This Caramel Nut and Cranberry Brie Appetizer is the perfect combination of oozing, creamy cheese, sweet fruit, and crunchy pecan topping.  Best of all, the crowd-pleasing dish is ready after just 1 minute in your microwave! 

That’s right, friends.  One minute in your microwave and this beautiful, festive cheese spread is ready to serve!  Sound too good to be true?  Almost.

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I first served this appetizer at our family Thanksgiving dinner back in 2008.  That’s before I had any kids, definitely before blogging was even an idea in my little brain, and long before I considered myself comfortable in the kitchen.  I had seen a similar recipe in a Taste of Home holiday magazine, and I decided that the salty-sweet combination of the cheese with the caramel sauce would probably taste pretty darn good.

I also have a special association with Brie cheese, since it’s the appetizer that my grandmother always served when she hosted a meal.  Holidays or otherwise, we could count on a round of Brie and those classic Carr’s Table Water Crackers, which my mom still buys!  It just seems appropriate to serve Brie rounds in honor of my grandmother — especially during the holidays.

Since I’ve been making a version of this particular recipe for the past 8 years, I figured that probably means that it’s good enough to share with all of you!  And it doesn’t hurt that there is absolutely ZERO “cooking” involved.  Throw together a handful of store-bought ingredients, pop them in the microwave for a few seconds, and you’re suddenly The Hostess with the Mostest.

Feel free to serve your cheese with Carr’s Table Water Crackers a la my grandmother.  I, however, prefer a fresh baguette!

Cheers to the holidays, simple recipes, fond memories of our family members, and very little stress in the kitchen!

Recipe adapted from Taste of Home.

Looking for other easy appetizers to serve this holiday season?  Check out these favorites:

 Aunt Bee’s Spinach and Cheese Squares

2-Ingredient Pimento Cheese Bites

Hot Bacon and Cheese Dip

Healthy Chicken Taco Meatballs