Microwave Brie

Microwave Brie is a quick and easy way to pull an appetizer together! Effortlessly impressive with super easy steps, this is the solution to friends dropping in and last minute Christmas drinks. Microwaved baked brie is the way to get the guests fed, the prep time minimalised and the yum factor to the festive best!

Recipes like my Baked Brie with Garlic, Cranberry Brie and Baked Camembert with Cranberry Sauce are all cheesy ways (😂❤😉) to get the party started!

My Baked Brie with Honey gives you a non chutney based option to try.

🤍 Recipe Highlights

Everything that you will come to know and love about this recipe has been summarised in the points below:

• Super quick!
• Super easy!
• Fuss free and simple: whilst this recipe might look impressive (melting cheese always does right?), it is really very simple to bring it together!
• Easy ingredients: whilst they may not be everyday ingredients, they are indeed easy to get your hands on. Cheese, chutney, dried fruit and nuts, it is really that simple! (😘😍🥰).
• Party starter: the festive season is almost upon us and you need plenty of options to entertain. That, however, doesn't mean things need to take a lot of time and effort. Cut the labour and hard work out and give yourself a speedy fabulous appetizer that will kick off any party!
• 5 mins: if you have 5 minutes you have the time needed to make the recipe (😉).
• Taste and texture: the layering of ingredients is done to create textures that both contrast and compliment each other at the same time.
• Versatile: crackers are usually my go to when making baked brie or camembert, simply because all you need to do is open the packet and throw them on the plate. You can do the same or toasted a baguette and use that as you please.
• If in doubt, ready my top 2 points again 🤣🥰.

🥗 Ingredients

The photo below is to show you everything you need to make the recipe. Please refer to the printable recipe card for exact measurements and detailed instructions.

As you can see, the recipe calls for:

• Brie cheese: I use a 200 gram (8 ounce) wheel of brie cheese. It is slightly bigger than the standard size which does make a difference, especially when it is used as the centre piece. Everywhere from Walmart to Safeway, Tesco, Aldi, Woolies and Coles will sell the cheese. The wheels have a slight range from 200 grams (8 ounces) to 1kg (2.2 pounds). If you want to use a super huge wheel then you will need more quantities of each of the toppings. However, if you are sticking to a reasonably traditional size within that range, you will be fine with the quantities specified. 
• Fig chutney: you don't have to use the exact same chutney as me. However, for contrast, both visually and taste wise, I like to use one that is not overly sweet, is darker in colour and lends more towards savory flavours than sweet. See my substitutions and variations for more ideas about this ingredient and options.
• Dried cranberries: you can never go wrong with these throughout the festive season. They have great taste and texture. We use them in this recipe to contrast the smooth melty gooey cheese and provide sweet pops of colour and delight. Dried whole or chopped cranberries are best.
• Crushed nuts: my preference and recommendation to you is to stick to this type of nut for the recipe. It adds a light poetic detail that a chunky nut like a walnut doesn't and provides a great colour contrast to the maroon palette of the chutney and dried cranberries. However, as everyone has their own tastes, you can use your favourite as you wish😘 .
• Rosemary: an optional ingredient which is why I didn't include it in the photo above. We use it for a pop of colour but not as an edible component of the dish.

Tasty Tip: if you grow your own herbs and have thyme but not rosemary, use that instead. This recipe is quick, easy and has a last minute mindset. Don't drive to the shop to get this one ingredient when you can sub in another suitable one you already have! Don't grow any herbs? No worries, they won't be missed too much.

🍳 Instructions

Here at the step by step instructions to make the recipe. We start by using the microwave to 'bake', 'cook' or 'melt' the brie.

• Microwave the brie cheese for 1 min and 20 seconds (Photo 1)
• Layer the microwave brie with the fig chutney (Photo 2)
• Add crushed nuts (Photo 3)
• Next add the dried cranberries (Photo 4)

👩‍🍳 How to Make Microwave Brie

To make microwave brie, start by getting the cheese out of the fridge and unwrapping the packaging. This can be discarded. Gather the ingredients that you will be topping the cheese with and the crackers and place them near the serving board. Place the brie in the middle of a side plate, open the microwave door and put the plate in the centre of the turning circle.

