Wondering what to serve with baked brie that's not the same old thing? I've got you with over 100 easy ideas to inspire your imagination!
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❤️ Why we love it
Baked brie is an easy appetizer that is as perfect for a fancy cocktail party as it is for a family movie night.
- It takes just 10 minutes to bake.
- You can make it work for any occasion by changing the toppings.
- Baked brie is always a crowd pleaser on charcuterie boards, cheese plate, or served on it's own in an oven-safe dish. I like a small cast iron skillet for serving
While this is usually served as a delicious party appetizer I like it as a light main dish with a salad and some fresh fruit.
Following are some basic ideas to use as inspiration.
🥧 Crusts
To crust or not to crust?
Brie cheese can be baked as it is or the full wheel of cheese can be placed inside pastry dough and baked that way (brie en croute).
Either way it's delicious!
If you're baking brie in a crust then you'll generally slice the rind of the cheese off the top, cover with the pastry, and bake it at the temperature stated for the dough you're using.
For example, baked brie in flaky puff pastry dough is baked at 400F while baked brie in a pie pastry crust would be baked at 375F.
Go by the instructions on the package of dough or in the recipe.
Any of the toppings are usually placed on top of the wheel of brie before you cover it in the pastry.
- puff pastry
- pie dough
- refrigerated crescent roll dough
- phyllo dough
- hollow out a enough space in a round loaf of bread to bake it inside the bread
🍯 Toppings
The ability to use so many different kinds of toppings make this the perfect appetizer!
Use these singly or in your favorite combinations. The toppings are generally added after the brie is baked unless you are tucking it beneath a crust.
🫒 Savory
- caramelized onions
- olive tapenade - homemade or purchased
- drizzle of olive oil
- drizzle of balsamic vinegar
- roasted garlic
- sun dried tomatoes in olive oil
- crispy bacon
- pesto
- pecans
- walnuts
- almonds
- pine nuts
- bell peppers
- fresh herbs
- onion jam
- prosciutto
- cornichons (small sour pickles)
🍐Sweet
- dried cherries
- dried cranberries
- apples diced and sauteed in butter and cinnamon
- pears diced and sauteed in butter and cinnamon
- roasted pineapple
- fruit pie fillings - just chop them up
- raisins
- dates
- most dried fruit
- apricot jam
- raspberry jam or preserves
- drizzle of maple syrup
- drizzle of honey
- fig jam
- brown sugar
- cranberry sauce
- drizzle of caramel sauce
🌶️ Sweet-savory combinations
- bacon and apple
- bacon and pear
- candied jalapenos
- pepper jelly
- Jezebel sauce
- chutney
- jalapeno cranberry sauce
🥖 Breads and crackers
There are so many different kinds of crackers out there that I can't possibly list them all. Almost all of them can be served with baked brie but in my opinion saltines and water crackers are too bland.
- baguette - either toasted or not
- crusty bread
- toast points
- buttery crackers like Ritz
- whole grain crackers
- flax crackers
- Wheat Thins
- Triscuit
- graham crackers
- sugar cookie cutouts are perfect for the holiday table when you make a sweet topping.
- crostini
- crispy breadsticks
- gingerbread cookies
🍓 Fruit
Baked brie pairs well with most fresh fruit depending on what you've topped it with.
- sliced apples and pears
- strawberries
- raspberries
- blueberries
- blackberries
- mango
- cherries
- peaches
- plums
- pineapple
- pomegranate
- dried apricots
- grilled pineapple
🥦 Vegetables
Crunchy crudites or marinated veggies both are great on your charcuterie board.
- raw broccoli
- raw cauliflower
- baby carrots
- celery
- sweet pepper slices
- stuffed mushrooms
- marinated olives
- marinated artichokes
- roasted peppers
- pickled vegetables
🌰 Nuts
Salty and smoked nuts balance the buttery, decadent brie. All kinds add texture to the plate.
- salted pecans
- spiced candied pecans
- smoked pecans
- salted almonds
- smoked almonds
- candied walnuts
- salted walnuts
🧀 Other cheeses
I usually choose either a sharp Cheddar or bleu cheese because they "go with" both sweet and savory ingredients. You can add others to your own tastes.
- sharp Cheddar
- bleu cheese
🍫 Sweets
When I'm making a cheese board I like to add a few sweets to it to balance everything out. These are some of my favorites but there are plenty of other possibilities!
- honeycomb
- dark chocolate
- truffles
- chocolate covered pomegranate seeds
- chocolate dipped oranges
🍷 Wine and cocktails
Different flavors and levels of acidity bring out different characteristics. Here are some wines and cocktails that pair well with baked brie.
- chardonnay
- sauvignon blanc
- champagne
- syrah
- pinot noir
- beaujolais
- cranberry daiquiri
- French 75
- gin & tonic
- Tom Collins
🍇 Garnish
A pretty garnish goes a long way whether you've created a full charcuterie board or just baked brie with some crudites and crackers.
- sprigs of rosemary
- sprigs of dill
- basil leaves
- fresh thyme sprigs
- edible flowers
- sugared cranberries
- sugared grapes
- additional fruits
- pickled red onion
- clusters of red grapes
💭 Things to know
These tips will help you to have the best baked brie ever!
- Keep the fruit at room temperature if possible. It will have more flavor that way.
- Baked brie in a ceramic dish or iron skillet will stay deliciously gooey for 10 to 15 minutes. After that you'll need to spread it with a knife or warm it back up in the microwave for a few seconds.
- If you can keep it on a warming plate it will stay gooey longer.
- Don't overbake the brie - it will get tough in the middle.
- Check to make sure it's finished by sticking a thin skewer or knife down in the middle. If it comes out clean it's NOT ready!
- You'll want to use a round wheel of brie cheese, not a wedge.
- The baked brie will be much easier to move from the baking sheet if you bake it on top of a piece of parchment paper.
- Leftover brie? Cover it with plastic wrap and refrigerate. Just warm it up for a couple of seconds in the microwave when you're ready to treat yourself to this decadent snack!
- Brie has an edible rind and it helps to hold the melty cheese in place when you serve it.
No matter what the occasion a delicious wheel of oozy gooey baked brie fits in perfectly. Using these ideas and my basic baked brie recipe you can come up with hundreds of possibilities!
Be sure to try the pumpkin cheese ball for your fall and holiday parties!
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