This easy 30 minute appetizer has gooey and creamy Brie cheese topped with decadent caramelized onions, sweet fig jam, walnuts, and fresh rosemary. Minimal effort with maximum payoff. This baked brie recipe is perfect for a holiday appetizer, a dinner party, or just to eat by yourself - I won't judge!
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Equipment
- Small cast iron skillet - I use an 8 inch cast iron skillet which is the perfect size for this. You can also use a small oven-safe dish, or a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
Ingredient notes
- Brie cheese wheel - 8 ounces is a good size wheel, but a little bigger can't hurt if that is what you find. A wedge of brie should be available at your local grocery store.
- Fig jam - I love the combo of fig jam and melty cheese.
- Caramelized onions - I'm convinced caramelized onions taste great on just about anything. Check out my post on how to caramelize onions for an in depth tutorial.
- Walnuts - You can also substitute for different nuts like pecans if you want, or omit the nuts all together if you have allergies.
- Fresh rosemary - The aroma and taste of fresh rosemary really adds a holiday element to this dish. Fresh thyme would also be great.
- Something to dip in the brie - I love a crusty baguette sliced on a bias for this. You can also serve with apple slices or your favorite crackers.
What is brie cheese?
Brie is a soft and creamy cheese usually made from cow’s milk. It has a mild and buttery flavor.
You can eat brie baked or unbaked. I like melting slices of brie on top of burgers, like in this Turkey Burger with Caramelized Onions, Melted Brie, Sun-dried Tomato Mayo, Bacon and Arugula.
You can also use brie for a cheese board. Allow brie to come to room temperature for about 30 minutes before serving.
Similarly, Camembert is also a soft buttery cow's milk cheese, but it is a little more earthy and funky than Brie.
Recipe tips
This delicious baked brie has minimal prep (if you make the caramelized onions ahead of time). I love serving it as an appetizer for a dinner party since it's easy to throw in the oven while you finish working on dinner. It's guaranteed to be a crowd pleaser.
Start by preheating the oven to 375° F. Unwrap the cheese and place brie in the middle of a small cast iron skillet or baking dish . No need to cut the rind off! It will soften in the oven.
After that add 2 tablespoons of fig jam or preserves and 2 tablespoons of caramelized onions to the top of the brie wheel. As the cheese melts down, the toppings will melt around the cheese and mix into it.
Finally top with chopped walnuts and finely chopped fresh rosemary.
Bake for 15-25 minutes until cheese is melty and bubbly, and oozes out when you cut into the brie rind.
Serve with baguette slices, apple slices, or crackers.
Brie before baking Brie after baking
Can I make this ahead of time?
You can prep this appetizer ahead of time by adding the cheese, fig jam, caramelized onions, walnuts, and chopped rosemary to a cast iron skillet and wrap the whole thing in plastic wrap. Keep it in your refrigerator until before you want to serve.
Baking baked Brie ahead of time is not recommend. It is best when served hot and bubbly fresh out of the oven. Good news is, it's so simple to throw together, you won't really need to make it ahead of time.
You can however make the caramelized onions ahead of time (even way ahead of time). Caramelized onions freeze well, so you can make that portion months in advance and freeze into silicone ice cube trays.
What to baked brie serve with?
Baked brie would be great as a part of a cheese board spread, or as a stand alone appetizer. I like to serve it with crusty baguette slices, sweet apples, and crackers. I love serving this delicious appetizer during the holiday season!
This is also a great appetizer for a dinner party. It would go great with these other dinner recipes:
- Bolognese Sauce
- Italian Meatballs with Beef, Pork, and Italian Sausage
- Homemade Hearty Marinara Sauce
- Supreme Pizza Stuffed Shells
- Baked Goat Cheese and Roasted Tomato Pasta
Variations/substitutions
The great thing about this brie appetizer recipe is you can make so many different versions to fit the seasons or your tastes. Add a combination jams or preserves, fresh herbs, and nuts.
Try out some of these other delicious combinations to put on top of your baked brie.
- Roasted garlic, a drizzle of olive oil, and fresh herbs
- Sliced pears, honey, and walnuts
- Make a thanksgiving version with cranberry sauce or chutney, candied pecans, and fresh rosemary
- Serve a savory version with roasted tomatoes, fresh basil, and balsamic reduction drizzle
- Baked Brie for fall - caramelized onions, bacon, and a maple syrup drizzle
- Try a desert version with fresh strawberries, and honey or a balsamic drizzle
- Apple butter, brown sugar, and a sprinkle of cinnamon
Baked brie with or without pastry?
You can make this delicious baked brie with or without pastry. If you want to add a flaky pastry around the brie, try puff pastry, crescent rolls, or phyllo dough.
Firstly, roll out the dough of your choice, and place unwrapped brie in the middle. Add fig jam, caramelized onions, rosemary, and walnuts to the top and around the sides of the brie wheel.
Fold dough around the brie and press to seal. Put the pastry wrapped brie in the cast iron skillet. Brush the pastry with egg wash. Bake at 375°F for 20-25 minutes until pastry is golden brown and cheese is melted.
Make your own flavor combination:
- Something sweet - honey, jam, preserves, spreads, or chutney
- Something crunchy - nuts work great for this: pistachios, walnuts, almonds, pecans.
- Something fresh - fresh herbs work well, like rosemary, basil, or thyme. Fresh fruit would also be delicious, like strawberries, or fresh figs.
- Other options - dried fruit like dried figs, dried cherries, or apricots. Bacon crumbles would be good too!
FAQs
No, you don't have to remove the rind on brie. It softens a bit when baked, but you can also serve it uncooked.
Yes, you can still bake brie even its already been cut into. You won't get the dramatic cheese ooze when you cut into it though.
Baked brie en croûte refers to bake brie that is wrapped in pastry and baked. Usually also includes some type of jam around the brie.
I don't recommend removing the rind from brie before baking. The rind is edible, and helps the cheese hold its shape while baking. When left on you will get a wonderful oozing of melted cheese when you dig into it.
Nope! Brie cheese does not have to be baked. You can eat brie baked or unbaked. I like it unbaked for cheese boards and on burgers.
Any questions? I'd love to help! Drop a comment below or send me an email!
Baked Brie with Fig Jam, Caramelized Onions, and Walnuts
Equipment
- small cast iron skillet or oven safe dish
Ingredients
- 8 ounce Brie wheel
- 2 tablespoons fig jam
- 2 tablespoons caramelized onions
- ¼ cup walnuts chopped
- 1 sprig fresh rosemary finely chopped
- apple sliced, sliced and toasted baguette, or crackers for serving
Instructions
- PREP: Preheat oven to 375°F. Unwrap brie and add to a small cast iron skillet or baking dish. Add fig jam, caramelized onions, walnuts, and rosemary on top of the brie.
- BAKE: Bake for 15-25 minutes, until brie is melted and oozes when cut into.
- SERVE: Serve with apple slices, baguette slices, crackers, etc.
Chelsea says
Made a mini version of this and OMG!!! Insane! I have had baked Brie before, but never with fig jam, and wowwww - does it really elevate the recipe.
Lauren says
Agreed!!