Hot Honey Baked Brie with Homemade Crackers

30 Nov

Cheese platter with assortment of crackers, baked cheese, meat, fresh fruits and olives.

Homemade crackers with smoked salt and sesame

Preparation time: 60 minutes | Serves: 2-3 people

A cheeseboard is my perfect idea of indulgence. A little salty, a little sweet, so many combinations to try and delicious every time.

I love putting cheeseboards together, especially when I’m hosting. They’re the perfect way to welcome someone to your home and enjoy a few nibbles before settling in for lunch or dinner.

While store bought crackers are delicious in their own way, homemade crackers are perfect for when you want to go the extra mile. Paired with a oozy, hot-honey baked brie, I promise this will be your favourite entertaining recipe in no time.

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A baking mat with homemade crackers ready to be baked and a jar of smoked salt

A wheel of brie with rosemary and hot honey with a jar of hot honey in the background

How To Make Homemade Crackers -

At all times I have a collection of assorted salt in my pantry. In this instance, my friends at Soka Pantry sent me an incredible smoked salt with Urfa chillies from Turkey. It has a chipotle like smoky-sweetness and I’ve enjoyed it on eggs, roasted veggies and chicken, but couldn’t stop imaging the flavours in a cracker. Luckily, they’re incredibly easy to make.

Requiring just 4 ingredients - flour, water, oil and salt - these are kneaded into a smooth dough, then rolled out and baked until golden. Apart from minimal ingredients, these homemade crackers also free of preservatives and will last in an air tight jar for up to two months (you can re-crisp them in the oven for a few minutes if they get soggy).

Building The Perfect Cheese Board -

I will say you don’t need a recipe for a cheeseboard, but I’m sharing my top tips for curating a balanced and delicious board -

Mix and match your cheese: You should aim to have a hard, soft and blue, but if you don’t enjoy either of those cheeses, then try an aged soft cheese for depth or Manchego or pecorino for a nutty, buttery balance.
Something sweet - I always like to have fruits (mostly berries) on my cheeseboard, but they’re not in season, honeycomb or chilli honey are a great addition. Apples, pears and figs are also wonderful on a cheeseboard.
Something salty - olives, salted nuts, sun-dried tomatoes or cornichons are good options.
Cured meats - I like to include a blend of mild and spicy like prosciutto and salami.

Whether you're enjoying a cheese platter to yourself or hosting guests over the holiday season, you'll love this easy baked brie with honey recipe.

Find more tips and suggestions in the recipe notes below.

Ingredients

Crackers -

1 cup flour (plus more for dusting)
1 tsp salt
1 tbsp crunchy chilli oil
1 tbsp olive oil + more for brushing
1/3 cup water
1/4 tsp sesame seeds
1 tsp smoked sea salt

Baked Brie -

1 round of brie (200-250gms)
1 sprig rosemary
1 tbsp crunchy hot honey
Pinch of salt (according to taste)

Method

For the crackers -

Mix flour and salt in a bowl. Make a well in the centre, add the chilli oil, olive oil and water, then mix until a rough dough forms.
Turn out onto a floured surface and knead until smooth. Brush lightly with oil and rest for 20 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 180ºC.
Roll the dough between two sheets of baking paper until very thin (into a rough rectangle or oval shape). Transfer to a baking tray and peel off the top sheet.
Score into crackers with a sharp knife and prick all over with a fork.
Brush with olive oil and sprinkle generously with smoked salt and sesame seeds.
ake for 12 minutes, rotate the tray, then bake 5-6 minutes more until golden. Remove and set aside to cool.

For the baked brie -

Reduce the temperature of the oven to 120ºC.
Place the brie in a heatproof dish (or small skillet).
Make a few slits in the top and tuck rosemary sprigs into them.
Drizzle with hot honey and bake 4-5 minutes until melted and oozy.
Serve immediately with crackers and accompaniments.

RECIPE NOTES

Swaps, Serves & Storage

Do I have to use brie?
You can use camembert instead of brie.
What can I use instead of hot honey?
I love the flavour of hot honey but you can just use regular honey, or honey mixed with a pinch of smoked paprika and chilli flakes instead.
What can I use instead of chilli oil?
Use 2 tbps of olive oil instead of chilli oil.
What toppings can I use on the crackers?
You can play around with the toppings and use Everything Bagel Seasoning, chilli flakes, dried herbs or za’atar.
How long can I store the crackers?
You can store the crackers in an airtight container for up to 2 months. Pop them in the oven for 2-3 minutes at 180ºC to re-crisp if they get soggy.

*This recipe is a paid collaboration with Soka Pantry.