Baked Brie with Cherry Preserves: An Easy, Elegant Fall Appetizer
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Author: Andy LaPointe - Co-Founder of Traverse Bay Farms
- Total time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings (as an appetizer)
- Texture and flavor: warm, molten brie under sweet-tart cherry preserves
- Key ingredients: Traverse Bay Farms Cherry Preserves (or Cherry Jam or Cherry Jalapeno Jam), brie, crackers or baguette
- Skill level: Easy
- Best occasion: fall gatherings, cheese boards, and cozy happy hours
- Make-ahead note: this baked brie with cherry preserves comes together in minutes and is best served warm
Quick Summary
Baked Brie with Cherry Preserves is the appetizer that looks impressive but takes about twenty minutes. A wheel of brie bakes until soft and molten, then gets crowned with a glossy spoonful of Traverse Bay Farms Cherry Preserves. Serve it warm with crackers or toasted baguette and watch it become the centerpiece of any fall gathering.
Prep and Yield
Total time: 20 minutes
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 12 to 15 minutes
Yield: 8 appetizer servings
Skill level: Easy
Ingredients
- 1 wheel of brie, 8 to 12 ounces
- 1/3 cup Traverse Bay Farms Cherry Preserves
- 1/4 cup chopped toasted pecans (optional)
- 1 tablespoon Traverse Bay Farms Cherry Jalapeno Jam (optional, for a sweet-heat topping)
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves (optional)
- Crackers, toasted baguette slices, and apple or pear slices, for serving
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 350 degrees F. Place the brie on a parchment-lined baking sheet or in a small oven-safe dish.
- Score the top rind lightly in a crosshatch, or leave it whole for a firmer shape.
- Bake 12 to 15 minutes, until the brie is soft and gives when gently pressed but still holds its shape.
- Warm the Cherry Preserves for a few seconds so it spoons easily. If you want a little heat, stir in the Cherry Jalapeno Jam.
- Transfer the brie to a serving board and spoon the cherry preserves over the top. Scatter with toasted pecans and thyme.
- Serve right away with crackers, toasted baguette, and fruit slices while warm and melty.
Chef's Tips
- Texture: watch the brie closely; you want it soft and warm inside, not fully collapsed into a puddle.
- Flavor boost: toasted pecans add crunch and a nutty contrast to the sweet cherry preserves.
- Serving: bake in an oven-safe dish if you prefer a scoopable, fondue-style brie.
- Timing: bake it just before guests arrive so it is warm and molten when served.
- Traverse Bay Farms tie-in: swap the topping for Peach Spread for a mellow, stone-fruit version.
Nutritional Highlights
- Cherries are naturally a source of plant compounds that fit a normal, healthy lifestyle.
- Brie is a satisfying source of protein and calcium for a small appetizer serving.
- Real fruit preserves give the topping its color and flavor from actual cherries.
- Served as small bites, it is easy to enjoy a mindful portion.
Behind the Recipe
This is the appetizer I reach for the moment the evenings get cool enough to have friends over. It started years ago as a way to dress up a wheel of brie with whatever was in the pantry, and a jar of Cherry Preserves turned out to be the perfect partner. Now it is the dish people ask me to bring, and it takes almost no effort to pull together in a Northern Michigan kitchen.
The magic is in the contrast. Warm, molten brie is rich and savory, and the sweet-tart cherry preserves cut right through it, while a scatter of toasted pecans adds crunch. Baking the brie just until it softens keeps it scoopable without losing its shape, and warming the preserves means they spoon over in a glossy, even layer. It is simple, but it always feels special.
How to Serve
- Set it out on a board with crackers, toasted baguette, and apple or pear slices.
- Make it the centerpiece of a larger fall cheese and charcuterie board.
- Pair with a crisp white wine or sparkling cider.
- Offer a small spoon so guests can scoop extra cherry preserves onto each bite.
How to Store and Make Ahead
Baked brie is best served fresh and warm, but you can do all the prep ahead so there is nothing to do but bake when guests arrive.
Make ahead: set out crackers, slice fruit, and measure the preserves up to a few hours before.
Fridge: refrigerate leftover baked brie up to 2 days in an airtight container.
Reheat: warm gently in a 300 degree F oven just until soft again; brie does not freeze well once baked.
Shop the Traverse Bay Farms Products in This Recipe
The topping starts with our Cherry Preserves. For a sweet-heat version, add our Cherry Jalapeno Jam, and for a mellow stone-fruit twist, try our Peach Spread.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Choose Traverse Bay Farms
- We ship nationwide, straight from our team to your door.
- Our preserves are made with real fruit and big, spoonable pieces.
- We are a family-owned brand rooted in Northern Michigan orchard country.
- Our fruit foods have earned national awards for flavor and quality.
What Customers Are Saying
"I brought this to a get-together and it disappeared in minutes. The cherry preserves over warm brie is perfect."
— Diane K., Saint Louis, MO
"So simple and it looks so fancy. The Cherry Jalapeno Jam is the star. This is my new go-to appetizer."
— Paul R., Cleveland, OH
Recipe by Traverse Bay Farms.
