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.
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. This crispy air fryer Boursin recipe is another great cheesy air fryer appetizer.
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
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:
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.
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.
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
Here's what you'll need to make this recipe:
- 6-quart air fryer
- paring knife
- 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
I only remove the top outer rind of the brie so the melted cheese doesn't ooze out all over the air fryer.
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.
It is possible to overcook the brie, but since you're baking it in a bread bowl, you're less likely to overcook it.
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.
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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🍽Get the recipe
Bread Bowl Baked Brie with Fig Preserves
Equipment
- 6-quart air fryer
- paring knife
- dry measuring cups
Ingredients
- 1 round loaf sourdough bread
- 1 (8-ounce) wheel of brie cheese
- ½ cup fig preserves
- Fresh figs and rosemary sprigs (for garnish)
Instructions
- Place the brie wheel in the center of the top of the bread. Using a sharp knife, trace a circle around the brie into the bread. Remove the bread round and scoop out enough of the bread so the cheese wheel will fit into the hole.
- Cut 1-inch slices all around the circle, but not all the way through. Brush the bread with olive oil and set aside.
- Place the brie on a flat surface. Remove the outer rind from the top of the brie cheese and discard.
- Place the brie inside the hollowed-out bread and top with the fig preserves. Line the bottom of an air fryer with parchment paper or aluminum foil and preheat the air fryer to 375°F.
- Place the brie in the center of the air fryer basket. Air fry for 8 to 10 minutes or until the bread is toasted and the brie melts.
- Remove the bread bowl from the air fryer to a serving plate and garnish with the figs and rosemary. Serve warm.
Recipe guidelines and test kitchen tips
When developing and testing recipes, here are some key things that I do for more success in the kitchen:
- Be sure to use dry measuring cups for things like flour, sugar, and mayonnaise and a liquid measuring cup for things like water, milk, and broth.
- When measuring dry ingredients like flour and powdered sugar that can pack down, spoon the ingredient into a dry measuring cup and level with a knife as opposed to scooping the measuring cup into the ingredient.
- I test and develop recipes using a standard electric oven and standard gas stovetop. Be aware that if you use an electric stovetop or convection oven, your bake times will be different.
- When recipes call for kosher salt, I use Diamond Crystal kosher salt.
Food safety
Finally, don't forget to keep these food safety tips in mind when making this recipe.
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods.
- Never leave cooking food unattended.
- Follow the manufacturer's instructions when operating the air fryer.
Janice says
I don't have an air fryer..can this be made in a conventional oven? if so what are the directions?
AshleyFreeman says
Hi Janice! Yes, this can absolutely be made in a regular oven. Bake at 375°F for 8 to 10 minutes (if it's on convection) or a little longer if it's conventional.
Susan says
I’d like to make this for a Christmas gathering. What’s the downside to leaving the top crust of the Brie on?
AshleyFreeman says
Hi Susan! It'll still work, but you won't be able to dip the bread. The rind will hold all the gooey cheese in instead of making it easy to spread or dip.