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This baked brie recipe is my go-to appetizer every holiday season: a wheel of brie baked until the center is warm and gooey, then piled with cranberry sauce, toasted pecans, and fresh thyme. It takes 5 minutes of prep and about 20 minutes start to finish, it needs only 4 ingredients, and it looks like you spent way more time on it than you did!! Of all the baked brie cheese recipes I’ve tried, this simple one is the one I make the most, and it’s the best baked brie recipe for beginners because there’s nothing to mess up. Serve it with toasted bread or crackers and watch it disappear.
Quick Look: Baked Brie
- 🧀 What it is: A wheel of brie baked until melty, then topped with cranberry sauce, toasted pecans, and thyme.
- ⭐ Why it works: Crumpled parchment under the brie holds it in place and catches any cheese that leaks.
- 💛 Why you’ll love it: 4 ingredients, 5 minutes of hands-on time, and it looks like you fussed.
- ⏱️ How long to bake: 12 to 15 minutes at 350°F for an 8 oz wheel, 20 to 25 minutes for a 1 lb wheel.
- ⚠️ What to watch for: Pull it as soon as the center feels soft. Overbaked brie can burst and leak.
- ❄️ Make ahead: Prep the toppings a day early, then bake the brie right before guests arrive.
Why This Recipe Works
Baked brie is simply a wheel of brie cheese warmed in the oven until the inside turns soft and spreadable, so it’s perfect for dipping with bread or crackers. I first served this baked brie appetizer for Thanksgiving with my homemade cranberry sauce, and it has been on my holiday table ever since. It’s my favorite fall baked brie recipe, but it’s just as good for a Christmas party or a casual weekend with friends.
- Fast: about 20 minutes start to finish, and the oven does almost all of the work
- Minimal ingredients: brie plus toppings, nothing to mix or roll out
- Sweet or savory: this warm brie recipe changes with whatever you put on top (my full list of baked brie topping ideas is below)
- Party-proof: it looks fancy on a cheese board next to a nectarine flatbread appetizer or a baked goat cheese dip
Table of Contents
Key Ingredients
- Brie round: I use President brie because it’s the easiest brie cheese to find at grocery stores in the US. An 8 oz wheel serves about 8 people as an appetizer. Keep the rind on, since it holds the melted cheese inside while it bakes.
- Cranberry sauce: I use my homemade cranberry sauce with oranges, but store-bought whole berry sauce works great too.
- Pecans or walnuts: Toast them first for the best crunch. Candied pecans or my holiday candied walnuts make it extra special.
- Fresh thyme: A few leaves add an earthiness that brings everything together. Fresh rosemary works too.
Full ingredient amounts are in the recipe card below.
Substitutions and Additions
- Jam instead of cranberry sauce: Raspberry, fig, apricot, or pepper jelly all work in the same amount.
- Honey: Drizzle honey or hot honey over the top for a sweet baked brie recipe with a little kick.
- Camembert: Bake it exactly like brie. It has a stronger, earthier flavor.
- A bigger wheel: Use a 1 lb brie round, double the toppings, and bake 20 to 25 minutes.
- Puff pastry: For bite-size brie in pastry, make my brie and fig jam puff pastry cups.
How to Make Baked Brie
- Prep the toppings. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Toast and chop the pecans, and get the cranberry sauce and thyme ready so you can top the brie the second it comes out.
- Unwrap the brie. Place it on a baking sheet lined with crumpled parchment paper, or in a small oven-safe dish or skillet. The crumpled paper keeps it from sliding around.
- Bake and top. Bake an 8 oz brie for 12 to 15 minutes, until the center feels soft when you gently press it. Move it to a serving board and top with the cranberry sauce, pecans, and thyme.
- Serve right away. Set out toasted bread and crackers and dig in while the center is still gooey. Enjoy!
How Long to Bake Brie
Most baked brie recipes call for 350°F, and that’s what I use too. This recipe for baked brie uses an 8 oz wheel. Timing depends on the size of your wheel, so go by feel: it’s ready when the center feels soft and jiggly when you press it gently.
