If you are looking for an easy and festive appetizer for your New Year’s gathering and celebration, this delicious Filo-Wrapped Baked Brie with Fruit Preserves and Pistachios is exactly what you need! Creamy, slightly tangy Brie cheese enclosed in layers of buttery, crispy filo pastry, topped with your favorite fruit preserves, pistachio nuts and pomegranate arils, make for a winning sweet and savory combination!
Working with Filo Dough
Easy and versatile: this is a recipe that even those who have never worked with filo can tackle with minimal effort and great results. Working with filo is very forgiving; even if one of the layers tears a bit, nobody will ever notice it in the final dish. Filo is a great staple to have in the refrigerator and it can be used in countless savory and sweet recipes, from appetizers (like feta cheese triangles), to main dishes (like the traditional spanakopita) and of course, to desserts (like baklava).
The properties of filo: each sheet of filo dough is paper thin and it gets super crispy when it bakes. Filo pastry is essentially made with just flour and water (no fat) which results in light dishes with great texture. The lack of fat in filo also means that it can dry quickly, which is why we keep it covered with a clean, lint-free, dry (not damp) towel while we work with it. Frozen filo is first thawed in the refrigerator overnight and then brought to room temperature for half an hour just before we are about to use it.
Ingredients for the Filo-Wrapped Baked Brie with Fruit Preserves and Pistachios
- 3 sheets of good quality filo pastry (my favorite is from Fillo Factory which comes in the standard 14″ x 18″ size. The great quality of this filo makes working with it a breeze)
- One, 8oz. wheel of Brie or Camembert cheese
- Melted butter
- Your favorite fruit preserve
- Pistachio nuts
- Pomegranate arils
How to Assemble It — A Step-by-Step Photo Tutorial
- Gather all the ingredients. Place one, half sheet of filo dough on a work surface. Brush the top lightly with some melted butter, then top it with another half sheet of filo. Place the Brie wheel in the middle of the dough. Wrap the filo sheets around the cheese by folding it over the cheese to enclose completely
2. Brush some butter on the top of the filo parcel 
3. Place the wrapped Brie on top of two more filo sheets, each one brushed with melted butter. Wrap the filo around the Brie again (as in step one). Repeat with a second set of filo sheets until the filo is encased in six, half sheets of filo altogether
4. Turn the filo parceel over (seem side down), brush with butter and place on a piece of parchment paper and into a small, heat-proof skillet or baking sheet 
5. Bake the brie until golden brown and crispy, about 15 minutes 
6. Top with your favorite fruit preserves, some pistachio nuts and some pomegranate arils 
7. Enjoy with your favorite crackers, toasted baguette slices, or, crispy apple slices! 
Other Flavor Combinations and Ingredient Substitutions:
- Cheese: Brie or Camembert cheese both work equally well in this recipe; do not remove the rind as it is completely edible
- Fruit preserves: use your favorites, or, try something slightly acerbic such as cranberry, quince, or black currant; something hot such as a red or green pepper jelly; or, something sweet such as fig
- Nuts: toasted walnuts or sliced almonds are great too
- Pomegranate arils: these are optional, but they add a great texture and a festive appearance
Assemble it ahead of time:
To prepare ahead of time, assemble the cheese, wrap it well, or, place in an airtight plastic bag. Refrigerate for up to two days. Before baking, allow it to sit at room temperature for half an hour or plan to bake it a little longer.
Why you should make this appetizer:
Once you cut into the warm cheese, it slowly oozes out of the crispy filo, its saltiness is perfectly balanced by the sweetness of the preserves…you will be in heaven! This is one of those recipes that, once you try it, you will want to make it on just about any occasion. Enjoy this elegant appetizer with toasted baguette slices, dried fruit and nut crackers, and, of course with some Prosecco!
Wishing you all a Happy New Year!
This delicious recipe is another collaboration with Fillo Factory. You can find their filo dough as well as puff pastry at Whole Foods and several small local stores. I love the quality of the Fillo Factory products and I always make sure to stash a couple of boxes in the freezer!
- 6 sheets filo pastry (I used Fillo Factory, 13"x18")
- 6 TBSP. butter, melted
- 8 oz. Brie or Camembert
- 4-5 TBSP. fruit preserves or jam
- 2 TBSP. pistachios nuts, for topping
- 2 TBSP. pomegranate arils, for topping (optional)
- Crackers or toasted baguette slices for serving
- Allow the thawed filo to come to room temperature. Turn the oven on to 400°F. Gather the rest of the ingredients.
- Remove three sheets of filo pastry from the filo stack in the package. Cut them in half, so you have six 14"x9" sheets. Cover them with a lint-free kitchen towel and return the rest to the refrigerator.
- Place one half sheet of filo dough on a clean work surface. Brush the top lightly with some melted butter, then top it with another half sheet of filo. Place the brie wheel in the middle and wrap the filo sheets around the cheese by folding it over the cheese so as to enclose it completely.
- Butter the top of the filo parcel and place the wrapped brie on top of two more filo sheets, each one brushed with melted butter. Wrap the filo around the brie again. Repeat with a second set of filo sheets.
- Turn the filo parcel over (seem-side down), brush with butter and place on a piece of parchment paper and into a small heatproof skillet or baking sheet.
- Put in the preheated oven and bake the brie until golden brown and crispy, about 15 minutes.
- Top with your favorite fruit preserves, some pistachio nuts and pomegranate arils.
- Enjoy with your favorite crackers, toasted baguette slices or, crispy apple slices!
For more New Year’s Eve savory treats, check out these recipes:
Bacon-Wrapped Dates with Honey
Pomegranate-glazed Sausage Bites
THANK YOU FOR READING MY BLOG POST AND FOR FOLLOWING ALONG!
If you love this recipe, please consider giving it a star rating. This will help people discover my recipes online. Your support is greatly appreciated! 
I need to get some filo and make this for New Year’s Eve! Sounds delicious.
I hope you try it, Alice, you are going to love it!