Pumpkin Baked Brie

This festive appetizer features creamy Brie cheese baked inside a mini sugar pumpkin, creating a unique blend of savory and subtly sweet flavors. Perfect for fall gatherings, the tender pumpkin shell doubles as a delicious vessel for the rich, gooey Brie, served with crusty bread or crackers for dipping.

Why This Recipe Works

Perfect for Brie Lovers: First of all, we’re talking about brie, the king of all melty cheeses. Brie’s soft, creamy texture is perfect for pairing with sweet and savory ingredients, and it melts beautifully. Pair that with a roasted sugar pumpkin, which not only acts as an edible serving bowl but adds a natural sweetness and earthy flavor that complements the richness of the cheese. 

Fall Perfection: Everything about pumpkin baked brie just screams fall! From the mini pumpkin to the addition of maple syrup, candied pecans and pepitas, this baked brie recipe is the ultimate fall appetizer. It’s indulgent without being heavy, making it the perfect thing to serve at your next gathering! As opposed to make a pumpkin shaped baked brie like so many other recipes out there, this one is actually baked right in the pumpkin!

If you want to try more brie-packed recipes, try my baked brie with autumn salad or my cranberry brie and prosciutto baguette!

Supplies Needed

• Large Spoon
• Brush
• Oven or Grill

Ingredients

• Sugar Pumpkin: This small pumpkin variety is sweeter and more tender than your standard jack-o-lantern type. It holds up well in the oven or smoker and becomes soft and flavorful as it roasts.
• Brie Cheese: Brie is a rich, soft cheese with a buttery texture and mild flavor, perfect for melting and dipping! Keep the rind on!
• Maple Syrup: Maple syrup adds a hint of sweetness that goes well with the savory cheese and earthy pumpkin!
• Candied Pecans: For a sweet and crunchy addition on top of the cheese.
• Pepitas: These roasted pumpkin seeds add a savory, salty crunch!
• Baguette: I like to serve this pumpkin baked brie with slices of a crusty bread like a baguette!

Preparation

1. Preheat: Preheat oven or grill to 375 F.
2. Prep the Pumpkin: Cut the top off of a sugar pumpkin and remove the seeds and pulp from the inside with a spoon. Then discard.
3. Brush with Maple Syrup: Brush the inside of the pumpkin with maple syrup in a nice even coating.
4. Pre-Cook: Place the pumpkin into the oven or onto a smoker and cook for 30 minutes.
5. Prep Brie: While the pumpkin is baking, dice the brie cheese into small cubes and set aside.
6. Bake or Smoke Again with Cheese Inside: After 30 minutes, fill the pumpkin with the cubes of brie cheese and place it back into the oven or onto the grill. Continue to cook an additional 30 minutes or until the cheese is fully melted and bubbly.
7. Garnish: Remove from the oven and pour the remaining maple syrup over the brie cheese. Garnish with the candied pecans and the pepitas.
8. Serve & Enjoy: Serve the pumpkin baked brie with crostini or crackers and enjoy.

Tips for Baking or Smoking

• If you’re making your pumpkin baked brie in the smoker, try using a lighter wood to give the dish a subtle smoky note without overpowering the brie and pumpkin flavors.
• Don’t overbake the Brie! You want the brie to be melted and bubbly, but not totally liquified. After adding the brie cubes, keep an eye on it in the oven (or smoker) and pull it out as soon as it’s perfectly gooey.
• Be sure to pre-cook the pumpkin first. In order to cook the pumpkin and allow extra flavors to be infused into the brie, make sure to cook the hollow pumpkin first before adding the cheese cubes and cooking for longer!

Serving Pumpkin Baked Brie

Pumpkin baked brie is a showstopper to serve on a fall-inspired charcuterie board or serving platter! Place it in the middle and surround it with all of your favorite accompaniments:

• With toasted baguette: Spread out slices of toasted baguette around the baked pumpkin for easy dipping and spreading.
• With crackers or crostini: If you’re going for a mix of textures, add an assortment of crackers, crispy crostini, or pretzel sticks!
• With fruits & nuts: To balance out the flavors, I like to add some fresh fruits like grapes to the board along with extra candied nuts for a bit of variety!

More Recipes To Try

• Brie Sliders
• Mini Smoked Cheese Balls
• Smoked Brie with Honey & Chorizo
• Brie Fondue
• Cedar Plank Smoked Burrata