These Fried Brie Bites are the absolute tastiest appetizer! They're crispy, golden, and flavorful on the outside. When you bite into them you get warm melted ooey gooey brie cheese oozing out. They are SO quick and easy to make—they only need about 30 seconds to fry and turn golden brown!
Fried brie makes an amazing holiday appetizer. Serve these brie bites with cranberry sauce or balsamic glaze for dipping, or drizzle with honey. So good!!
Oh, and if you like brie, be sure to check out this no-cook whipped brie appetizer!
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More fried appetizers to try: Fried Enoki Mushrooms
Fried brie bites
Let me tell you why this is the best fried brie recipe out there.
Not only is it crazy simple with just 5 ingredients (4 if you don't count the cooking oil, 3 if you leave out the milk) and absolutely delicious with melted oozy brie inside the crispy golden breading crust... but it's also the EASIEST way to make fried brie.
Here's why:
Most other recipes have you dredge the brie in breadcrumbs, then freeze the brie pieces. In this recipe, you freeze the brie pieces first, then dip the frozen brie into an egg mixture and then into Italian breadcrumbs.
Then you fry for 30 seconds (that's it!!), and your fried brie appetizer is ready to serve!
This is WAY EASIER because I find that when I freeze breadcrumb-coated food, some of the breadcrumbs fall off and make a mess. Since you're freezing un-breaded brie, there's no breadcrumb mess and all the breadcrumbs stay on the brie while frying.
Related recipe: Blue Cheese Spread with Roasted Grapes
More fried appetizer recipes: Avocado Tempura
Ingredients
For the fried brie:
- 12 oz brie (2 small wheels or one large wheel)
- 1 egg
- 2 tablespoons milk (optional - but I like the slightly less eggy dip so I dilute it with a splash of milk)
- ¾ - 1 cup seasoned Italian breadcrumbs
- Vegetable oil for frying (~2 cups or more, depending on the size of your pan or saucepan)
Ideas for serving:
- Balsamic glaze (by far my FAVORITE dip for fried brie!!)
- Cranberry sauce (for a fun Thanksgiving appetizer)
- Blackberry bourbon jam
- Honey for drizzling
- Hot honey (make sure to label this so your guests don't think this is regular honey!)
- Hot pepper jelly
You'll also need:
- Metal or silicone tongs (not plastic!)
- Metal slotted spoon (optional)
- Small saucepan or small pan with high sides, for frying
- 2 medium bowls
- 2 large plates lined with paper towels
Related recipe: Cheesy Grits Fritters
Instructions
Step 1: Chop the brie into ~1-inch bite-sized pieces, separate the pieces so they're not touching each other, and freeze them until solid (at least 1-2 hours). It is easiest to cut brie if it is straight from the fridge, or even frozen for 5 minutes (don't forget about it or it will freeze solid!). I like to just arrange the brie pieces on the waxy/metallic packaging paper so it doesn't stick to the cutting board or plate while freezing.
More brie appetizers: Pear & Brie Puff Pastry
Step 2: When ready to fry brie, set up 2 bowls: one with whisked egg mixed with milk, the other with the Italian breadcrumbs.
Step 3: Dip the frozen brie pieces in the egg mixture, then coat each piece completely in the breadcrumbs mixture. I like to use tongs to do this so my hands don't get eggy and breadcrumby.
Step 4: Add the oil to a small saucepan or to a small pan with high sides. You'll want at least a couple of inches of oil in the pan so that the breaded brie pieces are completely submerged in oil. Get the temperature hot enough so that when you dip a wooden toothpick into the oil, small bubbles form immediately. If bubbles don't form, the oil is not hot enough.
Step 5: Use tongs to gently add breadcrumb-coated brie pieces into the hot oil. I recommend only adding 2-4 pieces at once because these cook FAST. Fry for about 30 seconds—no more than 1 minute—or until golden brown on the outside. If you cook the pieces too long, they will ooze melted cheese out of the crust.
Use a metal slotted spoon or tongs to remove the fried brie and place them on a plate lined with paper towels to absorb any excess oil.
Step 6: Repeat step 5 until all the brie pieces are fried. Serve warm with your favorite dipping sauce!
Related recipe: Fried Chicken Hearts
Tips for frying brie (read this before you get started!)
Frying brie is easy once you get the hang of it, but here are a few important tips to read before you get started:
- Work quickly and make sure the brie pieces are still frozen when frying them. If not, the brie will melt before the breadcrumbs are fried, and the melted brie will ooze out of the breadcrumbs. So only take out as many brie pieces from the freezer as you can dip, dredge, and fry within a few minutes. Then get more pieces out.
- Brie should only be fried for about 30 seconds, or up to 1 minute, so that the breadcrumbs turn golden brown but the cheese inside does not melt completely. Because of this, I recommend frying only 2-4 pieces at a time, so you have time to remove them from the hot oil before they melt too much.
- Use a slotted metal spoon to remove the fried brie from the hot oil. If you use tongs, Do NOT squeeze too hard with the tongs when you remove the brie pieces, otherwise you will squish them. They're super soft when coming out of the oil!
