This gourmet Baked Brie recipe, featuring succulent honey-balsamic roasted strawberries, is proudly sponsored by California Giant Berry Farms. All culinary insights and opinions expressed remain entirely my own.
Elevate Your Entertaining: Baked Brie with Honey-Balsamic Roasted Strawberries
Welcome to a fresh season of delightful berry-inspired creations! I’m thrilled to kick off my second year in partnership with California Giant Berry Farms by sharing a truly exquisite appetizer that promises to impress.
As spring unfurls its beauty and special occasions like Easter, Mother’s Day, and bridal showers beckon, this Roasted Strawberry Baked Brie recipe emerges as the quintessential dish for effortless yet elegant entertaining. Baked Brie has long been a go-to favorite for hosting, offering a comforting warmth and luxurious texture that guests adore. When crowned with a vibrant, sweet-tart berry topping, it transforms into an unforgettable culinary experience.
Imagine the allure: a wheel of perfectly baked Brie, its creamy interior yielding with every bite, beautifully complemented by a luscious cascade of syrupy, sweet-tart strawberries. This harmonious blend of textures and flavors makes it an absolute showstopper. It’s not just an appetizer; it’s a conversation starter, a centerpiece, and a testament to sophisticated taste. Whether you’re planning an intimate gathering or a lavish brunch buffet, this dish will undoubtedly earn rave reviews and leave a lasting impression on your family and friends. Its simplicity belies its profound elegance, making you look like a seasoned chef with minimal effort.
California Giant Berries: The Perfect Choice for Gourmet Entertaining
California Giant Berry Farms berries are more than just fruit; they are an essential ingredient for every lifestyle and special occasion. This year, our collaboration is focused on the art of entertaining, showcasing innovative ways to weave fresh, premium berries into stunning recipes that will captivate your guests at any gathering. The possibilities are truly exciting!
For those familiar with Striped Spatula, you know that my brand partnerships are built on genuine admiration and personal use. California Giant Berry Farms is a company I have consistently associated with superior quality berries for many years. Their commitment to excellence is evident in every plump, juicy berry they offer. When you choose Cal Giant, you’re not just selecting berries; you’re selecting a legacy of freshness and flavor.
The “Giant” in Cal Giant is not merely a marketing term; it’s a promise of their signature size and exceptional taste. You’ll recognize their gorgeous fruit instantly at the market – those impressively large, brilliantly colored strawberries truly stand out, even before you read the label. This distinct characteristic is a hallmark of their dedication to natural cultivation. All of their crops are meticulously grown without GMOs, ensuring a pure, unadulterated taste experience that is owed entirely to the bounty of nature and careful farming practices. This commitment to natural growth means you’re serving your guests berries that are not only delicious but also grown with integrity and care, making your dishes shine even brighter.
The Magic of Honey-Balsamic Roasted Strawberries
The large size and inherently sweet flavor of California Giant’s strawberries make them ideal candidates for roasting. This transformative cooking method brings out a **deeper, more concentrated flavor** than when they are raw, while also creating a **softer, more yielding texture** that perfectly complements the rich, warm creaminess of baked Brie. Roasting strawberries unlocks a new dimension of sweetness and a hint of caramelized complexity, creating a truly gourmet topping.
Our recipe involves tossing these beautiful berries with golden honey and a splash of white balsamic vinegar. As they gently roast, the berries release their natural juices, which then mingle with the honey and vinegar to create a rich, glossy, and wonderfully aromatic syrup. This exquisite syrup is not just a flavor enhancer; it’s a critical component, meant to be generously spooned over the warm Brie, ensuring every bite is drenched in luscious, fruity goodness.
I specifically opt for **white balsamic vinegar** in this recipe for several compelling reasons. Its lighter, fruitier flavor profile harmonizes beautifully with the delicate sweetness of the strawberries, without overpowering them. Crucially, white balsamic helps to preserve the vibrant, ruby-red color of the released berry juices, ensuring an appealing visual presentation. While you can certainly substitute classic balsamic vinegar, be aware that your resulting syrup will be darker, potentially dulling the natural brightness of the strawberries. The subtle tang of the white balsamic is essential for cutting through the richness of the Brie and honey, creating a perfectly balanced sweet-tart profile.
For optimal flavor and a visually stunning presentation of this baked Brie recipe, it’s absolutely crucial **not to over-roast the strawberries**. Unlike when preparing berries for a sauce or compote that will be mashed, when serving them with cheese, we aim for a specific texture. The goal is for the berries to become tender and release their juices, but still largely retain their appealing shape. Over-roasting would cause them to collapse and lose their structural integrity, detracting from the overall aesthetic. Typically, this means baking them for a slightly shorter duration than you might for a topping destined for ice cream or pound cake. Watch them carefully, seeking that sweet spot between tender and intact.