- 8 oz brie round: 12 to 15 minutes
- 1 lb brie round: 20 to 25 minutes
- In the microwave: Put the unwrapped brie in a microwave-safe dish and microwave on high for 2 minutes total, in 30-second increments, until soft and gooey inside.
Best Baked Brie Toppings (Sweet + Savory)
Toppings are what make this baked brie recipe so easy to customize. Cranberry sauce and pecans is my favorite combo (and the one in the recipe card), but a baked brie with toppings like honey, jam, or caramelized onions is just as good. Here are more baked brie ideas and toppings for brie cheese to fit any occasion, from holiday party recipes to a cozy night in.
Sweet Topping Ideas
- Cranberry sauce or any jam (raspberry, fig, apricot)
- Honey or hot honey
- Candied pecans or walnuts
- Pistachios (honey and pistachios is amazing!)
- Pomegranate seeds
- Sliced apples or pears
Savory Topping Ideas
- Caramelized onions
- Roasted garlic
- Fresh thyme or rosemary
- Prosciutto
- Balsamic glaze
- Cracked black pepper and flaky salt
Expert Tips
- Crumple the parchment. Scrunch it up, then flatten it back onto the pan. It cradles the brie so it doesn’t slide, and it catches any cheese that leaks.
- Don’t overbake. Brie can burst once the center is fully melted. Pull it when it feels soft, not when it starts to leak.
- Bake it on the serving dish. A small oven-safe skillet or baking dish means you don’t have to move a wobbly wheel of hot cheese.
- Toast the nuts. Toasted pecans stay crunchy against the soft cheese. Raw ones taste flat.
- Time it for your guests. Baked brie stays gooey for about 10 to 15 minutes, so bake it right before serving.
Baked Brie FAQs
Yes! The rind on baked brie is completely edible. It softens in the oven and holds the melted cheese inside, so leave it on while baking. Most people scoop the gooey center and rind together with bread or crackers.
Baked brie stays gooey for about 10 to 15 minutes after it comes out of the oven. To warm it back up, microwave it for 5 to 10 seconds at a time until the center is soft again.
You can prep the toppings for baked brie a day ahead and keep them in the fridge, but bake the brie right before serving for the best gooey center.
Wrap leftover baked brie in foil and refrigerate it for up to 3 days. When you’re ready to serve, reheat it at 300°F for about 5 minutes, or until soft and gooey.
Toasted sourdough was the most popular thing on the board when I served this baked brie (my small batch sourdough bread is perfect for it). Baguette slices, crostini, sturdy crackers, grapes, and sliced apples are all great too. For a holiday spread, add small batch pumpkin biscuits and a pot of French mulled wine.
More Holiday Appetizers and Sides
Sides, Appetizers, Dips
Brie and Fig Jam Puff Pastry Cups
Sides, Appetizers, Dips
The Best Cheesy Pull-Apart Garlic Bread Recipe
Sides, Appetizers, Dips
Cranberry Sauce with Oranges
If you tried this Baked Brie or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a ⭐ star rating and let me know how it goes in the comments! I love hearing from you!
Baked Brie recipe
Ingredients
- 1 Brie round 8 oz
- 1/2 cup Cranberry sauce
- 1/3 cup pecans chopped and toasted
- thyme leaves about 1 teaspoon, fresh
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Unwrap the brie and place it in a shallow oven-safe dish, or on a baking sheet lined with crumpled parchment paper. Crumpling the paper keeps the cheese from going everywhere while it bakes.1 Brie round
- Bake an 8 oz brie round for 12 to 15 minutes, or a 1 lb brie round for 20 to 25 minutes. Gently press the center to check: it’s ready when it feels really soft.
- Gently transfer it to a plate and top with the cranberry sauce, chopped pecans, and thyme leaves. Serve immediately with toasted bread and crackers and enjoy!1/2 cup Cranberry sauce, 1/3 cup pecans, thyme leaves
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
