This Baked Brie in Puff Pastry with Hot Honey is an elegant holiday appetizer. The rich, melty cheese, wrapped in golden, buttery pastry, paired with sweet and spicy hot honey, creates an irresistible appetizer that's sure to impress at any gathering.
Why You'll Love This Baked Brie in Puff Pastry
The sweet-and-spicy hot honey, creamy melted Brie, and flaky puff pastry are hard to resist! The Brie turns wonderfully gooey in the center, while the puff pastry bakes up golden, crisp, and buttery. Much like our tomato cheese ball, this elegant appetizer looks impressive but is easy to make. It’s perfect for holiday gatherings, dinner parties, or anytime you need a crowd-pleasing appetizer that tastes as good as it looks!
-maria doss
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Baked Brie can be as simple as placing it in a cast-iron skillet, scoring the top, adding a delicious topping like cranberry orange sauce or fig jam, and baking until gooey. But I love wrapping it in puff pastry! The golden, flaky pastry makes it look extra special and adds a lovely contrast to the creamy, melted cheese. It also helps contain the Brie as it melts, while the pleated pastry edges create a natural little border to hold the warm honey.
Whenever I’m hosting and need an appetizer that looks impressive without a lot of work, baked Brie is one of my go-to choices, especially during the busy holiday season. It’s just as easy to serve as a cheese and fruit platter, but feels a little more special for parties and gatherings!
Best Brie For Baked Brie In Puff Pastry
When choosing Brie for this recipe, pay attention to two things: the size of the wheel and how ripe it is.
Ripeness: I prefer a slightly firmer Brie rather than one that feels very soft and ripe. Firmer Brie is easier to wrap in puff pastry and tends to hold its shape better as it melts, making it less likely to gush out when you cut into it.
Size: An 8-ounce wheel works well, but you can also use a larger 12- or 13-ounce wheel. You’ll usually find Brie in the specialty cheese section of most supermarkets.
Tips For Success
- Puff pastry: You’ll need one sheet of puff pastry. I recommend Pepperidge Farm, which is easy to find at most grocery stores. Let it thaw at room temperature for 1–2 hours before using, or follow the package instructions.
- Hot honey: I used my homemade hot honey recipe, which takes just two ingredients to make. If you prefer something sweeter or less spicy, apricot jam, red pepper jelly, fig jam, or orange marmalade are all delicious alternatives.
- Brie: Use an 8-ounce wheel or a larger 12- to 13-ounce wheel, preferably one that’s firm. To make sure you have enough pastry to wrap it neatly, cut a circle roughly the diameter of the Brie plus twice its height, with an extra 3 inches for folding and pleating the edges.
Baked Brie FAQ'S
No, there’s no need to remove the rind before baking Brie in puff pastry. The white rind is completely edible and helps the cheese hold its shape as it melts, making it less likely to spill out of the pastry. Once baked, the rind softens and blends into the creamy cheese, so you’ll barely notice it.
For easier serving, you can use a sharp knife to score a shallow crosshatch pattern into the top of the rind before baking. This helps your hot honey or other toppings settle into the cheese and makes it easier to scoop once you cut into it. Just be careful not to cut too deeply, as you want to keep the rind intact to help contain the melted Brie.
Yes! Baked Brie in puff pastry is a great make-ahead appetizer, especially when you're hosting. Assembling it ahead of time and chilling it helps keep the pastry cold, so it bakes up beautifully flaky and is less likely to leak.
Here are two easy ways to prepare it in advance.
Refrigerate for up to 1–2 days: Fully assemble the Brie in puff pastry, pinching the seams closed to seal. Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 48 hours. Skip the egg wash for now, as brushing it on too early can leave the pastry damp. Brush the outside with egg wash just before baking.
Freeze unbaked for up to 1 month: Assemble the Brie in puff pastry, but don't apply the egg wash. Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap, then in aluminum foil, or place it in a freezer-safe bag to protect it from freezer burn. Freeze for up to 1 month.
To bake from frozen, don't thaw the Brie first, as thawing can make the pastry soggy. Unwrap the frozen Brie, place it on a parchment-lined baking sheet, and brush with fresh egg wash. Bake as directed, adding about 5–10 minutes to the baking time, or until the pastry is golden brown and the cheese is melted.
