How to Make the Best Baked Brie Recipe

Have you ever wanted to phenomenal party starter but didn’t want to expand too much energy in the process? Well, this recipe is screaming your name. Trust me when I say that it takes less than 20 minutes of hands on work and this is if you are making your cranberry sauce or whatever topping from scratch.

If you have leftover cranberry sauce like me then you don’t even have to worry about that 20 minutes. Your work has been cut out for you and the whole process might not even take you 5 minutes of hands-on work. All you have to do is unwrap the brie cheese, pop it in the oven and be patient enough for it to melt.

This is the easiest appetizer / party starter ever!

Plus if you are like me and can live off of cheese in general this can be a fun weekend recipe to make your lunches/brunches .or even dinners that much more special for your family.

Because at the end of the day, every day should be treated as a special occasion so only you can decide what you can and cannot serve for regular meals. And trust me when I say that your life will be turned upside down when you start making every day special!

Why you need to make this holiday baked brie recipe!

• This is a quick and easy recipe.
• It requires very minimal effort, all you have to do is bake it in the oven.
• This recipe will make for a pretty cheap appetizer. It will cost you about $1 dollar per person, toppings included.
• It’s the perfect holiday, or cold weather appetizer because it is so rich.

Ingredients for baked brie

Here are the ingredients you will need to make this baked brie appetizer. Make sure to scroll down to the recipe card for the full detailed ingredient measurements.

• Brie round- I used the President brie cheese because it is the easiest brie to find in the US at local grocery stores.
• Cranberry sauce– I used my homemade cranberry sauce for this and served it for Thanksgiving but you can use the store-bought one as well or even other spreads like raspberry jam or fig jam. 
• Walnuts or Candied Pecans– The mixture of nuts and soft cheese if absolute perfection.
• Thyme leaves– The fresh thyme leaves add an earthiness that brings everything together. You could also add fresh rosemary instead depending on your preference.

How to make baked brie appetizer

This is how you can make this easy cheesy appetizer in no time. Make sure to scroll down to the recipe card for the full detailed instructions! 

Oven Instructions

1. Unwrap your brie cheese. 
2. Place it on a parchment paper lined baking sheet or a deep dish or skillet. 
3. Bake in the preheated oven for about 15 minutes. You’ll know it’s is ready when you touch the outside and it feels completely melted. 
4. Top it with whatever toppings you’d like (check the idea list below) and serve immediately on the baking dish or a different serving platter of choice.

Microwave Instructions

• Once melted, add your favorite toppings and enjoy immediately!
• Remove the wrapping from the wheel of brie and place it in a microwave-safe dish.
• Microwave on medium power for 1-2 minutes, checking every 30 seconds until it’s soft and gooey inside.

Frequently asked questions – FAQ

How long will it stay gooey?

About 10-15 minutes after baking.

How to reheat baked brie?

All you have to do is pop it in the microwave for 5-10 seconds depending on how cold it got to get it ooey gooey again.

Can I make baked brie ahead of time?

Technically you can prepare everything ahead of time but making it ahead of time is a bit complicated because it is served warm. So make sure your mise en place is great and pop it in the oven 15 minutes before you are ready to serve it for the best-tasting cheesy appetizer ever!

Baked brie topping ideas

This is probably the most fun part of this recipe. The toppings are what will take this recipe to the next level. Most of the time sweet toppings go best with baked brie to help alleviate the richness of the cheese but you can also use some savory toppings as well from time to time. But without further ado, here are some of my favorite baked brie toppings:

• Apricot jam
• Drizzle of honey
• Hot honey
• Candied nuts
• Pistachios
• Pomegranate seeds
• Sliced apples or pears
• Brown sugar and nuts
• Caramelized onions
• Herbs for garnish
• Prosciutto
• Roasted garlic
• Balsamic glaze

How to serve baked brie?

Here are a few of my favorite ways to serve baked brie, even more, to elevate it to the next level.

• Serve some grapes on the side because grapes and cheese are a match made in heaven.
• Toasted sourdough bread which was the most popular item when I served my baked brie.
• Sturdy crackers to be able to pick up the melty cheese.
• Baguette slices
• Whole wheat crostinis
• Add fresh herbs think Rosemary springs for decoration.

How to store leftover baked brie

wrap in foil, refrigerate for up to 3 days. When ready to serve, reheat at 300°F for 5 minutes or until soft and gooey.

Baked Brie with cranberry sauce appetizer

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