To further enhance the experience, I love to incorporate **fresh mint** and **chopped pistachios** into the strawberries once they’ve emerged from the oven. Mint is an incredibly fragrant herb, and its cool, refreshing notes provide a brilliant counterpoint to the warm, sweet berries, creating a truly sophisticated flavor dynamic. The herbaceous aroma of mint elevates the entire dish, making it feel particularly fresh and vibrant.
My friends and family consistently rave about the delightful contrast that crunchy chopped nuts introduce to this dish. The textural interplay between the ultra-creamy baked Brie, the tender roasted strawberries, and the satisfying crunch of nuts is simply divine. While I’ve always found pistachios to be a perfect complement to bright, fresh spring flavors, their slightly sweet and earthy profile is hard to beat. However, this recipe is wonderfully adaptable; feel free to substitute your favorite type of nut. I’ve successfully prepared this baked Brie recipe using both walnuts and pecans, each adding its own unique depth and crunch to the overall experience. Experiment and discover your preferred combination!
Crafting the Perfect Spring Brunch Menu with Berries
If you share my passion for the delightful sweet-savory (and often bubbly) tradition of brunch, you’ll find any excuse to indulge! I confess, if it were feasible, I’d happily brunch multiple times a week. Fortunately, the arrival of spring graces us with an abundance of opportunities to host truly memorable brunch gatherings. From the joyous celebrations of Easter and heartfelt tributes on Mother’s Day, to elegant bridal showers and leisurely weekend get-togethers with cherished friends, spring is the season for delicious mornings and mid-day feasts.
Beyond incorporating them into my cooking, I adore styling my spring table with berries. What better way to adorn a brunch spread than with gracefully arranged bowls or charming baskets overflowing with vibrant, ripe California Giant strawberries? Their rich color and enticing aroma instantly elevate the ambiance, transforming a simple table into a feast for the eyes. They make for an absolutely beautiful, natural centerpiece, or serve as a stunning anchor for a bountiful buffet, drawing guests in with their irresistible allure.
Embrace your creativity and have fun with your berries! Use them not just as ingredients, but as decorative elements that set the scene for a fresh, memorable, and utterly delicious gathering this spring, and throughout the year. The versatility of fresh berries allows you to infuse every aspect of your brunch with natural beauty and exquisite taste. Happy Brunching, and enjoy crafting those beautiful moments!
More Fresh Strawberry Recipes for Your Entertaining Needs
Looking for more ways to incorporate the delightful flavor of fresh strawberries into your entertaining menu? Explore these other fantastic recipes:
- Refreshing Strawberry Basil Soda
- Vibrant Strawberry Balsamic Salsa
- Elegant Lemon Cream Mixed Berry Tart
- Decadent Baked Croissant French Toast with Berries
Print Recipe
Baked Brie with Honey-Balsamic Roasted Strawberries
Ingredients
- 14 ounce wheel of Brie (approximately 5-inch diameter)
- ¾ pound California Giant Berry Farms Strawberries
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1-1/2 teaspoons white balsamic vinegar
- ¼ teaspoon cracked black pepper (optional, for a subtle kick)
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint leaves
- 2 tablespoons coarsely chopped unsalted pistachios
- Crackers, crostini, or sliced baguette , for serving
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
- Carefully clean the strawberries and remove their green tops. For larger strawberries, cut them into quarters; smaller ones can simply be halved.
- In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the honey, white balsamic vinegar, and cracked black pepper (if you choose to use it) until well combined. Add the prepared strawberries to the bowl and gently toss until they are evenly coated. Pour the strawberry mixture onto a parchment-lined, rimmed baking sheet, or transfer it to a baking dish, spreading them in a single layer.
- Roast the strawberries for 12-15 minutes. The goal is for them to become tender, juicy, and slightly syrupy, but still maintain their shape. Remove them from the oven and carefully transfer the roasted strawberries and any accumulated syrup into a clean bowl to cool slightly. The luscious syrup will thicken as it cools.
- While the strawberries are cooling, place the wheel of Brie in a clean baking dish or on a second parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake for 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese is wonderfully soft and warm throughout, but the rind remains intact and prevents the cheese from melting out.
- Once the Brie is baked, gently fold the fresh mint leaves and coarsely chopped pistachios into the roasted strawberry mixture. Immediately spoon this flavorful strawberry topping over the warm baked Brie. Serve this exquisite appetizer with an assortment of your favorite crackers, toasted crostini, or freshly sliced baguette for dipping. Enjoy the irresistible blend of creamy cheese, sweet berries, and crunchy nuts!
Nutrition Estimate
Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should be used as an approximation only. It may vary based on specific ingredients and preparation methods.
Please note that all recipes featured on this site have been developed using the US Customary measurement system. They have not been tested for variations that may arise from high altitude/elevation cooking and baking, which can sometimes require adjustments to ingredients or cooking times.