More gourmet cheesy appetizers: Burrata Toast
Related recipe: Cheesy Chicken Corn Dip
What to serve with fried brie
Fried brie makes a great addition to any appetizer tray or cheese plate for the holidays, or for any party. We love dipping brie bites into cranberry sauce for Thanskgiving, but my FAVORITE way to serve fried brie is to dip them into balsamic glaze. I am addicted to this stuff, and the combination of crispy fried breadcrumbs, savory melty brie, and a sweet and tangy balsamic glaze is the absolute best.
Fried brie is also good when drizzled with honey, or if you like things spicy, you can drizzle some hot honey or hot pepper jelly on top.
Fried brie is good when served on crackers with a smear of fig or blackberry bourbon jam (or with the above drizzle options!).
If you want more delicious fancy-pants appetizers to serve with fried brie, try these Roasted Grapes with Whipped Blue Cheese Crostini (they have balsamic glaze too!), Toasted Baguette with a Creamy Seafood Spread, or this Lox Appetizer Platter.
For some really EASY appetizers (I'm talking ridiculously easy), try this 5-minute Roasted Garlic Dip (without any roasting!), these Kielbasa Bites, or this Salami Appetizer.
Related recipe: Roasted Tomato Pesto Crostini with Balsamic Glaze
Can you fry brie in an air fryer?
No, fried brie does not come out good in the air fryer. This is because the amount of time to get the breadcrumbs to turn golden brown in an air fryer is too long, and the brie cheese inside melts completely. It's a mess.
See how it came out for me, so you don't have to make the same mistake I did:
Related recipe: Goat Cheese Grilled Cheese with Blackberries
If you enjoyed this brie appetizer, let me know with a comment and a star rating below. And don't forget to share it on Facebook and save it on Pinterest for later!
Fried Brie
Ingredients
- 12 oz brie - (2 small wheels or one large wheel)
- 1 egg
- 2 tablespoons milk - (optional)
- ¾ cup seasoned Italian breadcrumbs
- ~2 cups vegetable oil - for frying, you'll want at least ~2 inches of oil in the saucepan
Special equipment
- Tongs metal or silicone-tipped (not plastic!)
- Small saucepan or small pan with high sides
- Plate lined with paper towels
Instructions
- Chop the brie into ~1-inch bite-sized pieces, separate the pieces so they're not touching each other, and freeze them until solid (at least 1-2 hours). It is easiest to cut brie if it is straight from the fridge, or even frozen for 5 minutes.
- Set up 2 bowls: one with whisked egg mixed with milk, the other with the Italian breadcrumbs.
- Dip the frozen brie pieces in the egg mixture, then coat each piece completely in the breadcrumbs mixture. (Use tongs for less mess.)
- Heat the oil in a small saucepan. Get the temperature hot enough so that when you dip a wooden toothpick into the oil, small bubbles form immediately.
- Use tongs to gently add breadcrumb-coated brie pieces into the hot oil. Cook only 2-4 pieces at a time. Fry for about 30 seconds—no more than 1 minute—or until golden brown on the outside. Use a metal slotted spoon or tongs to remove the fried brie and place them on a plate lined with paper towels to absorb any excess oil.
- Repeat step 5 until all the brie pieces are fried. Serve warm with your favorite dipping sauce or on crackers with jam!
Notes
- Do NOT skip the freezing step!
- Work quickly and make sure the brie pieces are still frozen when frying them. If not, the brie will melt before the breadcrumbs are fried, and the melted brie will ooze out of the breadcrumbs. So only take out as many brie pieces from the freezer as you can dip, dredge, and fry within a few minutes. Then get more pieces out.
- Brie should only be fried for about 30 seconds, or up to 1 minute, so that the breadcrumbs turn golden brown but the cheese inside does not melt completely. Because of this, I recommend frying only 2-4 pieces at a time, so you have time to remove them from the hot oil before they melt too much.
- Use a slotted metal spoon to remove the fried brie from the hot oil. If you use tongs, do NOT squeeze too hard with the tongs when you remove the brie pieces, otherwise you will squish them. They're super soft when coming out of the oil!
Nutrition
The nutritional information displayed is an estimate and not to be used as dietary or nutritional advice. Consult a nutritionist or dietician for nutritional info based on the exact ingredients you use.
Juliette
Sunday 1st of October 2023
Very tasty for only a few ingredients. DEFINITELY listen to the “tips”! The 2nd time I made, I slightly froze the Brie, then quickly cut into pieces before continuing the freeze— much easier. Also, fry for 45-60 seconds, and carefully use metal tongs because the cheese slid off the tongs the first time when I used silicone. The 3rd time I decided to experiment and tried the air fryer.c but I deep-fried for 10secs 1st. Seems like a lot of unnecessary work, but I think the texture came out a little better.
Bri
Tuesday 28th of February 2023
This was surprisingly easy and delicious! Nearly identical to the amazing appetizer on Disney Cruise Line. I flash froze what I wasn’t able to eat so I can pop a handful into a small pan of oil when I want a decadent snack. Paired with an orange marmalade but by favorite is a cranberry chutney.
Kate
Tuesday 28th of February 2023
Thanks, Bri!