This caramelized pear baked brie with pecans and thyme is the ultimate holiday appetizer! On top of melty brie cheese are flavorful caramelized pears, spiced pecans, and fresh thyme. This is the perfect appetizer for a holiday party, dinner party, or New Year's Eve!
The holiday season is upon us, and that means bring on all the pear recipes! Every year in the winter, I get a box of Harry and David pears. If you aren't familiar, they are the most buttery, juiciest pears ever that are in season in the fall and winter. I try to come up with a new recipe or food ideas using them every year. This year, I decided to transform my pears into this easy baked brie recipe - pear baked brie!
This caramelized pear baked brie is the best brie appetizer for this time of year! On top of gooey baked brie are caramelized pear slices, spiced pecans, and fresh thyme leaves. The pears are moist & delicious, whereas the pecans are crisp and flavored with warming winter spices. It is such an easy appetizer that looks like a showstopper!
If you love this brie recipe, you must try my garlic baked brie, baked brie with red pepper jelly, and brie mac and cheese.
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ingredients 🧾
Brie: You will need one 8-ounce brie wheel. Brie cheese can be found at most grocery stores in the specialty cheese section. I like to get my brie wheel from Costco because it is such a large wheel and great for large parties; however, for simple gatherings with fewer people, a smaller wheel will do. The most creamy brie is labeled double cream or even triple cream.
Pears: You will need 2 fresh pears for this pear baked brie. You can use bosc pears, anjou pears, bartlett pears, or forelle pears. All of these pears should hold their shape when caramelizing and won't become mushy. You want them to be cut in thick slices, but not so thick that they won't cook through. ½ inch is the perfect thickness.
Butter: You will need 2 tablespoons unsalted high-quality butter.
White Wine: Just ¼ cup of white wine adds layers of flavor and aroma to the caramelized pears. You can substitute the wine with a splash of lemon juice, balsamic vinegar, or fruit juice.
Maple Syrup: The maple syrup gives the caramel sauce a nice sweetness and allows the spices to stick to the pecans. The maple syrup is divided, 2 tablespoons in the pear mixture and 2 tablespoons in the pecans. You can use brown sugar, a drizzle of honey, white granulated sugar, or even agave. If you prefer things on the sweet side, add more sweetener to your liking.
Spices: You will need ½ teaspoon of ground cinnamon and ¼ teaspoon of ground cloves.
Pecans: Pecans are a great addition to this baked brie recipe. They add a nice crunch and nutty flavors. You will need ½ cup of pecans. You can also use crunchy walnuts, pistachios, or hazelnuts.
Thyme: Fresh thyme sprigs add that green touch to the dish. You will need 3 sprigs of thyme. You can also use fresh rosemary. Store the remaining thyme for another thyme recipe, like my honey thyme gin sour.
Find the full ingredient measurements and instructions in the recipe card below!
variations & substitutions 📖
Turn this appetizer into brie en croute. Brie en croute is brie that is wrapped in pastry. To do so, simply place brie in the center of puff pastry dough or croissant dough. Completely wrap the sides and top of the brie in the dough, sealing any openings. Bake in the oven for about 20 minutes until golden brown and gooey. To serve, cut brie cheese into wedges and enjoy!
Instead of baked brie, try baked camembert. Camembert and brie are very similar since they are both soft bloomy rind cheeses; however, brie has a milder, creamier taste, whereas camembert is stronger and earthier in flavor. Camembert can pair very well with savory flavors like the tomatoes, garlic, and herbs in this recipe. Simply substitute the wheel of brie with a wheel of camembert cheese.
Turn the caramelized pears into pear compote if you prefer a smoother consistency. Instead of pear slices, you can mash the caramelized pears until the fruit breaks down and becomes a compote. This is a good option if you are serving alongside crackers, so it can be a spread rather than whole fruit.
tips & tricks 👩🏻🍳
Use a brie baker. A brie baker is a ceramic or stoneware dish that is intended to fit a whole wheel of cheese. This makes it easy to serve the brie because it has walls to prevent the melted cheese from oozing out, but also shallow enough for people to cut and enjoy without burning themselves. My favorite cheese baker is the Staub covered brie baker; however, Le Creuset makes one too. If you don't have a brie baker, you can also use a pie plate, a baking sheet with parchment paper, or a baking dish.
