Name: Baked Brie with Saffron Honey & Lemon Cured Fennel
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 6
Ingredients: Grape Leaf Whisky Brine; 8 grape leaves, rinsed; ¼ cup Irish whiskey; 3 tablespoons clear honey, preferably locally sourced; A pinch of saffron threads; 1 cup hot water; ½ small fennel bulb, shaved thinly; 1 tablespoon lemon juice; Pinch of salt; 1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds, reserved; 1 baguette, sliced about a ½” thick; 1 tablespoon olive oil; 1 garlic clove, halved; 1 8 oz wheel brie; 1 sprig thyme, leaves picked

Appetizers

Baked Brie with Saffron Honey & Lemon Cured Fennel

Author: Mary DiSomma

This honey and brie cheese appetizer is rustic yet elegant. It’s internationally inspired, bringing Mediterranean fennel, Irish whiskey, and Middle Eastern grape leaves together into one delicious bite. It’s unexpected and completely irresistible. Baked brie is one of those appetizers that feels really fancy, but is easy to prepare at home. The first time I made it, my friends couldn’t believe I was cooking with grape leaves, let alone soaking them in Irish whiskey!

This easy appetizer recipe also uses saffron. Saffron may be the world’s most expensive spice, but don’t let that scare you—you only need a few threads. You’ll let the saffron “bloom” in warm honey to release its golden color and earthy sweet flavor. Add some shaved fennel for an anise-like note, and voila! A baked brie cheese dish your guests will request again and again.

Baked Brie with Saffron Honey & Lemon Cured Fennel

Ingredient Tips

There are so many baked brie recipes out there. Most of them include jam, which is delicious, but I had to put my own little spin on this one—I couldn’t resist! This version depends on saffron honey and fennel for a more savory-sweet balance.

Whiskey-soaked grape leaves are wrapped around the brie, which adds fragrance and depth of flavor but also helps hold everything together in the oven. If you’ve ever wondered how to make baked brie that stands out on a baked brie charcuterie board, this recipe is for you.

Preparation + Preservation Tips

From start to finish, this simple baked brie recipe takes about 35 minutes, and that includes soaking the grape leaves. The baking time is only about 10 minutes. It’s the perfect last-minute baked brie easy appetizer for entertaining!

Don’t touch that rind! The rind on brie cheese is completely edible, and you never need to remove it. Not all cheese rinds are edible, but the rind on brie is. It’s a soft, white mold casing (made of Penicillium camemberti or P. candidum). This is known as a "bloomy rind."

The mold is applied during production, and it helps give brie cheese its uniquely complex and delicious flavor. What does it taste like? Slightly earthy and mushroomy. The mold also helps break down the cheese's fats and proteins—that’s where the creamy texture inside comes from.

If you must, you can gently peel back the top layer for serving if you prefer an extra-creamy center. I recommend enjoying it!

The ideal internal temperature of baked brie is 375 °F. I love my food thermometer!

If your brie feels too firm, it likely needs another minute or two in the oven. Press it gently in the center—it should feel soft but not collapse.

If your brie gets too soft—or even runny—it was in the oven a little too long. If this happens, it will still taste delicious. Serve it quickly while it’s warm and scoopable, or let it sit for a moment to cool slightly before serving.

Keeping the rind intact is key. Wrapping the brie (cheese, honey, and all) inside the grape leaves also adds an extra layer of protection. Make sure the leaves overlap—no gaps if possible—when you arrange them on the pan. Avoid slicing into the cheese wheel before you serve it up—let your guests break into it at the table for that perfect shareable moment.

You can prepare the grape leaves, fennel, and saffron honey ahead of time. However, the actual baking should happen just before serving. If you bake it in advance and let it cool, it won’t be warm and creamy anymore! Technically, you can rewarm it in the oven for a few minutes if you need to. However, I recommend enjoying the whole thing right away—it’s not quite the same if you bake it a second time.

Extra Tips

This baked brie cheese with honey pairs beautifully with a toasted baguette, crackers, fresh pears or apples, or some nuts and olives. It’s also lovely as part of a charcuterie brie spread. For more appetizer inspiration, make sure to try some of the recipes below!

Blini Recipe with Smoked Trout and Pickled Red Onion➝

Cambozola Cupcake Puff➝

Easy Miniature Puff Pastry Brie Fig Bites Appetizer➝

Easy Pickled Grape and Goat Cheese Crostini➝