Baked Brie and Preserves
Published Nov 08, 2024
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Baked Brie and Preserves is an appetizer that will impress everyone! The ooey, gooey cheese inside the round brie block, the sweet fruit preserves or jam on top, and the crunchy caramelized nuts are a match made in heaven.
This brie appetizer looks so elevated but no one will believe how low-effort it actually is. You only need a few minutes to throw this together.
Serve the melted cheese with some mini toasts or crackers and you must have made a delicious Thanksgiving or Christmas appetizer everyone will be talking about!
Why You’ll Love It
- Easy appetizer recipe: You only need 10 minutes to bake the brie and 5 minutes to make the caramelized walnuts topping. Consider this more of putting ingredients together.
- It looks stunning! This appetizer is pretty gorgeous on the dinner table. The contrast between the white cheese and colorful preserves will draw everyone in.
- Perfect for any occasion: Whether you just want to enjoy a snack, make an easy holiday appetizer, or you are throwing a dinner party, this recipe is perfect! It is quite the crowd pleaser.
- It’s customizable! Spread your favorite fruit preserves or jam over the top of the brie. If you don’t like walnuts, leave them out or use your favorite nuts!
- No need for puff pastry! Just bake the brie as it is together with your preserves of choice.
Baked Brie and Preserves Recipe
Two rounds of Brie cheese are topped with jammy fruity preserves and crunchy walnuts, then baked to perfection until they’re irresistibly melty, buttery, and warm. My strawberry jam recipe and Apricot Preserves are perfect for topping the brie!
Caramelized walnuts add a satisfying crunch, and a touch of honey and balsamic vinegar takes this holiday appetizer to the next level.
Baked brie has a subtle, delicate flavor that even non-cheese lovers will enjoy. The cheese’s taste is a nice contrast to the sweetness of the jam or preserves. Pair this soft cheese with refreshing sliced green apple, baguette slices, or your favorite crackers for a cheesy party appetizer that makes any gathering memorable!
Appetizers like this one simplify things for the busy holiday season. It is truly one of the easiest appetizers you will ever make.
Craving more mouthwatering appetizers? Try my simple 4 Ingredient Guacamole Recipe with Plantain Chips!
Ingredients Needed
Using only a handful of ingredients, you can whip up an impressive appetizer that boasts both visual appeal and gourmet flavor. Here is everything you need:
Some notes on key ingredients:
- Brie โ I opted for 2 round blocksย of brie cheese, but feel free to use more blocks of brie if you’re serving a crowd or use only one block if you’re serving a few people.
- Preserves or Jam โ I usedย fig preserves, but feel free to choose your favorite preserves. Blackberry preserves, apricot preserves, raspberry preserves, or a medley of berries would be absolutely scrumptious. Try out my Mixed Berry Jam. Raspberry jam, apricot jam, or any jam you have on hand would work as well. Cranberry sauce would work well on the cheese too!
- Walnutsย โย Any nut works perfectly. I opted for walnuts, but feel free to swap them out for pecans or almonds if those are more to your liking. You can also leave out the nuts if you prefer.
- Honey โ The honey is the perfect finishing touch that adds sweetness to the brie and preserves.
Recipe Variations
- Different Soft Cheeses โ Try a variety of soft cheeses, such as triple cream brie, goat cheese, or even camembert. With different degrees of creaminess and flavor offered by each variety, you can customize the dish to your taste.
- Different Jams โ Try experimenting with various preserves, such as apricot or raspberry preserves. Every fruit has a distinct flavor that might change the way you enjoy baked brie.
- Hot and Spicy โ Replace the fig jam with hot pepper jelly for those who want their food a little spicy.
Make sure to set the dish with the brie on a sheet pan or baking sheet for easy handling. This handy tip allows you to effortlessly remove the baked brie from the warm oven while also catching any toppings, nuts, or oozing cheese that might escape.
Substitutions
- Cheese Selections: Swap out Brie for Camembert to enjoy a comparable texture and flavor, or opt for Goat Cheese to add a delightful tangy twist.
- Nut Alternatives: Swap out those walnuts for pecans to add a delightful buttery crunch.
- Sweeteners: Swap out honey for maple syrup to add a unique sweetness.
How to Make Baked Brie and Preserves
Preparing this festive appetizer requires just a little effort. Simply bake it, adorn it with fresh raspberries and apple slices, drizzle with honey and balsamic vinegar, and pair it with rustic bread or crackers for dipping.
