10+ of the Best Baked Brie Appetizers
Gooey baked Brie recipes are the best way to start any party. These cheesy appetizers are easy to make with only a few ingredients, and they are always a crowd-pleaser! Melty cheese with delicious toppings is perfect to pair with crackers, bread, chips, and even fruit and veggies to dip.
What is Brie Cheese?
Brie is a soft French cow’s milk cheese with a rind. When heated, it melts, and you can use it for dipping things like crackers or slices of baguette. That is why baked Brie is a popular party appetizer. It can be topped with mixtures of fruit, nuts, herbs, jams, vegetables, or other ingredients. It can also be wrapped in phyllo dough, puff pastry, or crescent roll dough and baked, either on its own or again with a topping. Baked Brie is one of my all-time favorite homemade appetizers, and you’ll see why!
Reasons Baked Brie Makes a Great Appetizer
- It’s easy and fancy at the same time. There’s something about the presentation of a beautiful baked Brie cheese that’s impressive and festive, and yet it takes hardly any effort.
- So many possibilities! I’m always dreaming up new flavor combinations and topping ideas for baked Brie. It’s a versatile cheese that pairs perfectly with sweet and savory.
- A crowd favorite. Not many people can resist a dish of gooey, molten, creamy cheese. This is also the type of dish that you can prep in advance (either all together or the cheese and toppings separately), so your Brie is ready to pop into the oven and bake right before serving.
What You’ll Need to Make It
- A wheel of Brie cheese – Any size you’d like. For best results, try to find a wheel of Brie that fits snuggly inside the ramekin or baking dish you’re using. You don’t need to buy the most expensive Brie or Camembert to make a delicious baked cheese. The better quality you use, however, the better and more melty the cheese will be.
- Oven-proof dish – Try to find a round oven-safe ramekin or a glass or ceramic baking dish that isn’t too much larger than your wheel of Brie. This way, if the melted cheese leaks a little, it doesn’t spread all over.
- Toppings – This is where the fun starts! See below for topping inspiration, and scroll down for a collection of easy ways to make baked Brie.
Brie vs. Camembert Cheese: What’s the Difference?
Brie and Camembert are both soft rind cheeses with creamy interiors. Both originate in France. Brie is a larger and milder cheese with a buttery flavor. Meanwhile, Camembert is smaller with a more pungent, earthy taste.
Since it’s larger, Brie is my first choice when entertaining guests, as there’s more to share. However, if you’re baking cheese for two or for a smaller crowd and prefer a stronger flavor, baked Camembert is just as melty and delicious (and you can always bake more than one!). Camembert cheese is interchangeable with Brie in the recipes I’ve included below.
Brie Topping Ideas
Before we dive into some of my favorite baked Brie appetizers below, here are some quick, general topping ideas. Many of these are great for mixing and matching! There are so many ways to prepare baked Brie that you can really play around with textures and flavors to find the combinations that work for you.
- Preserves and chutneys. Try a sweet-savory contrast and top your Brie with raspberry jam, blueberry jam, cranberry apple chutney, or leftover cranberry sauce.
- Nuts and seeds. Chopped pecans, walnuts, almonds, cashews, pepitas, or spiced nuts are all great for adding crunch.
- Pie filling. Spoon sweet-tart cherry pie filling on top, or try a version with apple pie filling in the fall.
- Dressings and sauces. Give your baked Brie a drizzle of maple balsamic dressing, balsamic reduction, or try this smoky honey BBQ sauce.
- Savory. Drizzle your Brie with pesto, or top it with fresh or sun-dried tomatoes, roasted garlic, or cooked crumbled bacon.
What to Serve With Baked Brie
Homemade baked Brie makes a tasty addition to a holiday appetizer spread or charcuterie board. Pair it with other easy appetizers, like stuffed mushrooms, spinach feta pinwheels, and goat cheese crostini. All you need is a cheese knife and your favorite dippers! Try these:
- Crackers
- Vegetables and crudités
- Pita bread, cut into wedges
- Tortilla chips
- Pretzels or soft pretzel bites
- Graham crackers
- Apple chips
Frequently Asked Questions
Generally, Brie cheese is considered gluten-free. So, if you add toppings that do not have any gluten-containing ingredients, your baked Brie should also be gluten-free. However, if you have a severe sensitivity or are unsure, it’s best to consult a doctor for professional advice.
Yes. Technically, you can rewarm the cheese and toppings. However, once it has melted and cooled completely, Brie does not tend to have that same ooey-gooey, molten consistency when reheated. See the section later on for storage and reheating tips.
Try These Best Baked Brie Recipes
Let’s get the party started! One of the best ways to do it is with appetizers, and especially cheesy ones like baked Brie. The delicious toppings and ooey-gooey melty cheese ensure that they are the first thing to disappear. Here are some of my favorite baked Brie recipes that you can try, followed by some great savory Brie recipes afterward.
Honey Nut Baked Brie
Balsamic Blueberry Baked Brie
Gluten Free Baked Brie in Crescent Dough
Caramelized Apple Pecan Baked Brie
Pineapple Pecan Baked Brie
Honey Nut Baked Brie Bloomin’ Apple
Ways to Make Baked Brie Savory
I’ve been inspired by so many delicious recipes from my favorite bloggers over the years. Many share my love of sweet toppings, like Savory Experiment’s apricot cranberry baked brie with crunchy pecans (a holiday favorite!). If savory toppings are what you’re after, however, these are some ideas from cooks that I love:
- Tomato bruschetta. I LOVE this idea for bruschetta baked brie with fresh basil from Domestic Superhero. It’s the perfect way to repurpose leftover tomato bruschetta into a savory appetizer.
- Pesto and garlic. From Foxes Love Lemons’ list of favorite baked brie recipes comes this simple but delicious idea for topping your melty cheese with basil pesto and roasted garlic. It works with store-bought and homemade pesto!
- Caramelized onions and bacon. This baked brie with caramelized onions and bacon from Taste and See needs only 5 ingredients, and it’s ready in a little over 30 minutes. It’s one of my favorite appetizers to throw into the oven for last-minute get-togethers.
- Garlic and red pepper. Cook the Story’s savory garlic and red pepper baked brie recipe really is incredible! Christine includes her trick for infusing the whole wheel of brie with tremendous flavor.
Storing and Reheating Leftovers
- Refrigerate leftovers. Store any leftover baked brie cheese tightly covered in the fridge after it’s completely cooled. In most cases, I recommend enjoying the leftovers within a day or two. The texture of the cheese changes after it’s baked and refrigerated, but the flavors will still be good.
- Reheating baked brie. The best way to reheat baked brie is to return it to the oven at 350ºF until it’s warmed through again. You could also use your microwave. Heat in short bursts and take care not to overheat the cheese.