Name: Cast Iron Baked Brie with Honeyed Apricots
Total time: 40 min
Ingredients: 1/4 cup dried apricots , chopped; 1/4 cup honey; 1 teaspoon minced fresh rosemary; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 1/4 teaspoon pepper; 2 (8-ounce) wheels firm Brie , rind removed, cheese cut into 1-inch pieces; 1 tablespoon minced fresh chives

Why This Recipe Works

Baked Brie topped with jam or fruit—we like dried apricots and honey—is a popular party snack, and for good reason. When the cheese is warmed, it magically transforms into a rich, dippable concoction. Baking the cheese in a cast-iron skillet seemed like a no-brainer; since the skillet holds onto heat so well, it would keep the cheese in the ideal luscious, fluid state longer than any other pan. For sweet and creamy flavor in every bite, we reengineered the traditional whole wheel of baked Brie by trimming off the rind (which doesn't melt that well) and slicing the cheese into cubes. The result? Our honey-apricot mixture was evenly distributed throughout the dish, not just spooned on top. We finished the dish with an extra drizzle of honey and some minced chives to reinforce the sweet-savory flavor profile.

Before You Begin

Be sure to use a firm, fairly unripe Brie for this recipe. Serve with crackers or Melba toast.

Instructions

Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 400 degrees. Microwave apricots, 2 tablespoons honey, rosemary, salt, and pepper in medium bowl until apricots are softened and mixture is fragrant, about 1 minute, stirring halfway through microwaving. Add Brie and toss to combine.

Transfer mixture to 10-inch cast-iron skillet and bake until cheese is melted, 10 to 15 minutes. Drizzle with remaining 2 tablespoons honey and sprinkle with chives. Serve.