Cranberry Brie Tartlet Pasta (Printable Version)

Creamy Brie pasta fused with sweet cranberries and a crunchy buttery topping for a festive touch.

# What You Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 12 oz short pasta (fusilli, penne, or rigatoni)
02 - 1 tbsp kosher salt (for pasta water)

→ Sauce

03 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter
04 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
05 - 7 oz Brie cheese, rind trimmed and cubed
06 - ½ cup heavy cream
07 - ¼ cup whole milk
08 - ½ cup dried cranberries, chopped
09 - 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves
10 - ¼ tsp ground black pepper
11 - ½ tsp kosher salt, or to taste

→ Tartlet-Inspired Topping

12 - ⅓ cup panko breadcrumbs
13 - 1 tbsp unsalted butter
14 - ¼ cup chopped toasted walnuts (optional)

→ Garnish

15 - 1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
16 - Additional dried cranberries (optional)

# How To Make:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta until al dente according to package instructions. Reserve ½ cup pasta water, then drain pasta.
02 - In a large skillet over medium heat, melt 2 tbsp butter. Add minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Add cubed Brie, heavy cream, and whole milk to the skillet. Stir gently until Brie melts and forms a smooth sauce, about 3 to 4 minutes.
04 - Incorporate chopped dried cranberries, fresh thyme, black pepper, and kosher salt. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 2 to 3 minutes.
05 - Add drained pasta to the sauce and toss to coat evenly. Adjust sauce consistency by adding reserved pasta water a little at a time as needed.
06 - Melt 1 tbsp butter in a small pan over medium heat. Stir in panko breadcrumbs and walnuts if using. Toast until golden, about 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat.
07 - Dish pasta into bowls and top with buttery crumb mixture, fresh parsley, additional dried cranberries if desired, and garnish with thyme leaves.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • Creamy and comforting fusion of French-American flavors
  • Quick and easy to prepare in under 40 minutes
02 -
  • For a more savory flavor add a handful of baby spinach or arugula in step 5
  • Substitute walnuts with pecans or omit for nut-free option
03 -
  • Toast breadcrumbs slowly to avoid burning and achieve a perfect golden color
  • Gently warm the cream mixture to prevent curdling and keep sauce smooth
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