Bread Bowl Baked Brie with Fig Preserves (Air Fryer recipe)

This air fryer baked brie in a bread bowl is the perfect appetizer recipe for the holiday season. Not only is it a crowd-pleasing dish the whole family will love, but it also frees up precious oven space when you're trying to get the rest of the holiday meal prepared. All you need is a wheel of brie or other soft cheese with a rind, your favorite preserves, and a round loaf of bread. I like to use sourdough, and I found a rosemary boule, which pairs perfectly with the flavors of the gooey cheese and fig preserves.

Air fryer baked brie in a bread bowl on a platter.

This recipe is perfect during the holidays, especially Thanksgiving and Christmas, but you can easily serve it for other special occasions. Everyone loves a charcuterie board, and this bread bowl would be a welcome addition.

Looking for other appetizer recipes? Be sure to check out my Old El Paso Layered Taco Dip, Carolina Caviar, Poke Nachos with Ahi Tuna, and Creamy Fried Dill Pickle Dip recipes. I also created the easiest appetizer for Yummly: Build-Your-Own Crostini Bar. You basically serve toasted baguette slices with store-bought convenience items like sun-dried tomato pesto, goat cheese, and marinated artichokes. It's so easy!

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Ingredients
Instructions
Substitutions
Variations
Equipment
Storage
Tasty tip
Frequently asked questions
Related
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Recipe guidelines and test kitchen tips
Food safety

Ingredients

Before we get started, let’s gather the ingredients we need for this air fryer brie recipe.

round sourdough bread loaf
wheel of brie cheese
fig preserves
olive oil
fresh figs
rosemary sprigs

(See recipe card for quantities.)

Instructions

Now that we’ve got our ingredients, it’s time to get cooking! Here are the step-by-step instructions:

Cutting slits in a hollowed out bread round.

First, hollow out a circle in the center of the bread loaf the size of the brie wheel. Cut 1-inch slits around the edges of the bread. Brush the bread with olive oil.

Removing the top of the outer rind from the brie.

Next, remove the outer rind from the top of the brie using a sharp knife.

Then, place the brie in the hollowed-out center of the bread and top with fig preserves.

Garnishing the air fryer baked brie with figs and rosemary.

Finally, bake in the air fryer until the bread is golden brown and the cheese is melty. Garnish with fresh figs and rosemary sprigs and serve warm.

Hint: Don't throw away the bread from hollowing out the bread bowl. Cut into large bite-sized pieces, coat with cooking spray, and add to the air fryer during the last 3 minutes of cooking. Or, save them for homemade croutons or breadcrumbs instead.

Hint #2: You can still make this recipe even if you don't have an air fryer. Just follow the instructions and bake in the oven instead. If you have a convection oven, use the convection setting. Otherwise, add a few extra minutes to the baking time.

Substitutions

Need to make some adjustments to this recipe? Here are a few suggestions:

Preserves - want to try other fruit preserves besides fig jam? Apricot preserves, raspberry preserves, and peach preserves are all great options. Instead of topping with fresh figs, garnish with the fresh fruit that coincides with the preserves.
Bread - if you'd like to use another type of bread besides sourdough, look for a crusty bakery bread. Multigrain or Italian bread are great options.
Herbs - don't have any fresh rosemary on hand? Fresh thyme or parsley are great substitutes.

Variations

Here are some more ideas to change up this recipe:

Mini brie appetizers - use mini brie rounds and bake in crusty white bread rolls.
Deluxe - top the baked brie with candied nuts like pecans, walnuts, or almonds.
Spicy - try spicy red pepper jelly instead of fig preserves.

Equipment

The main thing you'll need for this recipe is an air fryer. Mine has a wide surface area which I love because it allows the hot air to flow around the food more easily, and I can fit a lot more in it.

You'll also need a sharp paring knife or small bread knife and dry measuring cups.

Storage

Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. I recommend storing without the garnishes. To reheat, cover the bread with foil and heat in a low oven (about 300°F) until the cheese is melty again.

I don't recommend freezing.

Tasty tip

Caramelized onion jam is also fantastic as a topping. Slowly cook 3 to 4 sweet onions in butter until they begin to caramelize, seasoning with salt and pepper as they cook. Stir in a little balsamic vinegar and brown sugar or maple syrup at the end of cooking and adjust the seasoning as needed.

Frequently asked questions

Should I remove the rind from the brie before baking?

I only remove the top outer rind of the brie so the melted cheese doesn't ooze out all over the air fryer.

What is the best way to eat baked brie?

The great thing about this air fryer baked brie is that you can serve it as is--using the bread pieces like a pull-apart as a vehicle for the melted brie and preserves. Or, add it to a larger charcuterie board and surround it with fresh fruit, nuts, and other cheeses.

Can you overcook baked brie?

It is possible to overcook the brie, but since you're baking it in a bread bowl, you're less likely to overcook it.

Do you have to refrigerate brie after baking?

Yes, you'll want to refrigerate any leftovers after baking. After the brie cools to room temperature it'll harden. So, if you need to reheat it, I recommend placing it in the oven for a few minutes to melt the brie. Cover the bread with aluminum foil or a piece of parchment paper to prevent it from becoming too browned.

What is triple cream brie?

There are several types of brie you can buy at the store. You'll likely see double-cream and triple-cream which refers to the extra cream added to the milk when making the cheese. The percentage of butterfat determines whether the cheese is a double or triple cream.

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