Honey Baked Brie: The Easiest Party Appetizer, Plus Five Toppings

Simple honey baked brie

Leave the rind on; it holds the cheese together as it melts and is edible. Scoring the top lets the honey sink in. A small cast-iron pan, pie dish or oven-safe serving plate works well.

• 1 wheel (8 oz / 225 g) brie or camembert
• 2 to 3 tablespoons honey
• 1/4 cup toasted walnuts, pecans or pistachios, chopped
• Fresh thyme or rosemary, flaky salt and black pepper
• To serve: crackers, sliced baguette, apple and pear slices, grapes

Method

Heat the oven to 350°F. Unwrap the brie and place it in the dish, then score the top rind lightly in a crosshatch. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes, until the sides feel soft and the center wobbles when you nudge the dish. Do not overbake, or the cheese will break through the rind.

Drizzle the honey over the hot brie, scatter with nuts and herbs, add a pinch of salt and pepper, and serve immediately. Baked brie firms up as it cools, so keep it warm in the dish or rewarm for a few minutes.

Brie en croûte: in puff pastry

For a showpiece, wrap the brie in pastry. Roll out a sheet of thawed puff pastry, place the brie in the center, spoon a tablespoon of honey and a few nuts on top, and fold the pastry over, trimming the excess. Turn it seam side down on a lined baking sheet, brush with beaten egg and bake at 400°F for 20 to 25 minutes until puffed and deep golden. Rest 10 minutes before cutting, then drizzle with more honey.

Five topping ideas

Each of these goes on after baking, with the honey.

• Fig and walnut: sliced dried or fresh figs, walnuts, thyme
• Apple and pecan: diced apple sautéed in butter, pecans, cinnamon
• Cranberry: cranberry sauce or dried cranberries and orange zest, for the holidays
• Pistachio and orange: pistachios, orange zest, orange blossom honey
• Savory: roasted garlic, black pepper, rosemary and a drizzle of buckwheat honey

Which honey pairs best with brie

Brie is mild, buttery and slightly earthy, so it suits honeys that add character without overwhelming it. Orange Blossom is bright and floral. Wildflower is a balanced all-rounder. Buckwheat gives a dramatic, malty contrast, best in a thin drizzle alongside a milder honey. For more on matching honeys and cheeses, see honey and cheese pairing.

Hosting tips

Assemble the brie in its baking dish an hour ahead and keep it in the fridge, then bake when guests arrive; add 2 to 3 minutes to the time if it goes in cold. One 8-ounce wheel serves about six people as part of a spread. Put out a small bowl of extra honey and a honey dipper so guests can add more.

Brie, camembert or triple crème?

Brie is the classic choice: mild, buttery and widely available in 8-ounce wheels. Camembert is a little earthier and stronger, and it comes in a wooden box that can go straight into the oven once the wrapper is removed. Triple-crème cheeses are richer still and melt very quickly, so check them after 8 minutes. Look for a wheel that feels slightly soft when pressed; an underripe, chalky brie will not melt as smoothly.