Description
This easy baked Brie recipe creates a warm, gooey, melted cheese appetizer topped with honey, toasted nuts, and fresh herbs. It’s elegant, impressive, and ready in just 20 minutes—perfect for entertaining!
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 wheel (8-12 oz) Brie cheese
- 3 tablespoons honey (or maple syrup)
- ½ cup pecans or walnuts, roughly chopped and toasted
- 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary, chopped (or 1 teaspoon dried)
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
- Pinch of sea salt (optional)
- Pinch of red pepper flakes (optional, for a hint of heat)
- Crackers, baguette slices, or apple slices for serving
Instructions
- Preheat your oven: Set it to 350°F (175°C). Let it fully preheat while you prepare the Brie.
- Toast the nuts: If your nuts aren’t already toasted, spread them on a small baking sheet and toast in the preheating oven for 5-7 minutes until fragrant and slightly darkened. Watch carefully to prevent burning. Remove and let cool, then chop roughly.
- Prepare the Brie: Remove any plastic or paper wrapping from the Brie wheel. You can leave the white rind on—it’s completely edible and adds wonderful texture. If you prefer a more melty center, you can cut off the top rind with a sharp knife, but this is optional.
- Place in baking dish: Put the Brie wheel in a small oven-safe dish, cast iron skillet, or on a parchment-lined baking sheet. If using a dish, choose one that fits the Brie snugly with just a little room around the edges.
- Score the top (optional): For easier serving and more caramelization, use a sharp knife to score a crosshatch pattern on the top of the Brie, cutting about ¼ inch deep. This allows the toppings to seep into the cheese.
- Add initial toppings: Drizzle 1-2 tablespoons of honey over the top of the Brie, letting it pool on top and drip down the sides slightly. Sprinkle half of the chopped herbs over the honey.
- Bake: Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the Brie is soft and gooey when gently pressed. The cheese should feel warm and jiggly, and you may see it starting to ooze slightly. Don’t overbake or it will become runny and lose its shape.
- Add final toppings: Remove from the oven and immediately sprinkle the toasted nuts over the top. Drizzle with the remaining honey and sprinkle with the remaining fresh herbs. Add a tiny pinch of flaky sea salt and red pepper flakes if desired.
- Serve immediately: Transfer the baked Brie to your serving board or keep it in the baking dish (if it’s presentation-worthy). Serve hot with crackers, toasted baguette slices, apple slices, or pear slices arranged around it. The Brie is best enjoyed within 15-20 minutes while it’s still warm and gooey.
Notes
- Brie size matters: An 8-ounce wheel serves 6-8 people as an appetizer. For larger gatherings, use a 13-16 ounce wheel and increase toppings proportionally.
- Don’t overbake: The Brie should be soft and melty but still hold its shape. It will continue to soften slightly after removing from the oven.
- Scoring trick: Scoring the top helps toppings penetrate the cheese and makes serving easier, but it’s not required.
- Puff pastry version: Wrap Brie in thawed puff pastry, seal edges, brush with egg wash, and bake at 375°F for 25-30 minutes until golden.
- Make it ahead: Prepare with toppings up to 4 hours ahead, cover, refrigerate, and bake when ready to serve.
- Serving vessel: A small cast iron skillet or decorative oven-safe dish doubles as a serving dish for beautiful presentation.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 ounce Brie with toppings
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 240mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 8g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 7g
- Cholesterol: 35mg