The Easy Brie App That Takes a Few Seconds in the Microwave

Halved wheel of brie cheese

'Tis the season for holiday cookies and cocktail parties and all the charcuterie boards you can eat. It's also prime time for brie, which we love straight up, heated up in the microwave (a new favorite trick) or wrapped in pastry and baked until it's ooey gooey and irresistible.

So you can imagine our excitement when we saw @makesushi1 making crispy brie bites that puff up into neat little crunchy squares in the microwave over on TikTok. We grabbed the wheel we had in our fridge (because of course) and got to work.

Sadly—like some ideas on the internet that seem to hold so much promise based on the “this hack is so easy” video—they didn’t quite turn out as we had hoped. Even after nine tries.

Related: 25 Steal-the-Show Christmas Dinner Ideas

What did happen, though, was that the brie melted and bubbled and turned into lacy cheese crisps (sometimes known as frico) in less than 2 minutes (well, that is, after cooling). Talk about a tasty “fail.”

In even better news, it works with shredded cheddar and Parmesan, too, making it the perfect use for leftover cheese from holiday celebrations (or just that last little bit in the bag threatening to go bad in your fridge) or a fun thing to make for your holiday cheese board. Bonus: It's a keto-friendly, high-protein snack, if that's of interest to you or your holiday guests.

You might be thinking that you can buy cheese crisps at the store. And you sure can, but they can be quite expensive and making them at home is easy and you can adjust the recipe however you'd like. How fun is that? 

Related: 20 Awesome Christmas Eve Recipes

How to Make Cheese Crisps in the Microwave

With only one ingredient, this recipe could not be easier. All you need is the cheese and some parchment paper.

For brie, slice the cheese into roughly 1/4-inch thick slices and leave the rind on. If you have a wedge of brie, just slice crosswise into strips, then cut those strips into roughly 1 1/2-inch pieces. Keep in mind this isn't an exact science and microwaves cook differently, so cut and cook a few pieces and adjust as needed.

If you have a wheel of brie, cut it in half, slice lengthwise into 1/4-inch thick slices, then cut into 1 1/2-inch strips, just as you would with a wedge of brie. Arrange a few pieces of brie (3 or 4, depending on the size of your plate) on a parchment-lined microwave-safe plate. Microwave for 60 to 90 seconds, then let the crisps cool on the parchment.

For Parmesan or cheddar, shred the cheese and place a few small mounds (roughly 2 tablespoons, but again, you'll need to experiment a bit) on a parchment-lined microwave-safe plate. Note that freshly shredded cheese melts much better than pre-shredded cheese, which often contains ingredients that prevent clumping, which can affect melting. Microwave for 60 to 90 seconds, then let the crisps cool on the parchment.

Tips for Making Cheese Crisps in the Microwave

1. Go slow. We recommend watching these carefully while heating in the microwave as you only want the cheese to bubble for about 10 to 15 seconds. Let it go any longer and it will either turn out too chewy/hard or burnt to a crisp.

2. The parchment isn't negotiable. The parchment paper is essential. Without it, the cheese will stick to the plate instead of your ribs after chowing down. We’re talking “have to scrape the plate with a butter knife, no way much of this is making it into your mouth” sticking to the plate, here. Trust us, we got lazy and tried it.

Next up: How to "Bake" Brie in the Microwave