If you're looking for a show-stopping, easy holiday appetizer, this baked brie with jam is it! Warm creamy cheese topped with fig compote of fig jam, dried figs and cranberries, and chopped pecans for a perfect balance of sweet and nutty flavors. Serve it with baguette and crisp apple slices for an unforgettable appetizer that will have your guests asking for the recipe. And it's so simple to make!
This baked brie with jam recipe was always a crowd pleaser at my catered parties. While the brie bakes to melty perfection, prepare a warm, fruity fig compote on the stovetop with jam, dried fruits, and nuts. Spoon it over the warm brie and serve with baguette slices, fresh grapes, and apple slices. It's irresistible and one of the easiest appetizers.
Why You'll Like This Recipe
- Baked brie with jam is a good party appetizer.
- Simple to make for a busy holiday season.
- Halve the recipe for a smaller group (8 ounce brie wheel) or double (2-pound brie wheel) for a bigger crowd.
- No puff pastry to deal with like brie en croûte.
For another delicious fruity topping, make some of this apple cinnamon compote.
Recipe Ingredients
Baked Brie
- Brie: Get a one pound wheel of brie cheese. Don't get a wedge of brie, it doesn't work, as the cheese oozes out everywhere. It needs the rind to hold it in shape.
- Jam: This fig-orange jam is my favorite and what I recommend. See options below.
- Dried fruit: Dried figs and dried cranberries.
- Nuts: Chopped pecans, either raw or these homemade maple glazed pecans.
- Orange: For the zest and juice.
- Spices: A little cinnamon added to the topping adds subtle flavor.
- Liqueur: Add a splash of orange liqueur such as Grand Marnier (optional).
For Serving
- Bread: 1-2 baguettes or gluten-free bread.
- Crackers: Your favorite sturdy crackers to handle the gooey baked brie, and gluten-free crackers for your GF guests.
- Fruit: Apple and pear slices.
Please see the recipe card for measurements.
Another good topping for baked brie is this cranberry orange sauce.
Chef's tip on brie rind: Do you take off the top of the rind or leave it on? I leave the top rind on as it's totally edible, delicious, and holds the melty cheese together when it comes out of the oven. Without the top rind it oozes everywhere.
Substitutions and Variations
Brie is a buttery, mild-flavored cheese that stands up well to flavor variations.
- Change up the dried fruit such as apricots, raisins, golden berries, or others.
- Use different jams, such as raspberry preserves, strawberry jam, apricot jam, or other favorite jam.
- Use sliced fresh figs instead of dried for the topping.
- If you can't find a 1-pound brie wheel, use 2-8 ounce wheels and place them side by side.
- No dried figs? Swap pitted dates.
When fresh figs are available, make these goat cheese crostini with figs and prosciutto.
Recipe Instructions
Pre-heat the oven to 350°F. If you're out of oven space and want to use your air fryer, use the bake setting. To bake the cheese, use a small sheet pan, an oven-safe dish, or a small cast iron skillet. Skip the parchment for the cast iron option and serve baked brie right from the skillet.
Serving and Storage
Serve baked brie with jam individually or as part of a cheese board. Place the warm cheese on a plate or platter with slices of baguette, crackers, and fruit slices. Grapes are another nice addition. Garnishing the arrangement with herbs such as fresh rosemary or fresh thyme adds fragrance and green color.
To keep apple and pear slices from turning brown, place slices in lemon water, then dry and arrange on your cheese display.
Store leftover fig compote in an airtight container for a week.
Chef's tip for leftover fig compote: Leftover fig compote is good over ice cream or frozen yogurt, or over oatmeal or creamy overnight oats. As pork and fruit are classic companions, the fig sauce can be served along side a pork roast or pork tenderloin.
Recipe FAQs
Any kind of fruit jam or preserves works well with baked brie. Choose seasonal flavors such as fig and cranberry in the fall, or raspberry and strawberry in spring. Blueberry and blackberry are good too, as well as orange preserves. Leftover cranberry sauce works great after Thanksgiving and Christmas.
The rind of brie is totally edible so it does not have to be removed. In fact it helps hold the warm cheese wheel together after baking. If you prefer to remove the rind you can. Trim the top with a sharp knife but leave the side and bottom rind.
Don't over-bake the brie to keep the cheese from running out of the rind. If it does, just enjoy it! It still tastes great even if a bit messy.
More Appetizer Recipes
For more appetizer and snack recipes for easy entertaining, check out these recipes or look at the appetizer recipes index page.
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📖 Recipe
Baked Brie with Jam
Ingredients
Baked Brie with Jam
- 1 pound whole brie wheel or 2-8 ounce wheels
- ½ cup pecans halves chopped
- ½ cup fig-orange jam or preserves half of an 8 ounce jar
- ½ cup dried cranberries
- ¼ cup dried figs 3-4 dried figs, chopped
- 1 medium orange zested and juiced
- 1 tablespoon Grand Marnier or other orange liqueur optional
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
For Serving
- 2 large baguettes sliced on diagonal
- 1 large apple cut into thin pieces
- 1 large pear cut into thin pieces
Instructions
- Remove brie from the refrigerator and allow to warm up on the counter for 1 hour. If you forget, just bake it longer and keep an eye on it so it does not melt too much.
- Pre-heat the oven to 350°F. Place the brie wheel on a square piece of parchment paper that extends beyond the brie, then on a baking sheet or in a baking dish. The parchment will make it easier to move the soft bake brie onto a serving plate.Bake brie uncovered for 20-25 minutes until the cheese feels soft when touched in the center. How long it bakes depends on how cold it was before baking.
- While brie is baking, make the fig jam topping. In a small pan (2 quart) over medium low heat, place the fig jam, pecans, cranberries, figs, orange juice, and cinnamon. Add liqueur if using. Allow the jam topping to become melted and juicy, and cook for 3-5 minutes to thicken.
- When the brie is ready, remove from the oven using the parchment to support, place on a serving platter and spoon the warm fig jam sauce over the top. To finish, add orange zest to the top. Serve with baguette and fruit slices. Note - Allow the baked brie to sit on the serving platter a few minutes before cutting into the wheel or the cheese may all ooze out.
Notes
Nutrition
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Porsche guy says
We use this when we had guests coming over recently for a nice appetizer, it was super easy to make and really decadent. If you love Brie like we do. Love that topping too. We served it with sliced baguette.