Baked brie with homemade cranberry jam a special treat

The best Halloween costumes are usually the ones that sparkle — or scare — with creativity and imagination.

The same can be said for foods served at a party.

Sure, you could set the table with an array of chips and dips or offer a big bowl of pretzels for snacking. But if you really want something that’s good, take a few extra minutes and whip up a treat.

All you need is a wheel of brie, a sheet of frozen puff pastry, a half-cup or so of your favorite red jam and a sharp knife to cut the rolled-out dough into strips to wrap the cheese up.

This kid-friendly recipe only takes about a half-hour start to finish, and includes a seasonal and super-easy homemade cranberry jam. You also could use pecans or small slices of apple topped with raisins or craisins as garnish.

Be sure to brush the wrapped dough with egg wash; that’s what gives the finished dish its shiny, golden-brown color and helps as a binder.

It’s best served warm and gooey right out of the oven, with water crackers, apple wedges or slices, crostini, pretzel chips or anything else that’s sturdy and spreadable.

If you have leftover jam, put that on the serving platter too.

Baked Brie

Serves 6-8.

1 tablespoon unsalted butter

1 shallot, peeled and finely minced

1 cup fresh cranberries, rinsed

Juice and zest of 1 orange

3 tablespoons sugar

Pinch of sea salt

1 8-ounce wheel of French-style brie

1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed

Egg wash, for baking

Prepare cranberry jam: In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Add minced shallot and cook until soft and fragrant, about 5 minutes. Add cranberries to pan along with orange juice, sugar and a pinch of salt. Mix to combine, then bring to a boil over medium heat. Cook until cranberries explode and mixture gets jammy, about 10 minutes. Set aside to cool.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Slice brie in half horizontally, and set the top half aside. Spread cranberry jam on the bottom half of the brie. Replace the top half of the brie so that the jam is covered.

Roll out puff pastry on a lightly floured surface into a 12-inch square. Place brie in the center of the dough and make two cuts on both long sides of the dough, from the brie to the edges, to create even thirds. Fold the middle piece on each edge over the brie. (It will be mostly covered with dough.)

Cut ½ -inch-wide strips into the short sides of the dough, from the brie to the edges. Gently stretch the strips over the top of the dough in a crisscross. Tuck any loose ends under the pastry.

Transfer the wrapped brie to the parchment-covered baking tray. Brush the pastry with egg wash and place in hot oven. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until it’s golden brown.

Serve warm (and gooey) with sliced apples, toasted baguette, crackers, dried fruit, nuts and any leftover cranberry jam.