No, there's no need to score the Brie when wrapping it in puff pastry. Keeping the rind intact helps the cheese hold its shape as it melts, while the pastry contains the gooey center. Cutting into the rind can create weak spots where the melted cheese may escape, especially if the pastry seams aren't tightly sealed.
Scoring is more useful when baking Brie without pastry, as it allows heat to reach the cheese more easily and helps prevent the sides from bursting. For Brie wrapped in puff pastry, leave the rind intact for a golden, flaky crust and a creamy, melted center.
Baked Brie in puff pastry is a crowd-pleasing appetizer that pairs beautifully with crunchy crackers, toasted bread, and fresh fruit. These sides make it easy to scoop up the warm, gooey cheese while adding a little crunch or freshness to balance its richness.
One important tip: Let the Brie cool for at least 20 minutes before serving. Cutting into it too soon can cause the hot honey to run out, and the melted cheese will be extremely hot.
Here are some delicious options to serve alongside:
Toasted baguette slices: Slice a baguette, brush the pieces with olive oil, and toast until golden and crisp. These sturdy, crunchy slices are perfect for scooping up the melted Brie. For more inspiration, check out our persimmon goat cheese crostini or tandoori chickpeas crostini.
Crackers: Water crackers, whole-grain crackers, or homemade almond flour crackers and even crispy breadsticks are all great choices. Choose sturdy crackers that can hold the melted cheese without breaking, and keep the flavor fairly neutral so the Brie and hot honey shine.
Fresh fruit: Fruit adds a refreshing sweetness that balances the rich, creamy cheese. Try grapes, sliced apples, pears, persimmons, or fresh figs for a delicious mix of flavors and textures.
Make the serving tips more actionableUse consistent Brie and honey wording
More Party Appetizers
Baked Brie in Puff Pastry with Hot Honey
Ingredients
- 1 sheet puff pastry thawed
- 8 ounces round firm Brie cheese
- 1 egg
- ¼ cup hot honey or more as needed
Instructions
- Pastry. Thaw the puff pastry sheet in the refrigerator. Lightly roll it out, then cut an 8- to 9-inch circle. Check the notes for ideas on using the leftover scraps.
- Assemble. Place the Brie wheel, with the rind on, in the center of the pastry circle. Brush the edges of the pastry with egg wash.👉 To make the egg wash, beat 1 egg with 1 teaspoon of water until well combined.
- Pleat. Fold the pastry edges over the brie, creating pleats as you go. Press the pleats together to seal.
- Chill. Place the wrapped Brie on a parchment-lined baking sheet and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to firm up the pastry and cheese before baking.👉 To make ahead, refrigerate the assembled Brie for up to 1–2 days. Just wrap it tightly in plastic wrap, then unwrap and continue with the next step when you're ready to bake.
- Bake. When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 425°F. Brush the outside of the pastry with egg wash, then bake for 20–25 minutes, or until deep golden brown and crisp.
- Assemble. Remove the Brie from the oven and place the baking sheet on a wire rack. Drizzle about 2 tablespoons of hot honey over the top, letting the pastry edges hold it in place. Let it cool for at least 20 minutes before serving. Drizzle some more hot honey before serving. 👉Don't want to use hot honey? Use apricot jam, red pepper jelly, fig jam, orange marmalade or cranberry sauce instead.
- Serving. Serve with your favorite crackers, toasted baguette slices, sliced apples, pears, persimmon, grapes or figs.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information, based on third-party calculations, should be seen as estimates, not guarantees, as various factors like product types, brands, processing methods, and more can alter the nutritional content in recipes.
How to make baked brie in puff pastry?
You can find full printable recipe below, but here is a quick overview of the procedure along with step-by-step photos.
Step 7 - Brush the outside of the pastry with egg wash to achieve a shiny, golden finish. Then, bake in a preheated 425°F oven until the pastry is golden and crisp.
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Hi, I’m Maria! I share easy, flavor-packed dinners, high-protein meals, and irresistible baking ideas. If you’ve ever asked, “Don’t know what to cook tonight?” you’re in the right place. And yes—there’s plenty here for breakfast, snacks, and dessert too. More about maria ->
