Candied Almond and Apple Whipped Brie Board
For day 6 of my wine & appy mini-series I made a showstopper of an appetizer with a wine pairing that has made me cry tears of joy on multiple occasions: Candied Almond & Apple Whipped Brie Board paired with the one and only Champagne!
The Pairing
You haven’t experienced Champagne until you’ve paired it with creamy Brie, and this sweet and salty appy takes it to a new level with the crisp apples bringing out the apple notes in the wine and the sweet candied maple almonds playing with the wines nuttiness. This is also just stunning and guaranteed to impress your friends, but don’t shy away from making this for yourself, because what’s better than your very own whipped brie board and bottle of champagne?
My Recommendation
I highly recommend the Kirkland Signature Champagne from Costco Liquor. It’s ACTUAL Champagne, from the Champagne wine region in France, and is incredible value! It’s genuinely delicious and only around $20 USD or $30 CAD.
Candied Almond & Apple Whipped Brie Board
Ingredients
Instructions
- Make candied maple almonds: Heat a small-medium sized skillet over medium heat. Add butter and melt, followed by chopped almonds, maple syrup and sea salt. Stir until mixture thickens, lowering heat if needed to prevent burning. Pour mixture out onto a flat surface (like a cutting board or baking sheet) and allow to cool and harden. Break up the pieces using your hands or a knife.
- Place your Brie wheel in the freezer for 10-20 minutes. Remove from the freezer and shave off the rind. (See notes for a brand that is pregnancy friendly and comes without the rind!)
- Cut Brie into smaller chunks and add to your food processor. Blend until Brie is smooth and creamy and resembles butter. You may need to add 1 tbsp of cream or milk to thin it out a bit depending on the Brie you use.
- Spread brie onto your serving board of choice. Top with sliced apples, candied almonds, and lemon zest. Drizzle with maple syrup and then finish it off with fresh mint.
- Serve immediately with your favourite crackers or crostini and a glass or 3 of chilled Champagne!
Notes
I used the Castello Extra Creamy Brie Cheese since it’s pregnancy friendly (made with pasteurized milk), and I was surprised to see that it didn’t have a rind! I would have been very sad if I bought the Brie for any other reason, but it’s absolutely perfect for this recipe!
