Easy Baked Brie with Figs and Honey ~ this elegant baked cheese is your ultimate Fall and holiday appetizer, but it’s so rich and decadent you could even serve it for dessert!

Famously successful hosts, last minute party-throwers, and those neighbors with an open door policy have a closely guarded secret ~ baked Brie. It’s the world’s easiest and most glamorous appetizer and it makes your guests feel welcome and well fed, all for a couple of minutes work on your part. Pretty smart, huh? This baked Brie with figs is the ultimate version!
There aren’t too many people on this planet who don’t appreciate the charms of molten cheese and a dribble of honey. This is the genius of this kind of app ~ it plays on everybody’s weakness. All you’re gonna need is a wheel of Brie, some figs, a few pistachios, and some good honey. You’ve got this.
you’ll need just 4 ingredients
- Brie cheese, in whole wheel form
- fresh figs, any variety
- pistachios
- honey
Figs are one of the oldest, and most luscious fruits. There are a few different varieties that you may come across, depending on the season, but I used the purple skinned Mission (or California) fig for this recipe. It has the softest, sweetest, most flavorful flesh. You can use any of them for this baked Brie, and it helps if they are ripe. But beware, figs are very perishable once ripe, so use them right away. Unripe figs will continue to ripen on the counter, like bananas.
- Mission, they’re the most common (purple skinned, syrupy sweet flesh)
- Adriatic (pale green with bright pink flesh, great for eating raw)
- Brown Turkey (elongated, with brownish skin)
- Calimyrna (green skin, brilliant pink interior)
- Kadota, the original ‘Fig Newton’ fig (yellowish skin, amber flesh)
Photo ยฉ Kenneth A. Wilson/Getty Images
how to keep figs from spoiling too quickly
Figs are incredibly delicate, so careful handling is in order. To preserve ripe figs for a few days, dunk them in a solution of 1 part vinegar to 3 parts water. Pat dry and store in a single layer the refrigerator on a paper towel, loosely covered. This works with delicate berries, too.
TIP: Unopened wheels of Brie will last a long time in the fridge, so stock up on a few at the beginning of the holiday season.
what type of Brie is best for baking?
When you’re baking Brie you don’t need to go for the expensive stuff, so don’t splurge. Your cheese is going to be runny and delicious no matter what, so I suggest going for a moderately priced brand.
This baked Brie with figs appetizer is stunning, and really fun to present to a crowd. And like I said up top, don’t be afraid to serve it for dessert, either! If you do decide to try it as dessert, I think it would be amazing with Carr’s Whole Wheat Crackers ~ they’re slightly sweet, kind of like an adult version of a graham cracker.
Wine pairings for Baked Brie with Figs and Honey
Whatever wine you choose, go for a dry variety to balance out the sweetness of the figs and honey.
- Champagne, if you’re in the mood to splurge
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Voignier (one of my favorite wines)
- Pinot Noir
Fresh figs are an exotic treat, even in this era when foods regularly travel across the globe, so when you see them, pick them up, a quick Internet search will give you tons of ways to use them. On my blog alone I’ve got everything from a ROASTED FIG GELATO recipe to an amazing FIG AND FRIED GOAT CHEESE SALAD. And don’t fret if yours go from perfectly ripe to ‘mature’ before you can use them, my CARDAMOM FIG JAM is a delicious solution.
make this baked Brie with figs your own
- You could use maple syrup or agave syrup instead of honey.
- You can slice the figs into round slices instead of wedges.
- Brush the figs liberally with melted jam (apricot works well) instead of the honey.
- If you love the combination of figs with Brie, try this recipe for Brie stuffed figs. But figs also go well with goat cheese, and this galette makes a gorgeous appetizer or vegetarian main course. If you want a simple decadent dessert, I love these Amaretto Soaked Figs, I’d serve them with a little whipped cream, yum. And did you know that you can make Homemade Fig Newtons? Let’s hear it for FIGS!
Easy Bake Brie with Figs and Honey
Ingredients
- 16 ounce wheel of Brie cheese
- 1/2 lb fresh figs
- 1/4 cup chopped pistachio nuts
- 1/3 cup honey
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F.
- Unwrap the Brie and place it in a shallow baking dish that you can also serve the cheese in. I like to use a pretty pie plate.
- Slice the figs into quarters. Arrange the quarters in a circular pattern on top of the Brie.
- Scatter with the pistachio nuts. Drizzle liberally with honey.
- Cover the cheese loosely with foil and bake for 20 minutes. The cheese should feel soft when you touch the side of the rind.
- Drizzle with more honey and serve immediately with crackers or thinly sliced bread and plenty of napkins.
What a stunner, Sue. I love fresh figs at this time of year.
I had a fig appetizer years ago at a local restaurant. Figs with blue cheese and balsamic vinegar, probably a reduction. Just tried to copy it, and served to friends. I think we all loved it, but would also like to hear your thoughts. Maybe a balsamic reduction?
I think that would be great, they even sell bottled balsamic reductions, to make it easier. What I like about that is the sweetness would be toned down.
And another thought is to use pomegranate molasses, one of my favorites!
This looks beautiful Sue and such a classic that we often forget about. Love this dish!
Thanks Vivki, and you’re right, it is kind of an oldie but goodie.
Your photos are so gorgeous. I really need to make brie. I haven’t ventured out yet.
You definitely need to try it, Brandi, it couldn’t be easier.
This is so beautiful I’d hate to eat it -but I will! This would blow people away at a Christmas party!
Dig right in, Jillian, it looks even better when the cheese is oozing out ๐
Holy moly. Four of my favorite things together in one dish. This appetizer looks so delicious! I can’t wait to make it this weekend for my dinner party! Beautiful photos!
Thanks Elaine, it really is begging for a party.
Wow! What a stunner of an appetizer and easy and delicious is just a huge bonus ๐ Need to have someone over soon to try this!
haha, sometimes I DO throw a party just because I want to make this…can’t justify eating it all by myself ๐ Thanks for stopping by Jennifer <3
I found this at the perfect time… our fig tree is full! Its so pretty too!
omg you are so lucky. There are lots of fig trees around here…I just don’t know anyone who has one…darn!
I can’t get enough of figs! This is an excellent way to enjoy them.
Thanks Christine ~ I think maybe a lot of people have never even tasted a fresh fig, they’re such a treat, and I didn’t discover them until I was an adult.
Baked brie is good stuff, isn’t it? And always impresses people. Well, at least those that haven’t made it themselves, so they don’t know how easy it is. Love the idea of topping it with figs — such a nice pairing. And yes, I think this would make an excellent dessert, too. Thanks!
It’s true, it does look so much more impressive than it is…but oh, that flavor!