My baked brie recipe is an easy, show stopping appetizer! This simple recipe only requires 2 ingredients and your guests will be surprised how easy and delicious it is.
I love watching guests react when I tell them this only has two ingredients — nobody believes something this impressive comes together so fast. After 20 years of hosting holiday gatherings I have learned that the most showstopping appetizers are almost always the simplest ones and this baked brie proves it every time.
If you like this baked brie recipe, you might also like our baked brie in crescent rolls, baked brie with jam and baked brie in puff pastry recipe.
What is Brie Cheese?
Brie is a soft and buttery cheese that is so delicious. There are many different kind of Brie that you can purchase. They range from mild to pungent and you can eat the rind. Make sure to leave the rind on the cheese while baking it.
Once this cheese is melted it is delicious served with your favorite crackers or fruit.
Ingredients
- Wheel of brie, 12–14 oz — look for brie in the gourmet or specialty cheese section near the deli counter. A budget-friendly store brand wheel bakes just as beautifully as a premium brand — the heat transforms any quality brie into the same silky molten result. Always keep the rind on during baking — it acts as a natural container that holds the melted cheese together. See the Brie Substitutes section above if brie is unavailable at your store
- Honey — the most classic brie topping and the one that pairs most universally with the buttery creamy cheese. A good quality honey makes a noticeable difference — wildflower or clover honey give the most balanced result while buckwheat honey gives a deeper more robust flavor. See the full toppings section for 12 sweet and 6 savory alternatives if you want to switch things up
How to Make Baked Brie
Follow my simple instructions to learn how I make my baked brie.
Step 1 – Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Step 2 – Place the brie on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
Step 3 – Drizzle the honey on top of the brie.
Step 4 – Bake for 15-20 minutes until the cheese is soft. To make sure that the cheese is done, gently touch the center of the wheel of brie. The cheese should feel very soft in the center.
Step 5 – Move the cheese to a serving platter. Then serve with crackers and fruit and enjoy.
Microwave Oven Shortcut: Place the brie on a microwave-safe plate and drizzle with honey. Microwave on high for 60–90 seconds until the center feels very soft when gently pressed. Start checking at 60 seconds — microwave power varies and you want it warm and melty not overcooked. Serve immediately with your favorite dippers.
Bake and Serve in the Same Dish
Skip the transfer step entirely by baking the brie directly in the dish you plan to serve it in. A small cast iron skillet, oven-safe pie plate, or dedicated brie baker all work beautifully and go straight from the oven to the table with no risk of the soft melted wheel losing its shape during the move.
Important — always warn your guests the dish is hot. A cast iron skillet or ceramic brie baker retains heat significantly longer than a serving platter. Place a folded dish towel underneath when you bring it to the table and let guests know the vessel is hot before they reach for it.
How to Score the Rind — Step by Step
Scoring the rind before baking is optional but highly recommended — here is exactly how to do it properly:
Step 1 — Use a sharp knife to make shallow parallel cuts across the top of the brie wheel approximately ½ inch apart.
Step 2 — Turn the wheel 90 degrees and repeat the cuts perpendicular to the first set creating a crosshatch pattern across the entire top surface.
Step 3 — Cut through the rind only — do not cut deep into the cheese itself. You want to open the rind surface without piercing the cheese underneath.
Why scoring matters:
- It allows the honey jam or topping to sink into the warm cheese as it bakes rather than sitting on the surface
- It prevents guests from pulling up large chunks of rind when they dip in
- It makes the center easier to access once the cheese is fully melted
What not to do: Do not cut too deep into the cheese itself — cutting all the way through the rind and into the cheese can cause the wheel to lose its shape and collapse during baking. The rind is what holds everything together so always cut just through the surface.
Recipe Tips
- Puff Pastry – Brie wrapped in puff pastry is a delicious way to serve this delicious Brie. This is a delicious option and if you make it this way, there is no need for additional toppings.
- Cold from the fridge or room temperature — which is right? – Some baked brie recipes recommend starting with cold brie to help it hold its shape. For this recipe, let the brie sit out for about 15 minutes before baking at 350°F for 15 to 20 minutes. This helps the center melt evenly without overbaking the outside.
Serving Instructions
Baked brie is one of the easiest appetizers to time for a party because the prep takes only 2 minutes and the oven does the rest. Here is how to plan it:
Up to 24 hours ahead — unwrap the brie, place it on the parchment-lined baking sheet, and add your topping. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to bake. Pull it from the refrigerator 15 minutes before baking so it is not ice cold going into the oven.
