Bistro Brie Mac ‘n Cheese Puffs

By Sugar Plum

I had so much fun last year creating a macaroni and cheese recipe for the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board. I was very happy when they asked me to participate again this year for their 30 Days 30 Ways with Macaroni & Cheese Blog. I was especially excited this year, because I’ve learned quite a bit about cheese over the past few months. I work in a food and wine store that sells cheese (many of them from Wisconsin.) Part of the job is being able to tell customers about the types of cheeses we sell. I tend to recommend Brie to the customers, because it’s my favorite type of cheese.

So guess what cheese I chose to make my macaroni and cheese with?

I made a cheese sauce from Wisconsin Brie, cream, cream cheese, and a little French onion soup and black peppercorn flavoring. The sauce is stirred into cooked rotini, eggs, and chopped cooked bacon.

The macaroni and cheese is divided into a mini muffin pan, topped with panko bread crumbs, and baked in the oven for 10 minutes.

These little puffs are decadent, delicious and perfect for entertaining.

Bistro Brie Mac ‘n Cheese Puffs
Makes 2 1/2 dozen puffs

Ingredients:

12 ounces rotini pasta
6 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 cup heavy cream
8 ounces cream cheese
9 ounces Wisconsin Brie Cheese, rind removed, cubed
1/3 cup French onion soup mix
1 teaspoon cracked black pepper
2 large eggs
1/2 cup cooked bacon, finely chopped
2/3 cup panko bread crumbs

Directions:

Heat oven to 425°F. Coat mini muffin pans with cooking spray, or coat with butter.

Cook pasta according to package instructions. Drain well and set aside.

Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat; whisk in cream, cream cheese, Brie, soup mix and pepper until melted and smooth.

Whisk eggs together in a large bowl until well combined. Stir in pasta, cheese sauce and bacon until well combined. Divide mac and cheese among muffin cups. Sprinkle bread crumbs on top. Bake 10 minutes or until golden brown and crisp. Cool 5 minutes before removing from pans.

appetizer, bite sized, Brie, Macaroni & Cheese, party food, Wisconsin Cheese