If you’re on the hunt for a fun, festive, and downright delicious appetizer that steals the show, let me introduce you to my all-time favorite Mummy Brie Recipe. It’s a gooey wheel of brie wrapped up like a cute little mummy in flaky puff pastry, sprinkled with sweet jam and finished off with tiny “eyes” made of cranberries or raisins. Trust me, this recipe brings a perfect blend of savory, sweet, and buttery goodness that’s sure to wow any crowd, especially for Halloween or any cozy gathering.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Easy to Make: Uses just a few simple ingredients and minimal prep so you can spend less time in the kitchen.
- Perfect Party Appetizer: It’s visually cute and deliciously gooey, making it a fantastic conversation starter and crowd-pleaser.
- Customizable Flavors: The jam and garnish choices let you tweak sweet or tangy notes to suit your taste.
- Fun Presentation: Wrapping the brie like a mummy adds a playful touch that kids and adults both adore.
Ingredients You’ll Need
The magic behind this Mummy Brie Recipe comes from the marriage of creamy brie, flaky puff pastry, and bursts of sweetness from the jam. When selecting your ingredients, freshness and quality really shine through. I recommend using a good wheel of brie that’s not too aged for the smoothest melt.
- Brie wheel: Choose a fresh, creamy brie rather than an overly aged one for best melt and mild flavor.
- Frozen puff pastry sheet: Let it thaw just enough so it’s pliable, but keep it cold to retain flakiness.
- Jam or preserves: Cherry jam is my top pick for just the right balance of sweetness and tartness.
- Egg yolk: This helps glaze the pastry to a gorgeous golden brown.
- Water: Just a splash to thin the egg wash for even application.
- Dried cranberries or raisins: These make adorable “eyes” that add a little pop of color and chewiness.
Variations
One of the things I love most about the Mummy Brie Recipe is how easy it is to customize. Over the years, I’ve played around with different jams and garnishes, so don’t hesitate to make it your own!
- Jam swaps: I once used fig preserves and it added a nice earthy sweetness that paired beautifully with the brie.
- Nutty twist: Sprinkle some chopped toasted pecans or walnuts under the jam for an extra crunch I’d highly recommend.
- Herbs upgrade: Add a few fresh thyme leaves on top of the jam before wrapping for subtle herbal notes.
- Vegan version: Try a vegan puff pastry and vegan brie alternative to make it plant-based – still just as fun!
How to Make Mummy Brie Recipe
Step 1: Prep Your Puff Pastry Smartly
Start by preheating your oven to 400°F (200°C). Take the frozen puff pastry out and let it rest at room temp for about 15-30 minutes. It should be soft enough to gently roll out and cut, but still cold — that’s the sweet spot for achieving those flaky layers once baked.
Step 2: Prepare the Brie and Jam Filling
Grab a sharp knife and score a shallow ring around the top of the brie to carefully remove the rind lid. Spoon on around 3-4 tablespoons of your chosen jam — I’m partial to cherry jam here, which gives a nice tangy contrast — but be careful not to overfill or it might spill out during baking. Pop the rind lid back on and set the brie aside.
Step 3: Wrap the Brie Like a Mummy
Roll out your puff pastry on a cool surface a bit thinner than it came. Use a sharp knife or pizza cutter to slice it into strips roughly ½ inch wide. Now comes the fun part: wrap those strips around the brie overlapping unevenly, mimicking mummy bandages. Leave two small gaps on the “face” for the eyes! Place the wrapped brie onto a baking dish.
Step 4: Create the Eyes and Add Gloss
Make two tiny slits in the exposed brie where you want the eyes to be, then press a dried cranberry or raisin into each slit. In a small bowl, whisk one egg yolk with a splash of water and carefully brush this egg wash all over the puff pastry strips, but avoid the eye area so the berries stay visible and intact.
Step 5: Bake and Serve!
Pop your mummy into the oven and bake for about 20-24 minutes, or until the puff pastry is gorgeously golden and the brie is melted and bubbly inside. I love serving mine warm with fresh fruit and crusty bread — it makes for a mouthwatering cheese board centerpiece that folks can’t get enough of.
Pro Tips for Making Mummy Brie Recipe
- Spot-On Puff Pastry Thawing: I found letting the pastry soften just enough to roll without sticking—not too warm—is key for easy wrapping and flaky results.
- Don’t Overfill with Jam: Too much filling can leak and ruin that cute mummy look; I usually stick to about 3 tablespoons to keep things tidy.
- Seal the Edges Well: Press the pastry edges gently but firmly to avoid unwrapping during baking—this keeps the cheesy melty goodness inside.
- Egg Wash Precision: Use a small brush and be gentle around the eyes so your cranberries or raisins don’t fall off during baking.
How to Serve Mummy Brie Recipe
Garnishes
I love adding a few sprigs of fresh thyme or rosemary around the base of the baked mummy brie—it feels festive and adds a nice herbal aroma that complements the cheese. Sometimes, I scatter extra dried cranberries around the platter for color and sweetness.
Side Dishes
This recipe shines alongside crisp apple slices, juicy grapes, and a crusty baguette or crackers. Fresh fruit cuts through the rich brie perfectly, and the bread helps scoop up every last bit of melted cheese and jam.
