Baked Brie with Spiced Fruit Compote
By Yankee Magazine|Oct 23 2026|
Baked Brie with Spiced Fruit Compote
Credit: Adam DeTour/styling by Sheila JarnesEveryone loves a baked Brie, and adding this compote as a topping feels festive and tastes wonderful. It also pairs well with stronger cheeses like cheddars and blues. The recipe produces more compote than you’ll need for a single baked Brie, but that’s on purpose: Leftovers are great for blending into smoothies or spooning over yogurt or oatmeal.
Make-Ahead Instructions: Prepare the compote according to the recipe, then cover and refrigerate for up to 1 week. When ready to serve, just top the Brie with compote, and bake.
Yield
About 4 cups compote.
Ingredients
1⁄3 cup lightly chopped walnuts
3½ cups dried fruit (such as pears, cranberries, and apricots), cut into ½-inch pieces as needed
1⁄3–½ cup granulated sugar
2 strips lemon zest
2 strips orange zest
2 cinnamon sticks
1 teaspoon ground ginger
Pinch table salt
1 (1-to-2-pound) wheel of Brie, kept in refrigerator until using
French bread or crackers, for serving
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 350°F. Spread the walnuts on a baking sheet and toast for 5 to 8 minutes, until golden brown and fragrant; set aside.
In a saucepan, combine the dried fruit, ⅓ cup sugar, lemon zest, orange zest, cinnamon sticks, ground ginger, and salt. Add just enough water to reach the top of the fruit. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce heat and simmer until the fruit is soft and the liquid has reduced to a syrup, about 15 minutes. Taste and add the remaining sugar if needed, stirring until it dissolves completely. Add water if needed. Remove the cinnamon sticks, cover, and refrigerate for up to 1 week.
Just before serving, preheat your oven to 325°F. Remove the Brie from the refrigerator and place on a baking sheet or in a baking dish. Spoon the compote over the top to taste. Bake until it is just warmed through and begins to soften, 10 to 15 minutes. Sprinkle the toasted walnuts over the compote and serve with slices of French bread or crackers.
