For Brie lovers, simply burying your face in a wheel of this creamy cheese is the perfect way to eat it. For those not in the know, here are some suggestions.
Brie cheese has a soft, almost molten core and a harder, grayish outer rind. People often wonder if the rind is edible and the answer is a resounding "Yes!" It's meant to be eaten and actually adds to the flavor and character of Brie.
- Wine and Cheese Pairing Guide and Chart
The basic information for how to eat this cheese includes:
- Store Brie cheese in its original container in the refrigerator. Once the seal has been broken and the cheese is cut, wrap it in parchment paper or waxed paper so the rind can continue to breathe and stay dry. Don't use plastic wrap (once it's been baked, plastic wrap is OK for leftovers).
- Prior to eating, remove the Brie from the refrigerator one hour before serving so it comes to room temperature and is at its best.
- Serve the entire wheel on a cheese board or plate and cut one or two pieces (but no more, because the cheese will dry out) to give guests an idea of the proper size to portion for themselves.
- Serve the Brie with crusty bread or plain-flavored crackers that won't compete with the taste of the cheese. This is not the time to pull out the nacho chips.
- Brie pairs well with fruits like apples, pears, grapes, and berries, and unsalted nuts like pecans, almonds, and walnuts.
- Classic wine pairings with Brie include acidic, herbaceous, dry whites like Pinot Gris (Pinot Grigio) or Sauvignon Blanc. White wines made in the méthode champenoise (Champagne, Cava, sparkling whites) also pair well with Brie.
Baked Brie is a soft, warm, melty, and delicious way to enjoy this cheese. It can be baked as is or with toppings (see below) or wrapped in puff pastry (Brie en Croute) or phyllo dough.
Store baked Brie tightly wrapped in plastic in the refrigerator for no longer than three days. To reheat, remove plastic wrapping, place in a rimmed pan and bake at 350 F until soft, about 5 to 10 minutes.
In this recipe, perfect for the fall and winter holidays, Brie is crowned with cooked cranberries, pecans and nutmeg.
Ingredients
Yield: 4 to 6 servings
- 1 (12-ounce) bag fresh cranberries
- 2/3 cup sugar
- 2/3 cup water
- Zest of 1 orange
- 1 (8-ounce) wheel Brie cheese
- 1/4 cup chopped pecans
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, cook cranberries, sugar, water, and orange zest until cranberries pop and sauce thickens, about 5 to 10 minutes.
- Cool the cranberries in the refrigerator, tightly covered.
- Heat oven to 350 F.
- Place a round of Brie in an ovenproof, shallow dish (like a glass pie plate) and spread with the cooled cranberry mixture.
- Sprinkle chopped pecans and freshly grated nutmeg over the top.
- Bake for 5 to 10 minutes until the Brie is softened.
- Serve with slices of crusty bread.
In this appetizer recipe, you can pop the Brie in the oven 10 minutes before the garlic is finished roasting for them to be ready at the same time.
Ingredients
Yield: 4 to 6 servings
- 2 whole heads garlic
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 (8-ounce) wheel Brie cheese
- 1 loaf French or Italian bread, sliced
Instructions
- Heat oven to 350 F.
- Slice the top off garlic heads, exposing the cloves.
- Place the garlic with the exposed cloves facing up in a glass pan. Drizzle the garlic with olive oil and sprinkle it with sea salt. Cover tightly with foil and bake for 1 hour until the garlic is soft.
- Ten minutes before the garlic is finished roasting, place the Brie round in a shallow, ovenproof pan and bake for 5 to 10 minutes, until the cheese is soft. Remove Brie and garlic from oven.
- Serve the cheese with slices of baguette and the roasted garlic on a serving plate with small forks to facilitate removal and spreading of the garlic.
- To eat, remove a clove of garlic and spread it on the baguette. Top with the Brie cheese.
Consider the following toppings and preparations for baked Brie cheese.
- Slivered almonds
- Pecans cooked in butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon
- Sliced strawberries
- Apricot preserves
- Raspberry preserves
- Caramelized pears
- Caramelized apples
Brie is a soft cow's milk cheese that is named after the province in France in which it originated. It is made by adding rennet to raw milk, heating it to 98.6 F and then casting into molds, where it is drained for about 20 hours. After this process is complete, it is removed from the mold, salted and injected with cheese mold. Brie is then aged for five or six weeks.
Brie cheese should be mild and slightly sweet in flavor. If aged for several months to a year, the flavor becomes stronger. If over-ripened, the cheese takes on flavors of ammonia.
Whether you're a cheese connoisseur or a neophyte, Brie's mild, creamy flavor lends itself to every palate. For the best flavor, it must be eaten at room temperature or baked into melty gooeyness. Other than that, dressing it up in pastry, taking it neat with a slice of apple, or using it as an ingredient in a recipe is entirely your call.
© 2022 LoveToKnow Media. All rights reserved.
Best Fruit Spreads, Jam and Nut Topping For Brie
I swear other than the bubbly, the next best thing at a holiday party is that delicious beautiful ooey gooey baked brie bejeweled with fruit preserves and nuts all dressed up in its puff pastry. With warm slices of french bread scattered round it's base, it is an appetizer that just wants to be devoured by most guests.
You can top a baked brie with a variety of jams and spreads ranging in flavors from sweet and fruity to savory and piquant. Typically people prefer a sweet fruitier topping for brie and will often mix a jam with toasted nuts or herbs to spoon over top but a savory pairing such as our Triple Ale Onion Spread which is a caramelized onion jam made with 3 craft beers is a wonderful savory alternative for pairing, so both options - sweet or savory will work well and can stand up to the earthy creamy mushroomy taste of brie.
