Baked Brie with Spicy Peach Jezebel Topping
Creamy melted brie cheese topped with a sweet-spicy peach compote made from jalapeno jelly, mustard, and fresh diced peaches. The contrast of warm, gooey cheese against bright, tangy fruit creates an impressive appetizer that feels elegant yet comes together in minutes. Serve at dinner parties, holiday gatherings, or casual entertaining as a showstopping cheese course. This version uses the classic Jezebel flavor profile--a Southern favorite pairing heat with sweet fruit--making it more sophisticated than standard baked brie.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoon jalapeno pepper jelly, hotred pepper jelly or hot pepper jam1:1vegetarianvegan-friendly
maintains heat and sweetness
- ½ tablespoon spicy brown mustardwhole grain mustard or Dijon1:1
less heat, more tang
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ⅛ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 5 ½ oz peach, peeled, stoned, small-dicednectarine1:1
nearly identical texture and flavor
- 2 round (8 ounce each) brie cheese, wooden box packed
Instructions
- 1
Preheat oven to 350F.
- 2
Whisk together jalapeno jelly, mustard, salt, and pepper.
- 3
Gently fold in diced peaches until evenly coated.
- 4
Unwrap brie rounds and score the top surfaces or remove the top layer if preferred.
- 5
Return brie to wooden box bottoms and place on a baking sheet.
- 6
Bake for 10 minutes.
- 7
Spoon peach mixture over brie, mounding slightly.
- 8
Bake 5 minutes longer until cheese is fully melted.
- 9
Transfer boxes carefully to serving plates and serve immediately with crackers and toasted baguette slices.
Tips
Score the brie top in a crosshatch pattern rather than removing it entirely--this keeps the cheese contained as it melts and looks more polished.
Use ripe but firm peaches; overly soft fruit will break down into mush during mixing. If fresh peaches are unavailable, high-quality canned peaches work in a pinch.
Good to Know
Do not store assembled baked brie. Refrigerate leftover brie and peach mixture separately for up to 3 days. Reheat brie gently in 300F oven until warmed through.
Prepare peach mixture and refrigerate up to 1 day ahead. Assemble and bake just before serving for best texture.
Serve immediately while brie is still warm and melting. Accompany with plain or seasoned crackers, thinly sliced toasted baguette, or water crackers.
Common Mistakes
Overbake the cheese to avoid it leaking from the box and losing structure.
Use cold peaches to avoid cooking them further and losing their fresh flavor.
Substitutions
Dairy-Free Swaps
Vegan Options
maintains heat and sweetness
General Alternatives
nearly identical texture and flavor
less heat, more tang
FAQ
Can I make this ahead of time?
Prepare the peach topping up to 1 day in advance and store separately. Assemble and bake just before serving to keep the brie at the ideal melting point with fresh peach texture intact.
What if I don't have wooden boxes?
Place unwrapped brie directly on parchment paper on the baking sheet. The cheese will spread slightly more but still melt beautifully. Return to serving plates carefully with a wide spatula.
Can I freeze leftover baked brie?
Freezing is not recommended as texture suffers significantly. Store brie and peach mixture separately in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheat gently.