Creative Ways to Present
For Halloween parties, I’ve served the mummy brie on a large slate board surrounded by black olives “spider webs” made from olives and thin onion rings. Another idea is placing mini mummies on puff pastry rounds as individual bites. Trust me, it’s always a hit and gets everyone talking!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
If you end up with leftovers, I wrap the brie well in foil and store it in the fridge. Brie can soften and leak a bit over time, so it’s best eaten within 1-2 days for peak taste and texture.
Freezing
I usually don’t freeze wrapped brie for this recipe because the puff pastry loses its flaky texture when thawed. If you must freeze, do so before baking and bake from frozen, but be aware the end result might not be as crisp.
Reheating
To reheat leftovers, pop the brie in a 350°F oven for about 10 minutes until warmed through and the pastry crisps back up. Avoid microwaving, which can make the pastry soggy and cheese separate.
FAQs
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Can I use homemade puff pastry for the Mummy Brie Recipe?
Absolutely! Homemade puff pastry can add a lovely, buttery flavor and flakiness. Just be sure it’s well-chilled and rolled to the right thickness so it wraps easily without tearing.
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What kind of jam works best for this recipe?
Cherry jam is my top pick because of its sweet-tart balance, but you can also experiment with fig, raspberry, or apricot preserves depending on your flavor preference. Just avoid overly runny jams that might soak into the pastry.
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How do I keep the “eyes” from falling off during baking?
Make sure to press your dried cranberries or raisins firmly into small slits cut in the brie before wrapping. Also, avoid brushing egg wash over them to prevent them from loosening in the oven.
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Can this recipe be made ahead of time?
Yes, you can assemble the mummy brie up to a few hours before baking. Keep it wrapped in plastic wrap in the fridge, then brush with egg wash and bake right before serving for the best results.
Final Thoughts
This Mummy Brie Recipe has become one of my go-to party hits because it manages to be both impressively festive and surprisingly simple. It’s a little trick I’ve used to turn a humble cheese wheel into a centerpiece that feels like a special occasion. I honestly encourage you to give it a try—you’ll love how the combination of creamy brie, flaky pastry, and sweet jam comes together in such a charming way. Plus, watching your friends’ faces light up when they see it is priceless. Go on, make this for your next get-together and prepare for all the compliments!
PrintMummy Brie Recipe
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 10 servings
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
This Mummy Brie recipe is a fun and festive appetizer perfect for Halloween or any special occasion. A creamy wheel of Brie cheese is topped with sweet cherry jam, wrapped in strips of flaky puff pastry to resemble a mummy, and baked until golden and bubbly. Garnished with dried cranberries or raisins for eyes, it pairs wonderfully with fresh fruit and crusty bread for an impressive and delicious grazing board addition.
Ingredients
Cheese and Toppings
- 8 oz wheel of Brie
- 3 tbsp cherry jam or preserves
- 2 dried cranberries or raisins
Puff Pastry
- 1 sheet frozen puff pastry (or homemade puff pastry)
Egg Wash
- 1 egg yolk
- splash of water
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Puff Pastry: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Remove the puff pastry from the freezer and let it sit at room temperature for 15-30 minutes until it’s soft and pliable but still cold enough to handle.
- Prepare the Brie: Using a sharp knife, carefully cut a shallow ring around the top rind of the Brie wheel and gently remove the top. Spoon 3-4 tablespoons of cherry jam evenly on the exposed surface, taking care not to overfill. Replace the Brie top and set aside.
- Roll and Cut Puff Pastry Strips: On a cold clean surface, lay out the softened puff pastry sheet. Use a rolling pin to flatten it slightly for easier handling. Cut the pastry into thin strips using a sharp knife or pizza cutter; these will be used to wrap the Brie.
- Wrap Brie like a Mummy: Wrap the puff pastry strips around the Brie in a mummy pattern, leaving some gaps to create eye spaces. Place the wrapped Brie on a baking dish. Make two small slits for eyes, then insert dried cranberries or raisins into these slits.
- Apply Egg Wash: In a small bowl, whisk together the egg yolk with a splash of water. Brush this egg wash evenly over the puff pastry, avoiding the areas where the eyes are to prevent them from being covered.
- Bake: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 20-24 minutes until the puff pastry is golden brown and puffed, and the Brie inside is bubbly and warm.
- Serve: Carefully remove from the oven and serve the Mummy Brie warm. Pair with fresh fruit and crusty bread for a delightful appetizer experience.
Notes
- This appetizer is perfect for Halloween gatherings or themed parties and is sure to be a crowd-pleaser.
- Allow the puff pastry to soften just enough to work with; too warm and it will get too sticky and hard to manage.
- You can substitute cherry jam with other fruit preserves like raspberry or apricot as preferred.
- Serve warm for the best gooey texture of melted Brie.
- Use caution when removing the Brie from the oven as it will be very hot and oozy.
- Pair with crusty bread and fresh fruit such as grapes or apple slices for a balanced grazing board.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (approximately 1/10th of the Mummy Brie)
- Calories: 220 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg