This Apple, Pecan and Brie Pull Apart Bread provides an explosion of flavours that would be perfect for any occasion. The sweet apples, nutty pecans and creamy brie make this unique pull apart bread mouth-wateringly delicious. Whether you’re hosting a festive holiday gathering or enjoying a cosy family evening, this easy-to-make cheesy bread is sure to impress and delight.
Based on a recipe by Halfbaked Harvest, this bread is very versatile and can be served a number of different ways. For an informal evening, serve it as an accompaniment to a soup, or for a holiday gathering, use it as a stunning centrepiece. I guarantee that once it is on the table, no one will be able to resist digging in!
Ingredients Needed to Make Apple, Pecan and Brie Pull Apart Bread
- 1 sourdough boule (or other round bread)
- 60g unsalted butter, divided (30g sliced, 30g softened)
- 500g brie cheese, sliced
- 2 medium apples, thinly sliced
- 45g brown sugar
- 70g pecans, broken into small pieces
- 1tsp cinnamon (optional)
Sourdough Bread
You may already know that I am a BIG sourdough fan, so I do suggest you use sourdough for this recipe. In fact, if you are looking for a great sourdough recipe, I have just the one for you here.
However, if you cannot get hold of sourdough bread, you can use any type of bread you like, as long as it is a round shape.
Butter
I prefer to use unsalted butter, since there is already quite a lot of salt in the bread and the cheese.
Brie
I live in France so I can get hold of Brie cheese very easily. I like to get a creamy brie that is not too ripe and doesn’t have too strong a flavour.
Apple
The best kind of apple for this recipe is a firm apple with a sharp taste, so that it cuts through the creaminess of the brie.
Pecans
I love the flavour of pecans and I think that they go perfectly in this bread. However, you can also use walnuts if you prefer.
Cinnamon
I like to add a little cinnamon in the topping, especially if I am serving this bread in the Autumn or at Christmas. It adds a little warmth and festive flavour that always goes down a treat. If you wish, you can try adding some nutmeg too, or leaving out the spices altogether.
How to Make Apple, Pecan and Brie Pull Apart Bread
This is a very easy recipe and it comes together very quickly.
Preheat the oven to 180°C.
You need to start with a good quality loaf of bread. Check out my recipe for White Artisan Sourdough if you want to try making your own.
Make cuts in the bread so as to make 2.5cm (1 inch) cubes. Make sure you don’t cut all the way through the bread, the bottom of the bread needs to remain intact.
Place the bread on a baking tray or ovenproof dish. Slice 30g of the butter thinly and insert in between the cubes of bread.
Next, insert the slices of apple into the bread, making sure that they are well distributed throughout the loaf.
After the apples, insert the slices of brie evenly throughout the bread.
With your fingers, rub together the remaining butter (softened), brown sugar, pecans and cinnamon (if using). Sprinkle over the whole loaf and press down into the cuts.
Bake at 180°C for 20 mins or until the cheese is well melted.
Tips for Making Apple, Pecan and Brie Pull Apart Bread
- Make sure that you don’t use too much apple as this is likely to cause the bread to be soggy.
- Be sure to soften the 30g of butter you will be using to make the topping, this makes it a lot easier to make.
- Use a nice ovenproof dish to bake the bread so that you can transfer it directly to the table. I like to use my cast iron skillet (see below for a link).
How to Serve Apple, Pecan and Brie Pull Apart Bread
This pull apart bread would be the perfect pairing to a warming soup. It would also be great as an appetiser with a glass of mulled wine at Christmas, or some sweet white wine any time of year.
I love to serve this bread for a large gathering, as part of a cheese board for example. It would also be a fantastic pot luck dinner addition!
Storage and Reheating
If you have any Apple, Pecan and Brie Pull Apart Bread left over, store it in an air tight container (or wrap with aluminium foil) for up to 3 days.
Reheat by popping it back in the oven at 180°C for about 10 mins.
Pin it for later!
So, will you give this easy but impressive bread a go? If you do, make sure to share on social media and tag me @candleinthekitchen! I would love to see your creations!
Looking for some more fancy bread inspiration? Check out my Caramelised Onion and Brie Sourdough Focaccia!
Apple, Pecan and Brie Pull Apart Bread
Ingredients
- 1 sourdough boule or other round bread
- 60 g unsalted butter divided (30g sliced, 30g softened)
- 250 g brie cheese sliced
- 1 medium apple thinly sliced
- 45 g brown sugar
- 70 g pecans broken into small pieces
- 1 tsp cinnamon optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180°C.
- You need to start with a good quality loaf of bread. Check out my recipe for White Artisan Sourdough if you want to try making your own.
- Make cuts in the bread so as to make 2.5cm (1 inch) cubes. Make sure you don’t cut all the way through the bread, the bottom of the bread needs to remain intact.
- Place the bread on a baking tray or ovenproof dish. Slice 30g of the butter thinly and insert in between the cubes of bread.
- Next, insert the slices of apple into the bread, making sure that they are well distributed throughout the loaf.
- After the apples, insert the slices of brie evenly throughout the bread.
- With your fingers, rub together the remaining butter (softened), brown sugar, pecans and cinnamon (if using). Sprinkle over the whole loaf and press down into the cuts.
- Bake at 180°C for 20 mins or until the cheese is well melted.
Love it!
Thank you!