Baked Brie
This baked brie with maple pecans wrapped in puff pastry is the ultimate easy holiday appetizer. Golden, melty, and ready in 30 minutes. Get the recipe!
More recipes featuring vegetarian: Cowboy Cookies, Leftover Cranberry Sauce Muffins, and Peaches ‘n Cream Muffins.
Why This Puff Pastry Brie Disappears Fast
When you wrap brie in puff pastry with maple, pecans, and brown sugar, something magical happens. The pastry turns golden and flaky while the cheese gets creamy and melts into a sweet, nutty center. It’s an easy holiday appetizer that looks fancy but takes almost no effort.
Key Ingredients for Baked Brie
- Brie cheese: Use an 8-ounce round. The rind is edible, but you can remove the top rind if you want a smoother bite.
- Puff pastry: Find it in the freezer aisle. Thaw for 30 to 40 minutes until pliable but still cold.
- Pecans: Toast them in butter with cinnamon first. This brings out their nutty flavor and adds crunch.
Kitchen Tools for Making Baked Brie
- Baking sheet and parchment paper for easy cleanup
- Small saucepan to toast the pecans
- Pastry brush for applying egg wash
- Sharp knife to trim excess dough or remove rind
Tips for the Flakiest Puff Pastry Brie
Make sure your puff pastry is fully thawed but still cold. If it gets too warm, it will be sticky and hard to work with. Press the edges firmly so no cheese leaks out during baking. Brush the top and sides with egg wash for a shiny, golden crust.
Expert Tips for Perfect Baked Brie
For a deeper golden color, brush the pastry with egg wash twice. If you want to remove the rind, do it when the brie is cold for easier cutting. Let the baked brie rest for 10 to 15 minutes so the cheese sets slightly and doesn’t pour out when you cut it.
Baked Brie Variations to Try
Swap the pecans for walnuts or almonds. Add a spoonful of fig jam or cranberry sauce along with the maple syrup. For a savory version, skip the brown sugar and top with fresh rosemary and black pepper. You can also use crescent roll dough instead of puff pastry for a softer texture.
Best Sides and Dippers for Baked Brie
Serve the warm cheese with plain crackers or slices of crusty baguette. Apple slices and pear slices add a fresh crunch. For a sweeter touch, drizzle honey over the top or add a spoonful of raspberry jam.
How to Store Leftover Baked Brie
Let the brie cool completely at room temperature. Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and store in the fridge for up to 2 days. The pastry will soften, but the cheese stays good.
Can You Freeze Baked Brie?
You can assemble the brie in puff pastry and freeze it unbaked for up to 3 months. Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and foil. Bake from frozen, adding 10 to 15 minutes to the time. Baked brie can also be frozen, but the pastry may lose some crispness.
How to Reheat Baked Brie
To bring leftover baked brie back to life, place it in a 350°F oven for 10 minutes. The microwave will make the pastry soggy, so avoid it. If the pastry is already soft, try an air fryer at 350°F for 5 minutes.
Baked Brie FAQs
Do I need to remove the rind?
No, the rind is edible and helps hold the shape of the cheese. If you prefer a smoother texture, you can cut off the thin top rind when the brie is cold.
Can I use a different cheese?
This recipe works best with a soft, creamy cheese like brie or camembert. Avoid hard cheeses as they won’t melt properly.
How do I prevent the pastry from getting soggy?
Make sure the brie is well sealed in the pastry and that the egg wash goes over all seams. Also, let the pastry puff fully during baking to create a barrier.
Can I make this ahead of time?
You can assemble the brie in pastry up to a day ahead and refrigerate. Bake it just before serving for the best texture.
Recipe
Baked Brie
Brie cheese topped with pure maple syrup, brown sugar, pecans, and wrapped in puff pastry, and baked until golden delicious. Serve the melty baked brie with crackers, bread, or apple slices. The perfect holiday appetizer!
Ingredients
- 1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed
- 1 round brie cheese
- 1 tbsp butter
- 0.5 cup pecans, roughly chopped
- 0.5 tsp ground cinnamon
- 0.25 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 1 tbsp pure maple syrup
- 1 egg egg, beaten
- crackers, crostini, apple slices, for serving
Instructions
- 1
Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the thawed puff pastry sheet on the prepared baking sheet. Note-the puff pastry will take about 40 minutes to thaw. Read package instructions.
- 2
In a small saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add the pecans and cinnamon and heat until browned and fragrant, stirring occasionally, about 2 to 3 minutes. Immediately pour pecans into a small bowl. Add the brown sugar and stir until combined. It is ok if the brown sugar melts a little.
- 3
Place brie round in the middle of the puff pastry. The rind is edible, so I don’t cut it off. It helps hold the shape of the brie. If you want to remove it, you can use a sharp knife to carefully cut off the thin top rind of the cheese. This is easier to do when the brie is cold.
- 4
Pour pure maple syrup over the top of the brie round. Place the toasted pecan and brown sugar mixture on top of brie. Gently press so it stays on top of the brie.
- 5
Fold one edge of the puff pastry dough over the brie and brush the top with egg wash, using a pastry brush. Fold up the opposite side then brush top dough with egg wash. Repeat with remaining edges until the brie is completely covered in the puff pastry, trimming off excess dough edges if necessary. You can use excess dough to make decorations to place on top of brie, if desired. Press the dough together to make sure it sealed tightly. Brush the top and sides of the wrapped brie with egg wash.
- 6
Bake for 20 to 30 minutes or until the pastry is a golden brown. Remove from the oven and let the brie sit for 10 to 15 minutes.
- 7
Place the brie on a serving platter and serve warm with crackers, crostini, and/or apple slices.
Nutrition (per serving)
Calorie breakdown
How this was calculated — 6 of 9 ingredients matched
Nutrition information is automatically calculated from USDA FoodData Central, so should only be used as an approximation. Actual values may vary depending on the ingredients, brands, and preparation methods used.
Open in analyzerKeyword: appetizer, baked, holiday, Oven Baked, vegetarian
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