Easy baked brie with apples and bacon is the perfect holiday appetizer recipe! It takes very little time to make, has tons of variations, and I'm showing you how... step by step!
Heat oven to temperature before adding the cheese. It's important the oven be fully preheated to 325°!
Dice the bacon and cook in an iron skillet or heavy frying pan over medium heat until crispy and golden brown.
Remove from the pan.
Drain bacon on paper towels and set aside.
Drain off all but about a teaspoon of the bacon drippings from the pan.
Melt butter in the same pan over medium - low heat and add the diced apples.
Saute apples about 2 minutes and then add the cinnamon, salt, and brown sugar.
Cook the apples mixture a few more minutes until tender.
Remove from heat and keep warm.
Place the brie wheel on parchment paper on a cookie sheet.
Carefully slice a thin layer of rind from just the very top of the wheel.
Bake in preheated 325° F oven for 8-10 minutes, or until the cheese is soft and melty.
Remove from the oven.
Slide baked cheese wheel on parchment paper onto your serving dish and spoon the apple mixture over the top of the brie. Add the bacon.
Surround baked brie with water crackers, baguette slices, apple slices, and other bread, favorite crackers, and "dip-ins" of choice.
Microwave Instructions
Cook the bacon and apples as directed and set aside.
Place the brie wheel on a piece of parchment on a microwave safe dish.
Carefully trim off a thin layer of the top (this isn't necessary - I just prefer it).
Microwave on high for 40 seconds - check to see if the cheese has melted.
Microwave in 10 -15 second increments until the cheese has gotten melty and gooey.
Remove from the microwave, transfer to serving dish, and top with the apples and bacon.
Notes
Expert Tip: You don't need an expensive brie for this! YAY! The toppings help take the flavor to the next level even if it's from the economy section.
If you happen to have one you can bake and serve this on a small, flat cast iron skillet. It looks very rustic and fun on the table!
The molten cheese is only going to stay gooey for about 10 minutes. If you'd like to keep it oozy longer use an oven-safe baking dish (ceramic) that you can bake and serve on. You can also warm it up in the microwave for a few seconds.
You can tell if the cheese is ready by looking at the center if you've trimmed the top rind off. If you've left the rind on then gently touch the center and you'll be able to feel if it's soft or not.
Ripe brie has a sweet odor. Overripe brie will smell like ammonia - take it back!
You will need an entire wheel of brie, not just a wedge.