It’s festive, a total crowd pleaser, you can use a good value brie, and it takes just 3 minutes to make. This is basically a baked brie appetizer except it’s microwaved and you can’t tell the difference at all. You don’t need a recipe video to learn how to make this – but you should watch it anyway, just to catch the first and last 5 seconds….
I’m officially in holiday mode! I never know exactly when it will hit me, but it always eventually does. When I stop setting my alarm and yet I still wake up at 6 am every morning (?). When I hit the beach with Dozer every single morning to meet up with his “family”, a congregation of anywhere between 5 – 20+ golden retrievers in the area. When I notice that everyone is in a good mood. More people smile at you on the street, and even though the shops are so crowded, no one is huffing and sighing loudly in the check out queues no matter how long they are. (OK I lie, some people still do and said person may be one of those people that sometimes does, because even though I’m in holiday mode, I do still have a tendency to put myself on a schedule of some sorts, albeit more of a social rather than work schedule).
So because I’m in holiday mode, today I’m sharing something that is ridiculously fast and easy. Truth be told, I did make and take lots of photos of a few other things – nuts, mulled wine – but I just wasn’t 1000% happy with the recipes. I can do better. So next year. I’ll share them next year.
For this year, you’ll just have to make do with this – my 3 Minute Melty Festive Brie. Aka a super speedy Baked Brie appetizer.
You don’t really need a recipe for this. All I do is pop a brie or camembert in the microwave for 1 minute 15 seconds on high, or until it’s melted. It’s really easy to tell – just prod it in the centre and it will feel really soft and….er….well, it will feel melted. ♀️
Then top it with roughly chopped pecans, pomegranate seeds and pour over maple syrup. And that’s it!
Hmm. Maybe it’s not even 3 minutes. It might be 2 minutes 30 seconds. I didn’t factor in the time it takes to unwrap the brie / open the packet of pecans (get ’em crushed if you seriously want to save time) / wack the pomegranate seeds out / pull the bottle of maple syrup out of the cupboard. But you get the idea. The actual construction time of the brie is definitely less than 3 minutes.
Oh! Quick tip: This is how to get pomegranate seeds out – just cut in half, then over a bowl, wack the pomegranates with a wooden spoon and the seeds will come flying out into the bowl. Every time I do this, I get a ridiculous childish sense of satisfaction / want to giggle.
I topped this brie with pecans, pomegranate seeds and maple syrup. I really do think that is a stellar combination – the creamy savoury brie, the juicy fresh pops of pomegranate, the warm nuttiness of pecans and woody sweetness of maple syrup – but you can totally tailor it to your own taste or whatever you have. My formula is to use something nutty for texture, something syrupy for sweetness and some kind of fruit for freshness / juiciness.
So there you have it! This is one of my greatest secret weapon starters revealed. It looks fantastic, you don’t need to use an expensive brie/camembert for this (in fact, I encourage you not to), it’s adaptable to your taste, it takes minutes to make, and it makes you look like a rockstar! – Nagi x
PS I have no idea what to call this. It really is essentially a baked brie appetizer except it’s not baked. But really, I bet no one would ever know whether this was baked or microwaved.
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Baked Brie is, quite simply, the best melted cheese in the world. When you cut through the rind and the inside comes pouring out like lava, you’ll forget all your troubles. It’s like cheese-aholic heaven!
3 Minute Melty Festive Brie (Speed Baked Brie)
- ▢ 1 (250 g / 8 oz) whole brie (Note 1)
- ▢ 1/4 cup roughly chopped pecans , roasted (Note 2)
- ▢ 1/4 cup pomegranate seeds
- ▢ 1/4 cup maple syrup
- Unwrap brie and place on a small microwave-proof plate with a rim (so maple syrup doesnt go everywhere).
- Microwave on high for 1 minute 15 seconds, or until the brie is very soft when you prod the centre. Watch the brie as you microwave it – if it starts to puff up too much (i.e. risk of bursting), turn microwave off and leave brie inside – residual heat will continue to melt it.
- Top with pecans, pomegranate seeds and maple syrup. Serve immediately with crackers of choice (choose ones suitable for scooping). I serve this with a spoon and/or small pate knife.
How to Heat Brie
FAQ
Is it OK to melt brie cheese?
What happens if you microwave brie?
What happens when you overcook brie?
Are you supposed to remove the rind from brie cheese?
Can brie cheese be melted?
If you want the brie to melt evenly, then it’s recommended to remove the rind. However, if you prefer to eat the rind, you can opt to keep it on while heating. These simple steps will get you a perfect melted brie cheese. There are several methods to heat up brie cheese, such as oven, microwave, and stove.
Can brie cheese be heated?
Brie cheese tastes best when baked or heated to produce a warm and gooey texture. Choosing the perfect brie cheese for heating should be the first step. While triple-cream cheese is the best option, any brie cheese with a fat content between 75%-85% will also do the trick.
How do you know if brie cheese has gone bad?
Thankfully, brie is one of those cheeses that provides signs it is past its prime. When buying Brie, don’t be shy. Pick it up and poke it a bit. If you can, peel back some of the wrapping to see how it looks and take a whiff. The odor is a sure sign the cheese has gone bad. Here are things to look for:
Can brie cheese be served cold?
Brie cheese is a popular appetizer that can be served with crackers, bread, or fruit. It’s a soft and creamy cheese that can be served cold or warm, depending on your preference. If you want to serve it warm, there are several ways to heat it up. Heating up brie enhances the flavor and makes the cheese oozy and irresistible.