This brown sugar baked brie recipe is to die for – brandy and brown sugar soaked into pecans and toasted over this buttery, ooey gooey brie. Served with apples or crackers, and just 5 minutes to prep, this dish is an easy appetizer for any get together. My mouth is watering just thinking about it.
This brown sugar brie cheese can be served as a standalone appetizer, but it also makes a lovely accompaniment to a charcuterie board or charcuterie cups. It takes just 5 minutes to prep the day before and bakes up within just a few minutes when guests are arriving. I serve this several times throughout the year, but always when my girlfriends come for my annual Halloween party and murder mystery night.
It’s also a fabulous recipe to serve before an elegant meal, like air fryer cornish hens and duchess potatoes.
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🧀 Ingredients:
- Brandy – You can use your favorite brand of Brandy. The alcohol content will burn off during cooking, and the flavor is perfect with the brown sugar and the brie. I have tried the recipe with rum as well, but the flavor really is a bit too strong. Stick to the brandy.
- Pecans – oh my, I feel like pecans and brown sugar were made for each other. They are just so good together – add in the punch from the brandy and the buttery balance of the cheese, and this is a combo not to be altered. We use plain, raw pecans to soak up the brandy mixture and then they are baked.
- Brown Sugar – The light brown sugar is a must in this recipe – the sweetness turns the pecans into delicious crunchy bits of candy to contrast with the cheese.
- Brie – You can use a regular (smaller) wedge of brie for this recipe, but I’ve adjusted the recipe so that I have enough pecans to cover a big ‘ol Costco size round of brie (that’s about 20 ounces!) It ALWAYS gets eaten. Choose a brie that is not coated with any other herbs, nuts, or spices. You also do not want a mold infused brie (one that is a hybrid of bleu cheese and brie). Use a plain brie or even a double cream brie. Yummmmm.
For a full list of ingredients and their measurements, 📋 please view my printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.
Optional Garnish:
Baked brie pecans can be served with crescent rolls, baguette slices, green grapes (or other fresh fruits) and your favorite cheeses.
Substitutions and Variations
- Nuts: walnuts would also go great in this delicious appetizer.
- Pomegranate seeds: Add these on top if you are making this appetizer recipe for a winter holiday party or Thanksgiving dinner for a little extra flair.
- Maple syrup: if desired use in place of the brandy to make maple pecan brown sugar brie as a non-alcoholic option.
🔪 Instructions:
Step 1: In a small bowl, combine sugar, pecans, and brandy.
Step 2: Cover and soak for at least 4 hours or overnight.
Step 3: Place the large wheel of brie in an oven-safe dish or cast iron skillet. Preheat oven to 500 degrees.
Step 4: Pour the sugar mixture on top of the wheel and bake for 6-8 minutes or until the pecans are golden brown and the creamy brie is warm and soft.
Pro Tip: Make sure your dish is oven safe so it holds up in the 500 degree oven.
SERVE: Serve with your other favorite appetizer, or keep it simple and use baguette slices, fruit, and mild cheese.
- Do not skip the soaking time. It really allows for the rest of the ingredients to soak up all of the flavor.
- Because you can make the sugar mixture ahead of time and soak overnight, it’s one of my favorite easy holiday appetizers.
- You do not have to remove the top rind of the brie, unless you prefer to.
- We are baking at a high temperature so be sure your baking dish can handle that. If not, use a baking sheet lined with parchment paper then transfer to a serving dish. A pie plate also works great to hold the pecans dripping over the sides of the cheese.
- If you are adding to a charcuterie board, jazz it up with fresh rosemary or fresh thyme to add a little green.
Fun Fact
The white rind around the top of the cheese is Penicillium candidum, which is mold, but is considered a delicacy in France. – Mashed
Recipe FAQs
Brie is a soft cheese named after the French region from which it originated. It’s made from cow’s milk and is known for its creamy texture, pale color, and edible rind. Brie has a mild, somewhat earthy flavor that can vary depending on the ingredients and aging process. It’s a popular cheese for spreading on crackers or bread, and it pairs well with fruits like apples and grapes, as well as a variety of red and white wine. Brie is often served at room temperature, this is a great way to get the most out of the flavors.
Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. You can eat it cold, but it’s pure heaven when it’s warm.
After about 15 minutes, it will begin to harden back up. But you can heat it in the microwave for a few seconds to get melty cheese again.
If you tried this Brown Sugar Baked Brie Recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how you liked it in the 📝 comments below.
Brown Sugar Baked Brie with Pecans
Ingredients
- 1 cup pecans whole
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- ½ cup brandy
- 13 oz. French brie
Instructions
- Combine brandy, brown sugar, and pecans in a bowl.
- Cover and soak in refrigerator overnight (or a minimum of 4 hours).
- Place brie in an oven safe container such as a small pie plate or baking dishing.
- Preheat oven to 500 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Pour pecan mixture over the brie and place in oven. Bake for 6-8 minutes or until pecans are toasted brown and brie is warm and soft in the center. (Cover the pecan top with aluminum foil to prevent the nuts from burning if you are using a larger piece of brie that needs longer to warm through.)
- Remove from oven and serve immediately with crackers, apple slices, and/or bread.
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Comments & Reviews
Lucky Woman says
Delicious, but brandy caught fire in my oven. I recommend 425f for 8 minutes