How to Bake Brie • easy perfect results! (2024)

Do you know how to bake Brie the right way? Baked brie is one of the most luxuriously easy appetizers ever invented, and I’m sharing all the secrets to getting that perfectly oozy, gooey Brie every time.

how to bake Brie to gooey perfection

Baked Brie can be an extravagantly elegant appetizer or, quite literally, a hot mess. But no worries, baking Brie is a breeze when you know what you’re doing, and it couldn’t be easier. An unopened wheel of Brie has a long ‘shelf life’ to begin with, and they will often last weeks longer than the date stamped on the package. I love to keep a few wheels in the fridge during the holidays because you will always have a lovely appetizer ready for unexpected entertaining.

what you’ll need

• a baby wheel of Brie. For this demo we’re using a standard 4-4 1/2 inch wheel (about 6 ounces) the most common size you’ll find in your grocery store.
• parchment paper ~ why parchment paper? That makes it easy to transfer the molten cheese to your favorite serving dish. If you bake your Brie directly in a serving dish you risk burning your guests as they attack this amazing appetizer 😉
• a baking sheet with sides to catch any unexpected oozing in the oven.

types and sizes of Brie cheese

• A full wheel of Brie is 9 to a whopping 18 inches round, which is quite large. You’ll find wedges cut from that size wheel for sale in the cheese section of your supermarket.
• Your supermarket will also carry smaller wheels of Brie called baby Brie, which is what you’ll want for baking. They’ll come in various sizes up to 2 pounds, but the most common are 4-8 ounce rounds like the ones I’m using.

• Officially, there are two types of French Brie: Brie de Meaux and Brie de Melun. But there are many more varieties, both imported and domestic, including triple cream, or even goat’s milk Brie. All baby wheels will work for baking, but there’s no need to splurge, use an inexpensive cheese for this.
• You’ll also see Camembert cheese in similar rounds and yes, you can bake Camembert just like you do Brie, it’s delicious.

the basics of baking Brie

1. If possible leave your Brie on the counter for an hour before baking. This just takes the chill off the cheese and allows it to bake more evenly.
2. Unwrap the Brie and place it on a square of parchment paper on a baking sheet with sides.
3. Slide it into a preheated 350F oven for anywhere from 10-20 minutes, depending on a few different factors including the size of your Brie, and how chilled it was going in. I check it at the 15 minute mark and go from there.
4. Remove from the oven and gently transfer your cheese (still on the parchment paper) to a serving dish.
5. Serve asap with crackers or slices of bread, either toasted, or not.

how to know when your Brie is done?

After 15 minutes in the oven, open the door and give the top of your cheese a little press. It should feel soft and pliable. Brie will start to melt at warm temperatures very quickly, but I like to leave the cheese in the oven a little longer so the whole thing gets evenly warmed and will stay melted longer after you serve it. If you start to see the cheese oozing out of the rind, then go ahead and pull it out of the oven.

variations on the basics

• Some like to remove the thin layer of rind across the top of the Brie before baking. This essentially makes a mini Brie fondue for dipping, with less cumbersome rind to work around.

• You can crosshatch the top surface of the Brie before baking. This is a fun technique that looks especially tempting once cooked.

• Another method is to cut the cheese as above, but to actually cut right through it to make cubes. Then arrange the cubes in a baking dish and bake until soft and molten. This essentially makes a baked Brie dip!

what is the best kind of Brie to use for baking?

• Any Brie will work, but a general rule of thumb is to use an inexpensive wheel for baking and save the expensive stuff for your next cheese board. The heat of the oven is going to make it all soft and gooey, and you likely will have some sort of topping for it, so no need to splurge for this dish, the economy brand will do just fine.

how much baked Brie should you allow per person?

• The general rule of thumb is to allow 1 to 1 1/2 ounces per person, depending on what else you’re serving. So an 8-ounce wheel would serve about 6-8 people. A 4-ounce wheel will serve 4-6. Personally I like to allow 1 ounce per person to be on the safe side, this stuff is irresistible!

how to ‘bake’ Brie in the microwave

• This is such fun ~ you can zap the cheese in the microwave and get the same effect as baking! I like to place the cheese in a shallow microwave safe bowl, or plate with a lip. Microwave on high for 60 seconds, and check from there. I find that microwaving results in more uneven heating, so it’s not my first choice, but it works.

can you reheat baked Brie?

• Yes, you can reheat it in the microwave, start with 30 seconds and go from there. You can also re-warm it in a low 300F oven until soft again. Don’t do this more than once, however, or the cheese can get rubbery.

toppings for baked Brie

The genius of baked Brie is that it works so well with so many delicious toppings, but they don’t have to be complicated at all, just a drizzle of honey or maple syrup is fine. A layer of jam, marmalade, or hot pepper jelly are great ideas, too. Here are just a few recipes I’ve featured on this site.

• Baked Brie with Maple Roasted Cranberries ~ tart cranberries, roasted with a little maple syrup until they start to burst, make the perfect Brie topping. The acidity of the berries balances out the rich cheese and the look is super festive!

• Baked Brie with Figs and Honey ~ when you spot fresh figs you MUST reserve some of them for this spectacular appetizer. It’s a toss up as to which is more decadent ~ the voluptuous figs or the molten cheese!

• Bruleed Brie ~ I’m kinds proud of this invention of mine…it’s a wheel of Brie that’s been brûléed! That’s right, just a sprinkle of sugar and a kitchen torch will make you one delicious conversation starter.

• Wild Mushroom and Hazelnut Baked Brie ~ this is a serious forest feast and perfect if you find yourself in possession of a few nice mushrooms.

• Baked Brie with Apples, Pecans, and Maple Syrup ~ favorite flavors of the season make a spectacular topping for this Brie, you could almost serve it for dessert!

more easy cheese appetizers

• Homemade Boursin Cheese Recipe
• Baked Feta Cheese with Olives and Lemon
• Irresistible Broccoli Cheese Dip!
• How to Make the Ultimate Cheese Board
• Baked Feta Bruschetta
• Jewel Box Labneh Balls