Remember too that brie doesn't only have to be served in a puff pastry (commonly referred to as brie en croute), you can forgo the pastry and simply bake it in the oven for 10 minutes and then dress it up with your preferred topping (jam, savory preserves, honey, fruit, nuts, sun dried tomatoes, pesto, etc.) You can also use brie in a number of different appetizers from mini tarts to small puff pastries, mini quiches, paninis and flatbreads. All of our savory spreads and jam compotes listed below will work with a variety of soft ripened bloomy rind style cheeses from Brie to Camembert to Coulommiers (which is a cousin to brie) and make a beautiful addition to any cheese plate.
Our Favorite Spreads, Jams and Nut Toppings For Brie Include:
1. Baked Brie with Sour Cherry Spiced Wine Fruit Compote with Thyme and Pecans
Our Sour Cherry Spiced Wine Fruit Compote is made with whole tart cherries sourced from upstate NY with warm winter spices and cracked black pepper. Its sweet yet savory and when mixed with toasted pecans and fresh thyme is just amazing with a baked brie. Not only is it a classic pairing - brie cheese and sour cherry but for a holiday gathering, its just gorgeous on the table.
Recipe: Baked Brie with Sour Cherry Compote with Thyme and Pecans
2. Baked Brie En Croute with Wozz! Triple Ale Onion Savory Spread and Crispy Bacon
A savory option which we love, our NYC Fancy Food Show Award Winning Triple Ale Onion Savory Spread mixed with bacon and served atop a brie baked in puff pastry. The caramelized onion jam spread is a perfect pairing for the buttery mushroomy brie and makes a wonderful fall or winter appetizer.
Recipe: Baked Brie En Croute with Caramelized Onion Spread and Bacon
3. Balsamic Fig Mostarda Spread and Brie Pairings
Our Balsamic Fig Mostarda Spread is a combination of sweet figs slowly simmered in a red wine reduction sauce with balsamic and a finishing touch of mustard oil spice. It's our signature cheese pairing condiment and the winner of the NYC Fancy Food Show sofi award for best condiment. This fig spread is an amazing accompaniment to brie and we've used it many times in recipes. Here are a few of our favorite brie and balsamic fig mostarda spread pairings:
- Summer Cheese Board: Pair Wozz! Balsamic Fig Mostarda Spread with a wheel of soft ripened coulommiers cheese (coulommiers is similar to brie cheese like camembert), fresh fruits, croissants, ham and honey for a cheese board well suited for a summer picnic.
- Balsamic Fig and Brie Mini Tarts - One of the easiest ways to entertain is with mini tarts! You will find them in the frozen puff pastry section of the grocery store and you simply fill them with your favorite cheese, herb and nut mixture, bake for 10 minutes and voila. These mini tarts are filled with slices of brie cheese and topped with Wozz! Balsamic Fig Mostarda Spread and fresh thyme.
Recipe: Brie and Balsamic Fig Spread Mini Tarts Appetizer
- Summer Grilled Peach Pizza with Brie, Bacon and Basil - You don't have to wait until the holidays to bring out the brie, it's delicious when paired with summer fruits such as strawberries and peaches and is delicious on this summer grilled peach flatbread with Wozz! Balsamic Fig Spread, bacon and fresh torn basil.
Recipe: Summer Grilled Peach Flatbread with Brie, Fig Spread, Bacon and Basil
4. Cranberry Orange Cognac Chutney Paired with Brie Cheese
Wozz! Cranberry Orange and Cognac Chutney is a traditional cranberry chutney with an orange inspired twist! New England Cranberries are simmered in aromatic spices including cinnamon and allspice with hand candied oranges and a touch of cognac liquor. A classic holiday pairing for camembert or brie cheese, especially brie en croute and perfect when spooned over those leftover holiday chicken and turkey sandwiches! Below we paired our Cranberry Orange Cognac Chutney with pecans and pistachios and served over a warm camembert cheese with crackers.
5. Baked Brie Paired with Wozz! Wild Blueberry Maple Walnut Fruit Compote (with balsamic and rosemary).
This recipe is a home run. It turned out sooo good. For this baked brie appetizer we combined Wozz! Wild Blueberry Maple Walnut Fruit Compote which is made using wild Maine blueberries, pure maple syrup, toasted walnuts, fresh rosemary and balsamic vinegar with some additional fresh rosemary and toasted walnuts and simply spoon it over the brie after it was baked.
Recipe: Baked Brie with Wozz! Wild Blueberry Compote, Walnuts and Rosemary
So there you have it, our best handcrafted jams, compotes, condiments and savory spreads with nut toppings for brie cheese. For a quick recap of favorite toppings:
Baked Brie + Wozz! Wild Blueberry Maple Compote + Fresh Rosemary + Toasted Walnuts
Baked Brie + Wozz! Sour Cherry Spiced Wine Fruit Compote + Fresh Thyme + Toasted Pecans
Baked Brie + Wozz! Balsamic Fig Mostarda Spread
Baked Brie + Wozz! Cranberry Orange Chutney + Pistachios + Pecans
Baked Brie En Croute + Wozz! Triple Ale Caramelized Onion Spread + Bacon + Fresh Rosemary
Serve warm with toasted sliced french baguette or crackers.
Get The Set - Wozz! Best Spreads and Jams For Brie CheeseTrio
If you are looking for a gift for the cheese lover or for the hostess that loves to entertain, you may like:
Wozz! Cheese Pairing Gourmet Spreads Gift Set - A Set of 6 Condiments, Jams and Savory Spreads Designed For Perfect Cheese Pairings