Baked Brie

Baked Brie just became a little more exciting with the addition of some dried fruit, nuts, and a drizzle of butterscotch! With the busy holiday season in full swing, this is the perfect appetizer for your next get-together! This savory cheese is full of delicious flavor, and its beautiful appearance will impress your friends!

While very easy to make, this creamy brie looks elegant and enticing. You can use butterscotch or caramel sauce from the store, but I HIGHLY recommend trying out this Spiced Molasses Butterscotch recipe for this dish. The hint of spice just makes this appetizer even better.

Baked Brie Serving Ideas

This delicious appetizer is perfect as part of your next charcuterie board or cheese board, or you can serve it on its own on a beautiful serving platter. Either way, take the time to showcase this beautiful little wheel of cheese!

Ingredients for Baked Brie

You only need a handful of ingredients to make this recipe for baked brie. I recommend these dried fruits because they pair so well with the brie, but you can choose different ones if you like. Here’s what you need:

• 1 8-ounce wheel of brie
• ¼ cup pecans, chopped, salted, and toasted
• 1/3 cup butterscotch sauce (or caramel sauce)
• ¼ cup dried apples, chopped
• ¼ cup dried apricots, chopped
• ¼ cup dried cranberries
• ¼ cup pomegranate arils

Some suggestions for alternate toppings are dried cherries or sweet jam for the fruit, and chopped almonds or walnuts for the nuts. Consider a drizzle of honey or maple syrup for a sweet sauce if butterscotch isn’t your thing.

How to make Baked Brie with Dried Fruit, Nuts, and Butterscotch

When you’re frazzled preparing for guests, you need an easy appetizer recipe, and this one fits the bill!

1. First, chop the pecans and place them under a hot broiler for 30-60 seconds, watching them carefully. Don’t leave them in too long otherwise they’ll burn as they’re baked with the Brie. When they are nice and hot, remove them from the oven and sprinkle them with a pinch of salt. Set aside to cool.
2. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line a baking pan with a sheet of parchment paper. You can also use a small cast-iron skillet and use that in your serving presentation.
3. Unwrap the brie cheese and place it on the parchment-lined baking sheet or skillet. Drizzle some of the butterscotch sauce over the top of the brie. Then pile on the chopped dried fruits and nuts.
4. Top it with a little more butterscotch sauce before the dish goes in the oven, and then let it bake for 15-20 minutes. If you can’t tell it’s ready just by touching it, insert a skewer into the center, and if it comes out with melted cheese on it, it’s ready!
5. Sprinkle with the pomegranate arils and add a sprig of fresh rosemary for garnish.

When it comes out of the oven, the sauce has made its way all around the whole thing, and the fruit and nuts are perfectly toasty. Transfer it to a serving plate or leave it in the cast iron skillet and dig into the melty cheese with some crackers or baguette slices! 

FAQs

Do you cut off the brie rind before baking?

No, keep the rind of the brie wheel intact so the cheese doesn’t melt all over the pan. It’s perfectly safe to eat and adds a nice earthy flavor to the cheese.

What is the best type of Brie to use for Baked Brie?

Because you have so many complementary flavors, you don’t need to break the budget on an expensive brie. Choose a budget one if you like and let the fruit, nuts, and butterscotch elevate this appetizer!

How long will Baked Brie stay warm?

You can dip right into this cheese for a good 10 minutes, longer if you serve it in a cast iron skillet. After that, you can still spread the cheese with a knife.

Reheat your wheel of brie by placing the whole thing in the microwave for 1-2 minutes.

What do I do with leftover Baked Brie?

Once it cools to room temperature, you can transfer what you have left to an airtight container. Keep it in the refrigerator for 2-3 days and reheat as desired in the microwave

More Serving Suggestions

If you want more options than crackers and bread, I suggest these pairings for your baked brie:

• Fresh fruit such as apple slices, grapes, or pear slices
• Pita Chips
• Bagel Chips
• Fig Jam
• Apricot Jam
• Rosemary Sprigs (for decoration)

More Holiday Appetizers

Baked brie is perfect for holiday parties and gatherings! Here are some other recipes that you can also try for your next party:

• Need some guidance on getting that charcuterie board just right? Check out my post on How to Make a Meat and Cheese Board for some helpful tips and ideas!
• Sausage Cranberry Brie Bites are a fun, festive, and delicious starter to any meal. Rolled up in puff pastry, this appetizer has just the right mix of flavors from Italian Sausage, sweet cranberry sauce, and creamy brie cheese!
• These Cranberry Pecan Goat Cheese Bites are the perfect slightly sweet, yet savory appetizer. We enjoyed them on one of our excursions during our Alaska cruise with Princess Cruises. They’re delicious all year long, but I’m really looking forward to serving them over the holidays!
• These Poached Pear and Goat Cheese Appetizers have a pear slice soaked in Merlot on your favorite cracker along with pieces of arugula. Top it with goat cheese and a pecan half, and you’ve got a great appetizer to get your party started! 
• If you’re looking for the perfect appetizer or party snack, these Cranberry Meatballs are a must-try! These delicious, beefy cocktail meatballs are smothered in a tangy sauce, making the perfect bite! Make this easy recipe and serve them at your New Year’s Eve party, for game day, or at your next potluck! 
• Make Salami Roll-Ups with just three simple ingredients. This super easy appetizer will impress guess with great flavor and you’ll love it because it’s fast and easy to make.

This post was originally published December 17, 2015 by Leia Bushman of Eat It and Say Yum. It has been updated with pictures and in format on November 18, 2024.

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