There are times in life when only cheese will do—and for me, that time is often. I’ve been known to spend far too much time and money indulging my love of cheese. My favourite place for a proper cheese fix is The Stinking Bishops in Enmore—a small, dimly lit bar where you can sit all afternoon, taste your way through a cheese board, and sip wine until you feel like you’ve truly cracked the code to happiness.
But as much as I’d love to live on washed rind and triple cream, the budget (and my better judgement) doesn’t always stretch that far. So when I’m not frittering away my son’s future inheritance on artisan cheeses, I keep a humble supermarket Brie in the fridge. And when the moment’s right, I fancy it up into something a little bit special—like this baked Brie with honey, figs, walnuts and thyme.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Quick and easy – on the table in under 15 minutes.
- Looks impressive – perfect for guests, but secretly effortless.
- Customisable – swap the toppings depending on what’s in season.
- Crowd-pleaser – who doesn’t love gooey, melty cheese?
Ingredients
- Brie
- Fresh figs
- Walnuts
- Honey
- Fresh thyme
- Black pepper
Substitutes
- Brie – Camembert works just as well; just make sure it’s one that melts nicely.
- Figs – Try slices of fresh pear or roasted grapes when figs aren’t in season.
- Walnuts – Pecans, hazelnuts or almonds make a great swap.
- Honey – Maple syrup or a drizzle of balsamic glaze adds a lovely twist.
What to Serve With Baked Brie with Figs and Honey
- Drinks: Try a glass of dry sparkling wine, a crisp rosé, or a light red like Pinot Noir.
- On the side: Serve with seeded crackers, crusty sourdough, or grilled slices of baguette.
- Add to a grazing board: Pair with prosciutto, grapes, olives, roasted almonds, and a few pickled things
- It’s also a brilliant addition to festive gatherings—just double the recipe if you’re feeding a crowd.
Final Thoughts
This baked Brie might start with a simple supermarket cheese, but it ends up tasting like something far more indulgent. With just a few seasonal toppings, you can turn a humble wheel of Brie into the star of your next gathering. It’s rich, gooey, sweet and salty — the perfect appetiser for when you want maximum impact with minimum effort. If you enjoy entertaining with those sweet and savoury flavour combinations, my Shallot Tarte Tatin with Honey, Rocket, Goat Cheese and Walnuts has a lot of that same appeal.
Baked Brie with Figs and Honey
Equipment
- 1 Baking dish
Ingredients
- 1 wheel of Brie around 200g
- 3 fresh figs quartered
- 2 tbs walnuts roughly chopped
- 12 tsp honey to taste
- a few sprigs of fresh thyme
- crackers or crusty bread to serve
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 180°C (fan-forced) or 200°C (conventional).
- Place the wheel of Brie on a small baking tray or ovenproof serving dish lined with baking paper.
- Bake for 10–12 minutes, or until the centre feels soft and gooey when gently pressed.
- While the Brie is baking, toast the walnuts in a dry frying pan over medium heat for 2–3 minutes, shaking the pan frequently until golden and fragrant.
- Carefully transfer the warm Brie to a serving plate (or leave it in the baking dish if it looks good enough to serve).
- Top with the fresh figs, toasted walnuts, a drizzle of honey, and sprigs of thyme.
- Serve immediately with crackers or crusty bread.
Video
Nutrition
Other Appetiser recipes you might like!
- Smoked Trout Rillettes
- Creamy Beetroot Dip with Feta and Walnuts
- Stracciatella Cheese with Tomato Confit
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