Brie makes an wonderful snack or appetizer served simply with a crusty baguette or crackers, but for special occasions, try baking brie with one of these easy toppings.
Here are recipes for solo baked brie and some easy and delicious variations. You will want to try all three or use these to spark your creativity to come up with your own variation.
Basic Baked Brie
Brie sizes vary ranging from 8 to 24 ounces. The ingredients in the recipes that follow are for a 16-ounce wheel, so you may need to increase or decrease the quantities according to the size of Brie you buy.
The skin of brie is entirely edible but, for aesthetic reasons or fear of mold, some cooks may choose to scrape the top skin.
1 16-ounce wheel of Brie
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
For basic baked Brie, place the wheel on an oiled baking sheet and bake until the cheese is soft, about 15 minutes.
Baked Brie with Shallots and Toasted Hazelnuts
Toasted pecans or pine nuts could be substituted as well.
1/4 cup chopped hazelnuts
3 shallots, finely chopped
Before baking, sprinkle nuts and shallots evenly over the top of the Brie.
Baked Brie with Roasted Garlic and Nicoise Olives
Kalamata or other olives with assertive flavors may work as well.
2 whole heads of garlic
2 Tbsp olive oil
1/2 cup pitted Nicoise olives
4 Tbsp chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Separate the garlic cloves and spread them, unpeeled, in a baking dish. Bake until richly brown and soft, 25-30 minutes.
Remove from the oven and cool. (The garlic may be roasted up to several days in advance and stored in the refrigerator.)When you're ready for final preparation...
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Squeeze roasted garlic out of their skins and spread over the surface of the Brie. Top with the olives.
Bake until the cheese is soft and spreadable, 15-20 minutes.
Sprinkle with chopped parsley before serving.
Bake Brie Topped with Blueberry Chutney
Commercial blueberry conserves would be a quick and easy substitute.
2 cups blueberries
4 Tbsp finely chopped onions
3 Tbsp fresh ginger root, grated
1/2 cup brown sugar
4 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
3 Tbsp corn starch
1 tsp salt
2 3-inch sticks cinnamon
In a large saucepan over medium heat, combine all of the above ingredients and bring to a boil for one minute.
Remove the cinnamon sticks and refrigerate for 30-45 minutes.
Follow the recipe above for basic baked brie and serve topped with the cold blueberry chutney.
What to Serve with Baked Brie
A crunchy baguette or very mild-flavored crackers make a great palate for any of these variations. To drink, a crisp Sauvignon Blanc or an un-oaked Chardonnay will strike the right balance.
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The copyright of the article How to Make Three Baked Brie Appetizer Recipes in French Cuisine is owned by Larry Ervin. Permission to republish How to Make Three Baked Brie Appetizer Recipes in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.