Best Baked Brie (Recipe Reviews)

Classic baked Brie is fairly nice as is. I imply, it’s exhausting to seek out fault with melty cheese and flaky pastry! However does it blow me away with its ingenuity? No. Is it the very first thing I run to on the appetizer desk? Not a lot. 

As an alternative of giving up on the considerably sleepy dish, I started to consider tips on how to liven it up. A fast Google search proved the work had been achieved for me: Numerous recipes have been created with this precise premise in thoughts. From flavorful fillings to artistic cooking strategies, there are not any scarcity of how to have enjoyable with the old-school app.

With the vacations drawing nearer, I figured now was the right time to provide a number of of those twists a strive. In the end, I used to be on the lookout for a baked Brie that was paying homage to the unique — gooey cheese and golden-brown pastry have been non-negotiables — however with a bit extra oomph. What kind of dough can be the very best for wrapping? What taste of filling would finest complement the cheese? And most significantly, which recipe would excite me? 

In the end, I fell in love with each recipe I attempted. Each impressed me with its seems, creativity, and irresistible taste. However after plenty of reflection (and a heck of plenty of cheese), I managed to declare a winner. It’s the one I couldn’t cease consuming, the one I discovered most wow-worthy, and the one I’ll advocate to any pal in want of a crowd-pleaser. 

To maintain the enjoying area honest, I solely thought-about recipes that have been wrapped in some kind of pastry. (In any case, true baked Brie is just warm cheese!). From there, I appeared for ones that used various kinds of pastries and quite a lot of fillings. In the end, I landed on 4 thrilling recipes that every had a definite perspective. 

Two Peas and Their Pod’s Baked Brie has a 5-star ranking and ranks on the primary web page of Google. The Brie is drizzled with maple syrup and topped with a sugary, buttery nut combination, putting it firmly within the “candy” class. It’s wrapped in puff pastry and served with all types of dippers and snacks, from crackers and crostini to pomegranate seeds and pears. I additionally appreciated that Maria, one of many creators of the weblog, responded to each single remark and query.

Food Network’s Baked Brie falls on the alternative finish of the baked Brie spectrum, calling on savory marinated artichoke hearts, pesto, and sun-dried tomatoes for the filling. The puff pastry is woven into an ornamental sample and, maybe most curiously of all, the entire thing is cooked within the air fryer. As a giant fan of the versatile countertop equipment, I used to be keen to do this one out. 

Smitten Kitchen’s Baked Brie appeared like every little thing I’d anticipate from Deb: wealthy and comforting with a contact of magnificence. A easy do-it-yourself galette dough is used instead of puff pastry, and the Brie is roofed in jammy balsamic purple onions. Dijon mustard and contemporary thyme spherical out the filling, and the wrapped Brie is sprinkled with sesame seeds earlier than baking. How may it not be good? 

Tasty’s Baked Brie was the closest to the traditional. The Brie is topped with raspberry preserves, however flaky phyllo dough is utilized in lieu of puff pastry. Would this one easy improve have most impression? I couldn’t wait to seek out out. 

I made every recipe with an 8-ounce spherical of Président Brie. For the 2 recipes that referred to as for puff pastry, I used DuFour (a favorite among Kitchn staffers). I baked all of them in the identical oven, on the identical day, and allow them to cool per the precise recipe’s directions. I served them with no matter every recipe referred to as for, however I additionally made certain to strive a chew of every by itself. I had two buddies over to assist me and my fiancé check them. 

With a view to style the entire Bries in a single sitting however nonetheless serve them heat, I assembled them prematurely, popped them within the fridge, and baked them off in succession (except for Meals Community’s, which I air-fried whereas one other was baking). Not solely was this one of the simplest ways for me to check them, it additionally allowed me to check out their make-ahead talents. And actually, I used to be impressed! All 4 proved they are often assembled and refrigerated a number of hours prematurely — though they every wanted a number of further minutes within the oven for the Brie to soften fully. 

In case you’re serving company who get pleasure from conventional baked brie, they’ll go wild for this simple-yet-impressive improve. The layers of phyllo baked up impossibly mild and flaky, and I cherished the distinction between the crunchy pastry and melty cheese. Whereas I’m not going to cast off puff pastry for good, I do assume the phyllo added pleasure and tasted nice. Plus, the entire layers make it tremendous forgiving — it actually doesn’t matter if one sheet tears or is off-center. 

I preferred that the jam’s acidity balanced out the Brie’s richness, stopping the entire thing from tasting too decadent. Even nonetheless, I’d be curious to experiment with extra savory-leaning flavors, like fig or bitter cherry. It’s additionally value noting that the recipe doesn’t specify ingredient quantities. I discovered success with a stick of butter, a half cup of preserves, and an eight-ounce wheel of Brie. 

It is a Smitten Kitchen recipe by and thru. It’s detailed however unfussy, spectacular but rustic, and the result’s precisely as promised: a less-sweet, extra nuanced baked Brie stuffed with attention-grabbing flavors. The jammy purple onions are a revelation: They prepare dinner in simply 10 minutes however are slinky and shiny and flavorful. When mixed with the melty cheese, it gave the entire dish French onion soup vibes. 

The do-it-yourself galette dough comes collectively rapidly in a single bowl, and bakes up buttery and flaky. As a consequence of its round form, it was additionally simpler than puff pastry to wrap across the Brie. With that stated, I’m undecided it was value the additional effort — particularly in case you go for all-butter puff pastry like DuFour. Throughout a busy vacation season when shortcuts are lifesavers, I’m undecided that is the recipe I’ll need to flip to. 

This baked Brie was a lot higher than the sum of its elements. One way or the other, a easy mixture of pecans, cinnamon, brown sugar, and maple syrup mixed to create probably the most aromatic, irresistible filling that had all of us swooning. When eaten all collectively, the dish tasted like nutty French toast paired with gooey Brie cheese, which I wouldn’t assume I’d get pleasure from however I completely did.  

I really assume everybody will go wild for this recipe. It’s good for e book membership or wine night time, or starring in a dinner-sized snack platter. It’s additionally very easy to make! With that stated, I do assume it’s too candy to function a pre-dinner appetizer, which is why it didn’t take house high prize. 

Discuss a celebration trick! This golden-brown magnificence emerged from the air fryer wanting (nearly) too fairly to eat. The ornamental sample, which was surprisingly easy to execute, gave this Brie the pizzazz I used to be looking for. As soon as sliced into, the colourful pesto filling made the entire thing really feel festive. 

The style of this dish was equally spectacular. Beginning with herby marinated artichokes, oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, and garlicky store-bought pesto meant that each chew was jam-packed with taste — with little or no work from me. Plus, the air fryer made the pastry further flaky and croissant-like, and melted the cheese to perfection. I additionally like that it freed up oven house, which I’m all the time grateful for through the holidays. 

In case you don’t have an air fryer, this Brie continues to be 100% value making. Bake on a parchment-lined baking sheet at 400°F for 35 to 40 minutes, then serve to company.