Did you know that you can cook a wheel of brie or Camembert right in its little wooden box?

With just 5 minutes of prep time and our step-by-step instructions, it doesn’t get any easier for a party appetizer. And everyone loves melted cheese!

Ingredients Needed

• Wheel of Brie Cheese – or Camembert, 8 ounces, sold in a round wooden box (see photo below for an example of how it looks in the market). If you cannot find one in the wooden box that’s okay – we offer tips on baking it without the box below
• Garlic – just 2 cloves that you will cut into slivers or crush
• Fresh Thyme or Fresh Rosemary – Fresh is best but dried will work
• Dry White Wine – just a splash or you can use a teaspoon of olive oil Dipping items – such as apple slices, baguette slices, or crackers

How to make Baked Brie

• Line a baking cookie sheet with foil or a sheet of parchment paper. Preheat the oven to 350˚F.
• NOTE: The wooden boxes are not always completely leakproof and as a result, the melty brie might leak out a bit. To be safe, you can also wrap the outside of the box with foil if you don’t have a baking sheet available. This technique will always makes for easier cleanup!

1. Unwrap the wheel of cheese and place it back in the wooden box.
2. Using a sharp knife make shallow slits or X’s in the top of the brie, cutting through the rind. For this method, you will not cut off the top of the cheese rind.
3. Push garlic slices or crushed garlic pieces into the slices in the rind. If not cooking right away just wrap the box in plastic wrap or place in an airtight container for up to 2 hours at room temperature or up to 24 hours in the refrigerator.
4. Pour wine over the top, or you can substitute olive oil if you prefer.
5. Sprinkle with chopped thyme or rosemary (or use both!).
6. Bake at 350˚F for about 15-20 minutes. The cheese is ready when the top of the brie is melty and bubbly.

How to Serve

1. Using a large spatula transfer the box to a heat-proof plate, platter, or shallow bowl.
2. Add sliced bread, fruit, crackers, or vegetables for dipping next to the assembled brie. This is a rich appetizer so fruit is always a good side component.
3. Be sure to include a small knife or spoon for serving.
4. This amazing easy appetizer is best served warm!

Why this easy baked brie recipe is the perfect party appetizer

Unlike a brie en croûte, baked brie with garlic is much simpler and can be prepared in 5 minutes! There is not a lot of prep and it can be added to any charcuterie board, making it the perfect next level party food. Melty cheese is always popular!

I used to cater a lot of big parties, and even now, my advice to anyone throwing a party or get-together is this: don’t make more than one appetizer that requires a lot of attention at party time.

Make as many appetizers, or parts of the meal, ahead of time as you can because you want to “be a guest at your own party”. If you are working in the kitchen you won’t have time to socialize with your friends!

How to buy Brie or Camembert

• When shopping, look for the 8-ounce Brie or Camembert wheel that comes in the wooden box because that box can serve as your baking dish.

• If you cannot find it in the box you can simply place the wheel in a smaller baking dish. Or use 2-3 smaller wedges of brie, if needed. Use a dish that sort of hugs the brie so it will keep its shape when cooking.

• Use Camembert or Brie for this recipe. Brie is creamier than Camembert because cream is added to Brie during the cheese-making process. Both cheeses taste similar but Brie has a milder flavor overall.

Variation ideas

• Want it a little sweeter? Try a drizzle of honey or maple syrup. A teaspoon of apricot jam, fig jam, raspberry jam, or cranberry sauce on top, instead of wine and garlic, turns this into one of the best holiday appetizers.
• Add crumbled walnuts or pecans to the top before baking for added crunch. You may want to give the nuts a light egg wash before baking.
• Want some spice? Sprinkle some red pepper flakes on top or dab of hot pepper jelly.

Looking for additional appetizer ideas?

• Easy Bacon Jam is a sweet and salty appetizer – great for making ahead
• Zesty Tzatziki Dip – perfect for veggie dipping
• Crab Cakes with Cocktail Sauce – elegant but easy (and great to make ahead)
• Add this baked brie to our larger cheese board (below) instead of regular brie

Print

Baked Brie with Garlic

Baked Brie with garlic, herbs, and white wine is a quick and delicious party appetizer that you can put together in 15 minutes.

Course Appetizer

Cuisine American, French

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes minutes

Total Time 25 minutes minutes

Servings 6 servings

Calories 128kcal

Author Cyndy Ufkes ~ The Art of Food and Wine

Ingredients

• 8 oz wheel Brie or Camembert Cheese (in wooden box)
• 1 tsp dry white wine,
• 1 tsp fresh thyme or rosemary finely chopped
• 1 clove garlic, slivered, or crushed garlic

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Finely chop rosemary or thyme and thinly slice garlic.
• Line a baking tray with foil or parchment paper for easy cleanup.
• Remove the plastic wrap from the wheel of Brie and place it back in the wooden box.

  If the brie is not in a wooden box then place it in a small ovenproof container.
• Score the top of the Brie with small slices or X's.

  Wrap the outside of the wheel in foil in case there are any leaks.
• Place garlic slices into the X's.

  Pour wine over the top and sprinkle with the thyme or rosemary.
• Bake directly, uncovered, in the wooden box (or ovenproof dish) for 15-20 minutes until lightly melty and bubbly.
• Carefully remove from the baking sheet with a spatula, remove foil from the outside of the box, and place on a platter.
• Serve hot with bread, crackers, and apple slices.

Notes

• Substitute olive oil for white wine, if desired
• Any fresh herbs will work in place of the rosemary or thyme
• Want it a little sweeter? Try a drizzle of honey or maple syrup. A teaspoon of apricot jam, fig jam, raspberry jam, or cranberry sauce on top, instead of wine and garlic, turns this into one of the best holiday appetizers.
• Add crumbled walnuts or pecans to the top before baking for added crunch. You may want to give the nuts a light egg wash before baking.
• Want some spice? Sprinkle some red pepper flakes on top or dab of hot pepper jelly.

Nutrition

Calories: 128kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 38mg | Sodium: 238mg | Potassium: 60mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 224IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 71mg | Iron: 1mg