When I saw a picture of these on Pinterest, I
knew I had to try them. This completely blended my love of Monte Cristos with
fond memories of my three-week vacation to England in 2011. Bacon and brie grilled
sandwiches are very popular across the Pond (at least in many of the cafes I
visited around Yorkshire). Add puff pastry and you essentially get the
offspring of a bacon and brie sandwich that mates with a pasty.
Baked Brie Bites
2 sheets puff pastry, thawed but
still cold
1/2 wedge of mild brie, chilled
Slices of deli ham or Canadian
bacon, cut into small pieces
1 large egg, beaten
1 tbsp milk
Coarsely ground sea salt
1. Preheat oven to 375.
2. Cut puff pastry into thirds
along the creases. Cut each panel into four pieces (2 ¼ inches x 3 inches). Cut
each rectangle in half for a total of 24 rectangles that will create 12 rectangle
pockets.
3. Combine beaten egg and milk. Brush
12 of the small rectangles with egg wash. Place a small sliver of brie (including
rind) on top of the egg wash. Top with several mini slices of ham.
4. Take another square of puff
pastry and gently press between your fingers to enlarge slightly. Place on top
of cheese and ham. Crimp edges together with a fork so that the cheese and ham
are completely sealed.
5. Place brie bites on a parchment-lined
baking sheet. Brush with egg wash and sprinkle with sea salt. Bake 12 to 14
minutes or until golden brown.
6. Cool slightly before serving.
Serve warm.
Substitution Suggestions: The original
recipe, taken from joythebaker.com, called for a ½ tsp of cherry jam instead of
ham. I preferred ham and then dipped the bites into raspberry jam as I ate
them. You could also sprinkle it with powdered sugar instead of salt for a
Monte Cristo-type treat.
I don’t particularly like brie rind
(flavor or texture), but I used a mild brie with a thin rind and it all melted
into a pleasant texture. And, because brie isn’t necessarily a cheap cheese, it
goes further.
Lessons Learned: It took a while
for the pastry to brown. Also, don’t prep this near the oven as the oven
preheats. The puff pastry needs to stay as cold as possible (without being
frozen). So, work fast.
