Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Set an oven-safe grill pan over medium heat and grill the whole brie for three minutes on each side.
Remove from stovetop and sprinkle thyme over the brie. Add shallots and garlic to pan and drizzle with olive oil and balsamic, so that they're well-coated. Add salt and pepper. Now you're ready to bake this deliciousness.
Bake for 10-12 minutes. Remove from the oven and lightly drizzle with some more good, thick balsamic vinegar. Sprinkle the dried cranberries on top. Serve with grilled bread, or thick slices of apple, or—as I did—brioche toasts.
