Baked Brie with Apples & Molasses

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This EASY Baked Brie Appetizer with apples and molasses is a tasty, simply elegant appetizer recipe that’s sure to impress every guest at your party. Warm and creamy, brie cheese is baked with sliced apples and topped with molasses, shredded coconut, and walnuts for a deliciously sweet, earthy flavor.

Just in time for the holidays, this is one delicious appetizer recipe you can prepare even if you happen to be rushing home from work to make the party. This easy appetizer can be ready in just 15 minutes, start to finish!

Baked Brie Appetizer

My daughter Allison introduced our family to this creamy brie cheese appetizer a few Christmases ago and it literally disappeared in seconds! And no wonder, look at all that gooey, melty cheese with sweet apples and crunchy walnuts — just YUM!

Baked brie appetizers are perfect for the holidays. I’ve served this recipe before out Thanksgiving dinner, at intimate Christmas gatherings, and have even made it for just John and I to enjoy on the weekends.

This recipe uses a small brie round (8 oz.), and makes about 6-8 servings, depending on your appetite and will power. If you’re planning for a bigger group, you’ll want to double the recipe or adjust it for using a larger round of brie. 

How to Make Baked Brie Appetizer

1. Slice a baguette or French loaf into 1/4 inch slices.
2. Peel and slice apples. I usually cut it so that I get 12 to 14 slices per apple.
3. Unwrap the brie (do not remove the rind) and place on an oven-safe platter or baking sheet.
4. Drizzle molasses on top of the cheese and sprinkle with coconut sugar, shredded coconut, and walnuts.
5. Place the apples around the brie and bake until soft.
6. If you like, you may also warm the baguette slices as the brie bakes.

Brie FAQs

What is brie?

Brie is a soft, white cheese made from cow’s milk. Named after the historic region of Brie in Northern France, Brie is usually served at warm or at room temperature, never cold.

It can be wrapped and baked in a pastry or cut into wedges and served at room temperature on a cheese board with fig jam.

What is the white part of brie cheese?

Don’t freak out, but the white rind on brie cheese is actually white mold called Penicillium camemberti. According to USDA.gov, the mold used to manufacture brie cheese is perfectly safe to eat. However, if the surface of your brie looks wet, slimy, or has brown spots you should toss it out.

Do you remove the rind from brie before baking?

There is no need to remove the rind before baking a brie round. It actually softens as the cheese warms and you don’t notice it as much. However, there are some recipes where do should peel away the rind, like in this Baked Brie Cheese and Fig Spread.

How do you keep baked brie warm?

One thing about baked brie is that it cools somewhat quickly and as it cools becomes firm again. If you are serving this Baked Brie Appetizer for a party at home, that’s not usually a problem.

If you are transporting to another location, then you will want to cover the baked brie loosely with foil and plan to reheat it at the host’s house. Pop it in a warm oven for a few minutes or reheat for a few seconds uncovered in the microwave.

Can you bake brie cheese twice?

It’s totally fine to bake the brie cheese again if you first allow it to cool completely and then store it in the refrigerator after the first cooking.

Can you microwave brie instead of baking?

You can microwave brie cheese, but for this recipe with apples I prefer to heat it in the oven. You can heat the brie alone in the microwave at HIGH 1 1/2 to 2 minutes or just until cheese is softened. 

How do you know when brie is done?

Brie is done when it is soft to the touch. I usually let it sit for 4 or 5 minutes after I remove it from the oven so that it doesn’t ooze too, too much when serving.

More Baked Brie and Fruit Appetizer Variations

If you are not a fan of molasses, substitute honey and a little brown sugar instead. Also, in this baked brie recipe the coconut sugar is optional, but it does add another layer and compliments the shredded coconut.

Although I love the earthy flavor of molasses, but you might also enjoy one of these other flavor combinations that work just as well with this easy baked brie appetizer recipe!

• Brie + pears + molasses + walnuts
• Brie + figs + honey + walnuts
• Brie + peaches + brown sugar + pecans
• Brie + dried cranberries + honey + pecans
• Brie + your favorite berry jam + nuts

More cheesy party appetizer recipes!

It’s always a good idea to have a few good appetizer recipes in your arsenal for holiday parties. These cheesy appetizers are particularly tasty and popular:

• Hot Pepper Jelly Cheese Dip with Bacon — a little bit of sweet, a little bit of heat, and a bit of savory saltiness in this tasty dip!
• Cheesy Shrimp Dip — Combine three different types of cheese — cream cheese, shredded mozzarella, and Parmesan cheese — with a sautéed shrimp scampi and bake until hot and bubbly. 
• Ham and Cheese Potato Bites — Nutty Gruyere adds a distinct flavor to these delectable bite-size appetizers stuffed with chopped ham and a surprising secret ingredient.
• Baked Jalapeño Pimento Cheese — Adjust the heat to your taste by adding more roasted jalapeño peppers to this lightened up hot dip.