Don't overbake the brie. You want the brie cheese to be just melted and gooey. Check it at 15 minutes by touching the surface of the center of the brie. If it easily pushes down, then that means the cheese under is melted and ready to eat. If you overbake it, it will become hard.
step by step instructions 🔪
Prior to starting, preheat the oven to 375°F.
Step 1 - Caramelize the pears. In a large skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add the pear slices, one cut side down, in a single layer. Saute for 3 minutes and then flip to the other side. Add 2 tablespoons of the maple syrup and white wine. Cook for another 4 minutes, stirring the pan to combine. The sauce should slightly thicken. Then remove from the heat and set aside.
Step 2 - Prepare the spiced pecans. In a small bowl, combine the pecans, the remaining 2 tablespoons of maple syrup, ground cinnamon, and ground cloves. Set aside.
Step 3 - Bake the brie. Place the brie in a brie baker or baking dish. On top of brie, add the caramelized pears and sprinkle the spiced pecans on top of that. Bake for 10-15 minutes until the brie is just melted and not oozing out.
Step 4 - Garnish & serve. Garnish with fresh thyme. Place the pear baked brie on a serving plate and enjoy!
serving suggestions 🍽️
Serve this pear baked brie on a serving dish while hot, alongside a cheese knife. Have your favorite crackers or crusty bread on the side for dipping.
Some great recipes to serve alongside this brie on an appetizer platter would be fried goat cheese balls and air fryer brie bites.
storage & reheating ⏲️
Store leftover brie in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. To learn more about storage methods and brie expiration, check out my post that answers how long does brie last.
The best way to reheat leftover brie is in the microwave. Reheat for 30 seconds to 2 minutes. A whole wheel of brie takes 2 minutes to reheat, so gauge the reheat time based on how much brie you have left.
faq’s ❓
No, leave the rind on the brie when making baked brie. The rind on brie is completely edible. It is important to leave the rind on the brie when baking it because that is the structure that keeps the melted cheese contained. Otherwise, the cheese would ooze all over and quickly harden.
Pears and brie go together amazingly! Brie is so buttery and rich, whereas pears are mildly sweet and crisp. Not only is it a pleasing textural contrast, but the flavors complement each other. With caramelized or roasted pear, the butter notes of the brie come out even more. You have to try this luxurious, delicious combination.
Baked brie is perfect for a cheese board! It can be an addition to a cold charcuterie board or a showstopper charcuterie board on its own. Simply place the baked brie on a charcuterie board alongside a brie knife with fruits, vegetables, sliced baguette, and crackers. Add some sweet jams like fig jam or apricot jam to pair with the brie.
more appetizer recipes
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recipe 📋
Caramelized Pear Baked Brie with Pecans and Thyme
This caramelized pear baked brie with pecans and thyme is the ultimate holiday appetizer! On top of melty brie cheese are flavorful caramelized pears, spiced pecans, and fresh thyme.
Ingredients
- Brie (8 ounce wheel)
- 2 fresh pears
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- ¼ cup white wine
- 4 tablespoons maple syrup (divided)
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground clove
- ½ cup pecans
- 3 sprigs fresh thyme
Instructions
1. Preheat the oven to 375F. In a large skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add the pear slices, one cut side down, in a single layer. Saute for 3 minutes and then flip to the other side. Add 2 tablespoons of the maple syrup and white wine. Cook for another 4 minutes, stirring the pan to combine. The sauce should slightly thicken. Then remove from the heat and set aside.
2. In a small bowl, combine the pecans, the remaining 2 tablespoons of maple syrup, ground cinnamon, and ground cloves. Set aside.
3. Place the brie in a brie baker or baking dish. On top of brie, add the caramelized pears and sprinkle the spiced pecans on top of that. Bake for 10-15 minutes until the brie is just melted and not oozing out.
4. Garnish with fresh thyme. Place the pear baked brie on a serving plate and enjoy!
Notes
Storage Instructions:
Store leftover brie in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Reheating Instructions:
The best way to reheat leftover brie is in the microwave. Reheat for 30 seconds to 2 minutes. A whole wheel of brie takes 2 minutes to reheat, so gauge the reheat time based on how much brie you have left.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 380Total Fat: 28gSaturated Fat: 6gUnsaturated Fat: 23gCholesterol: 15mgSodium: 5mgCarbohydrates: 29gFiber: 6gSugar: 19gProtein: 3g
All nutrition facts are estimations. Please see a physician for any health-related inquiries.
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