Baked Brie with Caramelized Pears, Shallots and Thyme

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon butter
• 2 shallots , thinly sliced
• 2 pears , peeled, cored, and sliced
• 0.33 cups dry white wine
• 0.5 teaspoons brown sugar
• 0.5 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme
• salt and ground black pepper to taste
• 1 round loaf sourdough bread , 8 ounce
• 1 round Brie cheese , 8 ounce
• 0.5 cups slivered almonds
• assorted crackers

Instructions

1. 1

   Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

2. 2

   Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add shallots; cook and stir to soften, 1 minute. Add pears; cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Add white wine, brown sugar, thyme, salt, and black pepper. Increase heat to medium-high; simmer until liquid has evaporated and pears have lightly caramelized, about 10 minutes. Set aside.

3. 3

   Cut a Brie-sized hole in top of sourdough round to within ½-inch of bottom. Cut removed bread into pieces for serving; set aside.

4. 4

   Score Brie around edge (halfway down Brie wheel) using a paring knife to cut ¼-inch deep. Cut Brie in half horizontally by looping an 18-inch piece of very thin string or unflavored dental floss around scored Brie, pulling the ends in opposite directions.

5. 5

   Place bottom half Brie, cut-side up, into sourdough loaf. Top with ½ pear mixture; sprinkle with ½ slivered almonds. Place remaining Brie half on top; spread with remaining ½ pear mixture and sprinkle with remaining ½ slivered almonds. Place on a baking sheet.

6. 6

   Bake in the preheated oven until soft and gooey, about 45 minutes. Serve with reserved sourdough bread and crackers.