Close the door and then set the timer for 1 minute 20 seconds. After this time, use a tea towel to remove the plate (hot) and place it next to the serving board.

Use a butter knife and slide it under the cheese, lift and transfer to the centre of the serving board.

Use a teaspoon to dollop the chutney onto the brie and the back of the spoon to spread it out into a layer to cover the top. (Be a little bit gentle here as the cheese is soft and squishy!).

Next sprinkle the crushed nuts on top of the chutney to form their own layer. Take the dried cranberries and decorate the top of the cheese with them, spreading them out a little.

Pull the leaves from the rosemary sprig and delicately place them onto the top of the cheese to finish it off.

👍 How to Guide

How to Store

Leftovers can be stored in a sealed, air tight container for up to 2 days.

How to Freeze

It is not recommended to freeze the cheese as this can lead to mixed results.

How to Reheat

If you want to reheat leftovers, place them on a plate and back into the microwave for 1 minute. It it not recommended to reheat the cheese more than once.

🍽 Serving Suggestions

Crackers or toasted bread, pick your favourite! You can use bagel chips, graham crackers or whichever chip, cracker or spreadable pairing you can think of!

😉 Substitutions and Variations

Here are my sub ins and outs that you might be thinking about as you read the post, options that all work well:

• Chopped dried figs, apricots or dates are all great toppings to try.
• Use jam in place of the chutney if you like.
• If you don't want to use chutney or jam, use honey or maple syrup.
• Chopped strawberries or whole fresh raspberries are great easy toppings you can try.
• Substitute thyme for the rosemary if you wish.
• Add additional chopped nuts like walnuts or pecans if you like. (Chopped is better so they are a finer detail than a whole hunk of nuts on top).

💡 Tasty Tips

Here are my top tips and tricks that I want to share with you so that you master the recipe from the get go:

• It is better to undercook rather than overcook the cheese initially. This is because overcooked cheese will ooze and go everyone (yum, but not practical). So follow the recommended time, but then heat for another 10 seconds (in increments) if you don't feel that the cheese is melted enough. If you push the top of it with your finger tip it should be soft and not push back too much.
• A cheese knife or other sharp knife is very handy to use when serving the cheese.
• If you want more than simply the cheese and crackers to serve pop a bunch of grapes on the serving board as an addition snack option.
• The cheese is best served as soon as you have decorated it. This is because it will be at melting point and easily dip or spreadable. As it sits, the cheese will firm up again at which point the eaters will have to cut into it and spread as opposed to dipping an dunking.

🤓 Frequently Asked Questions

Can you put brie in the microwave?

Yes, you can put brie in the microwave! It is a super fast and easy to way to heat the cheese for serving as baked brie. It takes much less time than the oven does to achieve the same thing.

Should brie be served warm or cold?

Brie can be served warm or cold. For cold serving ideas, try placing on a Grazing Platter or Charcuterie board. For warm serving ideas, try topping with jam or honey, nuts, bacon and dried fruits.

Can you eat raw brie?

Yes, brie cheese can be eaten raw. The white rind is also edible and does not need to be cut off the cheese for serving.

What jam goes with brie?

Brie cheese is very versatile in terms of pairing with jam.

You can try serving it with fig jam, raspberry jam, blueberry jam, blackberry jam or apricot jam. Each of these are sweet and taste delicious with the savory cheese.

😍 More Easy Appetizer Recipes

If you love entertaining and having ideas ready to start any party, then I have some more recipes that I think you will love. Here are some suggestions:

• Chive and Onion Cream Cheese
• Honey Walnut Cream Cheese
• Honey Pecan Cream Cheese
• Halloween Dip
• Christmas Dip
• Thanksgiving Dip
• Cream Cheese Pepper Jelly

You can also find all of my dips and spreads in the one spot or try my Grazing Platter if you are feeding a crowd.

Nuke it my friends!

Adrianne x

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