Easy Air Fryer Brie with Honey & Thyme

by Kayla Berman on January 2, 2025 0 comments

If you’re in the market for a quick and easy 3-ingredient appetizer recipe, look no further than my Air Fryer Brie with Honey & Thyme! This sweet and savory naturally gluten-free cheese dish takes less than 5 minutes of prep but tastes like a million bucks.

The way I see it, every day is an opportunity to celebrate, especially when there are yummy snacks and awesome company to enjoy. This delightfully simple recipe for baked brie with honey is the perfect starter for any cool-weather gathering—from Thanksgiving and Christmas to Valentine’s Day and dinner parties.

Don’t get me wrong—I still love hors d’oeuvres that are a bit more involved, like my whipped brie cheese spread, puff pastry baked brie bites, and whipped ricotta crostini. But when it comes to last-minute marvels, making this honey baked brie in the air fryer is a no-brainer. Why? It’s absolutely foolproof.

Honestly, this gluten free baked brie couldn’t be simpler. Just unwrap the cheese, give it a quick spin in everyone’s favorite countertop appliance, then drizzle with honey and sprinkle with herbs. And, with such a barebones recipe to start, it’s easy to add your own creative flair with any number of toppings or fun dippers.

Want more easy, cheesy appetizer goodness? Try my baked goat cheese tarts, charcuterie skewers, and cream cheese stuffed bagel bites next!

Why You’ll Love This Air Fryer Brie Recipe

Quick & Easy – It’ll be ready in less than 20 minutes from start to finish!
Neat & Tidy – Since brie comes in an edible wrapper, you can get it all gooey and delicious without making a mess. Using the air fryer is also a great hack for the holidays when the oven is otherwise occupied!
Easily Customized – Sure, honey and brie is a stellar combo, but don’t feel limited. This is the perfect opportunity for a pantry raid! So long as you have a wheel of brie, you have lots of flavoring options to choose from. Read on below for lots of fun ideas.

Ingredients & Substitutions

As promised, you don’t need much to make this honey baked brie recipe:

Wheel of Brie Cheese – “Wheel” is the operative word here, as the rind is needed to hold all the soft and creamy goodness in; using a wedge is a recipe for a mess. Feel free to swap in another soft, rinded cheese like camembert.
Honey – While regular supermarket honey will do the trick, try to get ahold of some local honey. If possible, try to get some that comes from more interesting sources like buckwheat, orange blossom, or tupelo honey—it’s wild how different they all taste!
Fresh Thyme – I think the delicate leaves of thyme are absolutely beautiful, plus they impart a nice herbaceousness and complexity. Fresh rosemary or oregano are also lovely.

How To Air Fry Brie Cheese

Air frying brie is the simple entertaining hack you didn’t know you needed. Here’s how it’s done:

Step 1: Prep. Preheat the air fryer to 350 degrees F and line the air fryer basket with parchment paper. Remove the wheel of brie cheese from its packaging.

Step 2: Air Fry. Place the brie in the preheated basket and air fry for 10-15 minutes. 10 minutes will leave the brie cheese soft and spreadable, while 15 minutes will make the cheese more melty and ooey-gooey.

Step 3: Garnish. Remove the wheel of brie from the air fryer. Sprinkle on chopped fresh thyme and add a generous drizzle of honey.

Step 4: Serve with the dippers of your choice, like crackers, apple slices, or crostini. Enjoy!

round of unwrapped brie cheese in the air fryer on a piece of parchment.

baked brie cheese in the air fryer basket after baking; the edges of the rind are slightly golden.

Optional Variations

As I mentioned earlier, there are tons of ways for you to customize this air fryer brie recipe. Here are just a few ideas to get you started:

Swap in hot honey for a touch of tongue-tingling heat.
Use crispy bacon bits as a salty topper.
Swap in fruit preserves instead of honey, then pair with herbs that make sense. For example, make air fryer baked brie with strawberry jam, then use fresh tarragon to add a savory element.
Add texture with toasted nuts like pecans, walnuts, or sliced onions.
Opt for funkier camembert for a bolder, earthier cheese flavor.

Expert Tips

Preheating – Make sure to preheat your air fryer before putting the cheese wheel in there; this will ensure even cooking.
Timing Tips – The recipe card below offers a pretty wide range of 10-15 minutes bake time. If you prefer your cheese to be slightly softer and spreadable, aim for the lower end. If you prefer it to be ooey-gooey melty perfection, leave it in the extra 5 minutes.
Let it Rest – Giving your baked brie a minute to breathe before serving will ensure you don’t accidentally scald the mouths of your guests.
Clean-Up Crew – Use an air fryer liner to catch any errant oozy cheese; it’ll make cleanup so much easier!

Serving Suggestions

This easy air fryer brie recipe is delightful no matter which sides you choose to pair it with. I like serving it alongside:

Carb-y yums like crispy crackers, crusty bread, cheesy crescent roll garlic knots, or savory air fryer garlic bread are great for spreading the melty cheese on.
Fresh options like apple or pear slices or grapes offer a sweet contrast, which is great for getting cheese-a-phobes to dip their toes in.
Dried fruit and brie is also a winning combo—try dried apricots or figs for a sweet, chewy addition.

It’s also my preferred appetizer to serve before sitting down to a dinner party, while everyone is milling about with wine and cocktails. While there aren’t really any “wrong” moves here, some of my favorite elegant entrées that pair well with a cheese starter include:

A cozy Italian dish like spicy vodka pasta, oven braised short rib ragu, or turkey bolognese.
Fan favorites like marry me chicken pasta or creamy garlic parmesan chicken pasta.
Light n’ lovely options like a healthy chicken pomodoro skillet, baked pesto butter salmon, or baked parmesan crusted cod.
Super budget-friendly options like my easy boursin pasta or simple lemon parmesan pasta.

Storage and Reheating Instructions

Since we’re going for a meltier version of brie cheese with honey, this is a dish that is best served fresh. That said, you can totally wrap up leftovers for later!

Allow the brie to cool completely to room temperature (to prevent condensation from forming), then transfer to an airtight container.
Leftovers should keep well in the fridge for up to 3 days.
To rewarm, place the chilled cheese on an oven-safe plate (for easier cleanup) and air fry or bake at 350ºF until it reaches your desired level of doneness, about 8-15 minutes.

FAQs

How long do you put brie in the air fryer?

This no pastry air fryer baked honey brie recipe gives a range of 10-15 minutes depending on how gooey you like your cheese. Leave it in for longer if you prefer it nice and melty, or less if you prefer it to remain sliceable but spreadable.

Do you take the rind off brie before baking?

Nope! Not only is the rind edible, it also helps ensure the cheese doesn’t melt all over the bottom of your air fryer.

What is the best way to warm brie?

As far as I’m concerned, you can’t do better than warming your brie in an air fryer! It’s by far the quickest, least messy way to do it that I’ve found.

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If you make this baked brie recipe or any of my other recipes, I would absolutely love to know! Tag me @wellnessbykay on Instagram so I can see and share your recreations.

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