30 minutes before guests arrive — put the brie in the oven. It bakes for 15–20 minutes which means it comes out warm and perfect right as people are arriving and settling in.
Serve immediately — baked brie is best in the first 15 minutes when the cheese is perfectly dippable. After that it begins to firm up slightly and is better spread with a knife — still delicious just a different texture.
Sweet Topping Ideas
The great thing about baking brie is that there are many different toppings that you can add. We recommend adding a sweet topping to the melted cheese.
- Apricot Jam
- Cranberry Jam
- Strawberry Jam
- Raspberry Jam
- Fig Jam
- Cranberry Sauce
- Diced Apples
- Cinnamon
- Pomegranate Seeds
- Toasted Nuts such as pecans, walnuts, pistachios or almonds
- Maple Syrup
- Brown Sugar
Savory Topping Ideas
Not every occasion calls for a sweet topping — here are our favorite savory alternatives that are just as impressive:
- Caramelized onions — slow cooked until deeply golden and sweet-savory. Spoon generously over the top before baking for the most sophisticated savory brie
- Store-bought onion jam — the shortcut version of caramelized onions that is just as delicious with zero prep time
- Fresh rosemary and toasted pecans — lay 2–3 sprigs of fresh rosemary over the top and scatter toasted pecans for a classic herbaceous combination
- Freshly cracked black pepper and olive oil — the simplest savory option. Drizzle with good quality olive oil and crack black pepper generously over the top before baking
- Sun-dried tomatoes and basil — scatter sun-dried tomatoes and fresh basil leaves over the baked brie right before serving for a Mediterranean-inspired savory version
- Pesto — spread a tablespoon of basil pesto over the top before baking for a bold herbaceous flavor that pairs beautifully with crusty bread
Serving Ideas
Baked brie is one of the most versatile appetizers because it pairs beautifully with almost everything. Here are our favorite dippers and pairings:
Dippers
- Crackers — sturdy water crackers or buttery Ritz both work beautifully
- Baguette slices or crostini — toasted for extra crunch
- Apple slices — Honeycrisp or Granny Smith for the best sweet tart contrast
- Pear slices — slightly sweeter and incredibly elegant on a holiday platter
- Grapes — red or green, both pair beautifully with warm melty brie
- Pretzel crisps — for a salty crunchy contrast to the sweet honey topping
- Graham crackers — surprisingly delicious with the honey and brie combination
Drink Pairings
- Sparkling wine or Champagne — the classic pairing for a holiday appetizer spread
- Chardonnay or Pinot Grigio — both complement the buttery flavor of warm brie beautifully
- Apple cider — a non-alcoholic option that pairs naturally with the honey and apple flavors
How to Store Leftovers
Leftover baked brie stores well and reheats beautifully — which is rare for a warm cheese appetizer.
Refrigerator
Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days. The cheese will firm up completely when cold which is completely normal.
Reheating
Microwave for 60–90 seconds until the cheese is soft and warm again — or place back in a 325°F oven for 8–10 minutes covered loosely with foil. The texture will be slightly different from the original bake but still delicious.
Freezer
Not recommended — brie does not freeze well and the texture becomes grainy when thawed.
Frequently Asked Questions
An 8–9 ounce wheel serves 6–10 people as an appetizer. A 12–14 ounce wheel serves 10–15 people — perfect for a larger holiday party.
Always put jam on before baking — spoon it generously over the top of the brie before it goes into the oven so the jam warms and becomes syrupy as the cheese melts underneath. You can also spoon a little extra fresh jam around the edges right before serving for a more vibrant color and brighter flavor on top.
Honey is the most universally loved topping — it is simple takes 10 seconds and pairs beautifully with the warm buttery cheese. For a more impressive presentation try fig jam with toasted pecans for sweet or caramelized onions with fresh rosemary for savory. See the full toppings section above for all twelve sweet and six savory options.
Yes — Camembert is the most natural substitute and works identically in this recipe with the same method temperature and bake time. Camembert has a slightly earthier more intense flavor than brie but bakes beautifully and pairs just as well with every topping on this list.
More Easy Appetizer Recipes
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Baked Brie Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 Wheel of Brie 12-14 oz
- 2 Tablespoons Honey
See how we calculate recipe costs.
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Place wheel of brie (12-14 ounces) on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Drizzle honey evenly over the top of the brie.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes until the cheese is soft and warmed through.
- To check for doneness, gently press the center of the brie. The center should feel very soft.
- Move the cheese to a serving platter. Then serve with crackers and fruit and enjoy!
