Baked Brie Cranberry Pasta

Featured in: Comfort Classics

This dish combines creamy baked Brie with sweet-tart cranberries and toasted walnuts, tossed with tender pasta for a festive and comforting meal. The Brie melts beautifully in the oven with honey and thyme, creating a luscious sauce. Toasted walnuts add crunch while fresh parsley and optional orange zest brighten the flavors. Easy to prepare and rich in taste, this pasta provides a balanced vegetarian option suitable for any occasion.

Updated on Wed, 26 Nov 2025 12:07:00 GMT
Creamy Baked Brie & Cranberry Pasta, a flavorful dish with melted cheese and juicy cranberries. Save to Pinterest
Creamy Baked Brie & Cranberry Pasta, a flavorful dish with melted cheese and juicy cranberries. | velvetthyme.com

A luxurious pasta dish featuring creamy baked Brie, sweet-tart cranberries, and toasted walnuts for a festive twist on comfort food.

This dish has become a holiday favorite in my family, bringing warmth and joy to our gatherings.

Ingredients

  • Pasta: 350 g (12 oz) short pasta (such as penne or fusilli), 1 tbsp olive oil, Salt for pasta water
  • Cheese & Cranberry: 200 g (7 oz) Brie cheese rind removed and cut into cubes, 100 g (3.5 oz) fresh or frozen cranberries, 2 tbsp honey (or maple syrup for vegan option), 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves (plus extra for garnish), 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
  • Nuts & Garnish: 50 g (1/3 cup) walnuts roughly chopped, 2 tbsp fresh parsley chopped, Zest of 1 orange (optional)

Instructions

Preheat Oven:
Preheat the oven to 200°C (400°F).
Cook Pasta:
Cook the pasta in generously salted water according to package instructions. Drain and set aside reserving 1/2 cup of pasta water.
Prepare Brie Mixture:
Place the Brie cubes in a small baking dish. Scatter cranberries on top drizzle with honey sprinkle with thyme and black pepper.
Bake Mixture:
Bake for 12 15 minutes until the Brie is melted and bubbling and cranberries are soft.
Toast Walnuts:
Toast the walnuts in a dry skillet over medium heat for 2 3 minutes until fragrant. Set aside.
Combine Pasta and Brie:
Place the drained pasta in a large bowl. Pour the baked Brie and cranberry mixture over the pasta add a splash of reserved pasta water and toss gently until coated and creamy.
Add Garnishes:
Stir in half the toasted walnuts and parsley.
Serve:
Serve immediately garnished with remaining walnuts parsley and orange zest if desired.
A close-up of Baked Brie & Cranberry Pasta, showing golden melted brie cheese and walnuts. Save to Pinterest
A close-up of Baked Brie & Cranberry Pasta, showing golden melted brie cheese and walnuts. | velvetthyme.com

Gathering around this pasta dish has created many wonderful family moments filled with laughter and holiday spirit.

Notes

For extra flavor add a handful of baby spinach or arugula when tossing the pasta. Substitute dried cranberries if fresh/frozen are unavailable reduce honey to 1 tbsp. For a vegan version use vegan Brie-style cheese and maple syrup.

Required Tools

Large pot Baking dish Skillet Mixing bowl Zester (optional)

Allergen Information

Contains milk (Brie cheese) nuts (walnuts) and gluten (pasta). For gluten-free use certified gluten-free pasta. Always check ingredient labels for hidden allergens.

Tender pasta coated in rich Baked Brie & Cranberry sauce, perfect for a cozy dinner tonight. Save to Pinterest
Tender pasta coated in rich Baked Brie & Cranberry sauce, perfect for a cozy dinner tonight. | velvetthyme.com

This baked Brie and cranberry pasta is perfect for a cozy dinner or festive occasion and always delights guests.

Baked Brie Cranberry Pasta

Creamy baked Brie combined with tart cranberries and toasted walnuts for a festive pasta twist.

Prep time
15 min
Time for cooking
25 min
Total process time
40 min
Created by Velvet Thyme Eleanor Hayes

Recipe category Comfort Classics

Skill level Easy

Cuisine type Contemporary

Yield amount 4 Number of servings

Dietary details Vegetarian-friendly

List of ingredients

Pasta

01 12 ounces short pasta (penne or fusilli)
02 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 Salt, for pasta water

Cheese & Cranberry

01 7 ounces Brie cheese, rind removed and cubed
02 3.5 ounces fresh or frozen cranberries
03 2 tablespoons honey (or maple syrup for vegan option)
04 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
05 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Nuts & Garnish

01 1/3 cup walnuts, roughly chopped
02 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
03 Zest of 1 orange (optional)

How to make it

Step 01

Preheat oven: Preheat the oven to 400°F.

Step 02

Cook pasta: Boil pasta in generously salted water to package directions, then drain, reserving 1/2 cup pasta water.

Step 03

Prepare Brie and cranberry: Place Brie cubes in a small baking dish, top with cranberries, drizzle with honey, then sprinkle thyme and black pepper.

Step 04

Bake Brie and cranberry: Bake for 12 to 15 minutes until Brie melts and cranberries soften.

Step 05

Toast walnuts: Toast walnuts in a dry skillet over medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes until fragrant, then set aside.

Step 06

Combine pasta and cheese mixture: Transfer drained pasta to a large bowl, add baked Brie and cranberry mixture along with a splash of reserved pasta water, toss gently until creamy.

Step 07

Add nuts and herbs: Stir in half the toasted walnuts and chopped parsley.

Step 08

Serve and garnish: Serve immediately, garnished with remaining walnuts, parsley, and optional orange zest.

Essential tools

  • Large pot
  • Baking dish
  • Skillet
  • Mixing bowl
  • Zester (optional)

Allergy warnings

Be sure to carefully review every ingredient for allergens and seek expert advice as needed.
  • Contains milk (Brie), nuts (walnuts), and gluten (pasta).
  • Use gluten-free pasta to avoid gluten.
  • Check labels for hidden allergens.

Nutrition details per serving

Details here are meant for guidance. Please contact health professionals for medical advice.
  • Calorie count: 548
  • Fat content: 22 g
  • Carbohydrate: 68 g
  • Protein amount: 18 g