Step 1: Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Step 2: Prepare the Candied Walnuts
In a small saucepan, add Butter, walnuts, and brown sugar and heat to medium-high. Toss the walnuts in the saucepan and cook for 5 minutes until the butter and sugar are melted. Once the walnuts are coated with the butter-sugar mixture, transfer them to the prepared parchment paper and let cool.
Step 3: Prepare the Brie
Place the blocks of brie on a cutting board and score the brie rind with a sharp knife in a criss cross pattern. Transfer the brie to a baking dish lined with parchment paper and top with your favorite jam of preserves.
Step 4: Bake the Brie
Bake for 10 minutes or until the cheese is soft.
Step 5: Cool and Garnish
Remove from the oven and allow the Brie to cool for 5 minutes.
Top the Baked Brie with fresh raspberries, apple slices, and walnuts. Drizzle with Balsamic vinegar and Honey. Garnish with fresh rosemary sprigs.
Step 6: Serve
Transfer to a serving platter and serve with rustic bread and crackers to dip into the creamy brie cheese.
Love cheese? Also, check out my delicious 3 Cheese Mac and Cheese.
For the ultimate melting experience, use a Ceramic Brie Baker to bake your brie to perfection.
Expert Tips for Baked Brie and Preserves
- Take the brie out of the fridge about thirty minutes before you’re ready to pop it in the oven.
- Opt for a wheel of brie instead of a wedge. While a wedge of brie is certainly an option, opting for a wheel offers a more impressive presentation and provides ample space for an abundance of toppings. You can skip the pricey cheese shop and still enjoy brie without breaking the bank. Explore the aisles of your local grocery store.
- Be careful not to overcook brie. I keep a close eye on my brie wheel as it bakes because overcooking can make it re-harden quickly. As soon as I notice the edges giving way just right, maybe with a hint of meltey cheese beginning to show, I can tell it’s ready.
- Allow the baked brie to rest for 5 minutes before enjoying. This lets the cheese rest and cool slightly, ensuring it remains gooey without being too hot to handle.
Serving
You can serve this Baked Brie and Preserves alongside the following:
How to Store Leftovers
Refrigerator: Brie will become firmer as it cools. After it cools to room temperature, place the cheese in an airtight container and refrigerate it for a day or two.ย
Reheating: Reheat baked brie by baking it at 325 degrees F until the cheese becomes melty again.
More Appetizer Recipes
- Sweet and Salty Charcuterie Board
- Potato Cheese Balls
- Deviled Eggs with Cajun Shrimp
- Loaded French Fries
- Spring Rolls With Beef
- Southern Deviled Eggs
- Garlic Butter Wings
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Baked Brie and Preserves
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 cup walnuts
- 1/2 tablespoon brown sugar
- 2 round blocks brie cheese
- ยผ cup preserves of your choice
- ยผ cup fresh raspberries
- 1 green apple sliced
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 teaspoon Balsamic vinegar
- Fresh rosemary sprigs for garnish
- Rustic Bread or Crackers for serving
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a small saucepan add butter, walnuts, and brown sugar and heat on medium-high. Toss the walnuts in the saucepan and cook for 5 minutes until the butter and sugar are melted. Once the walnuts are coated with the butter-sugar mixture, transfer them to the prepared parchment paper and let cool.1 tablespoon butter, 1 cup walnuts, 1/2 tablespoon brown sugar
- Place the blocks of brie on a cutting board and score the top of each Brie with a sharp knife in a criss-cross pattern. Transfer the brie to a baking dish lined with parchment paper and top with preserves. Bake for 10 minutes or until the cheese is soft.2 round blocks brie cheese, ยผ cup preserves of your choice
- Remove from the oven and allow the brie to cool for 5 minutes.
- Top the baked brie with fresh raspberries, apple slices, and the caramelized walnuts. Drizzle with Balsamic vinegar and Honey. Garnish with fresh rosemary sprigs.1 cup walnuts, ยผ cup fresh raspberries, 1 green apple, 1 tablespoon honey, 1 teaspoon Balsamic vinegar, Fresh rosemary sprigs
- Serve with rustic bread and crackers for dipping into the melted cheese.Rustic Bread or Crackers
Notes
- Preserves to use: strawberry preserves, apricot preserves, raspberry preserves, or orange marmalade will all work.
- Walnuts substitute: Feel free to substitute the walnuts with almonds, pecans, or any other nuts you like.
- After baking, allow the baked brie to rest for about 5 minutes before serving. That allows the brie to set while still being soft and melty without being too hot to enjoy.