough before melting back into the cranberry — that’s the kind of small joy that makes cooking worth it.

Serve it at a get-together or on a random Tuesday night. Nobody will care what the occasion is. This one’s not about perfection. It’s about that comforting, melt-in-your-mouth, why-don’t-I-do-this-more-often kind of feeling.

Ingredients

• 1 round sourdough bread loaf
• 1 wheel (8 oz) Brie cheese
• ½ cup cranberry sauce (whole berry preferred)
• 1 tbsp honey
• 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves (plus extra for garnish)
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• Salt and black pepper, to taste

Directions

1.Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2.Prepare the bread: Slice off the top of the loaf and hollow out the center (snack on the pieces while you cook — you earned it).
3.Assemble: Place the Brie wheel right in the bread bowl. Spoon cranberry sauce over it, drizzle with honey, and sprinkle with thyme, salt, and pepper.
4.Brush and bake: Brush the outside of the bread with olive oil so it turns nice and golden. Bake for 20–25 minutes, until the cheese is melted and the bread is crisp.

Serve: Garnish with more thyme and bring it to the table warm. Pull it apart and dip straight in — no knives, no fuss, just joy.

Nutritional Info (per serving, serves 6):

Calories: 290 | Protein: 10g | Carbs: 26g | Fat: 16g | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 7g | Sodium: 370mg

Recipe FAQs

1. Can I make it without cranberry sauce?
Absolutely. You can use fig jam, apricot preserves, or even a little caramelized onion jam if you want something savory. The bread and brie are the stars here — the topping just sets the mood.

2. What kind of bread works best?
Sourdough is ideal because it’s sturdy enough to hold the melted cheese, but a round brioche loaf or rustic boule also works great. Just avoid anything too soft it’ll get soggy.

3. Can I prep it ahead of time?
Yep! Assemble everything up to the baking step, cover it with foil, and refrigerate. When you’re ready, just pop it in the oven for 25 minutes. Easy.

4. What can I serve it with?
Crackers, apple slices, grapes, toasted baguette — or honestly, just tear pieces of the bread bowl itself. That’s half the fun.

5. What do I do with leftovers (if there are any)?
Wrap them up tight and warm them in the oven the next day for 10 minutes. The cheese firms up a bit overnight but melts right back into perfection. Or spread it on toast in the morning — trust me.

Baked Brie in Bread Bowl with Cranberry Sauce and Thyme

Recipe by Salma Recipe

Servings

4

servings

Prep time

30

minutes

Cooking time

40

minutes

Calories

300

kcal

Ingredients

• * 1 round sourdough bread loaf

• * 1 wheel (8 oz) Brie cheese

• * ½ cup cranberry sauce (whole berry preferred)

• * 1 tbsp honey

• * 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves (plus extra for garnish)

• * 1 tbsp olive oil

• * Salt and black pepper, to taste

Directions

• Preheat oven** to 375°F (190°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Prepare the bread:** Slice off the top of the loaf and hollow out the center (snack on the pieces while you cook — you earned it).
• Assemble:** Place the Brie wheel right in the bread bowl. Spoon cranberry sauce over it, drizzle with honey, and sprinkle with thyme, salt, and pepper.
• Brush and bake:** Brush the outside of the bread with olive oil so it turns nice and golden. Bake for 20–25 minutes, until the cheese is melted and the bread is crisp.
• Serve: Garnish with more thyme and bring it to the table warm. Pull it apart and dip straight in — no knives, no fuss, just joy