So this one started because I had three plums sitting on the counter getting a little too ripe and some leftover brie from a party that was not going to last another week. I figured I’d throw them in the toaster oven together and see what happened. What happened was honestly one of the better snacks I’ve made in months, and I’ve been making it on purpose ever since.
The plums roast down into something almost jammy, with slightly caramelized edges and this concentrated sweet-tart flavor that plain fresh plums just don’t have. Pair that with melted brie — which gets runny and a little nutty — and toasted hazelnuts for crunch, and it’s a pretty complete thing. You need a small toaster oven baking pan that fits your machine; the plum juices bubble up quite a bit and you don’t want them dripping onto the heating element.
This comes together in under 30 minutes. It’s the kind of recipe where the steps overlap a little — plums roasting while you prep the bread, hazelnuts toasting while the brie melts — so it moves faster than it looks on paper. If you’ve got a reliable toaster oven with decent temperature control, you’re in good shape. The timing isn’t fussy, but you do need to watch the bread during toasting because every machine runs a little differently.
It works as a starter before dinner, a light lunch with a simple salad, or honestly just a snack at 3pm because the plums needed to get used up. The honey drizzle at the end isn’t optional in my opinion — it pulls everything together in a way that’s hard to explain until you try it.
Toaster Oven Crispy Brown Butter Roasted Plum and Brie Tartines with Toasted Hazelnuts
Roasted plums get jammy and caramelized in the toaster oven, piled onto crusty bread with melted brie and crunchy hazelnuts for a tartine that works as a snack, light lunch, or genuinely impressive appetizer.
Ingredients
For the roasted plums
For the tartines
Instructions
Roast the plums
-
Preheat your toaster oven to 400°F on the bake setting. Line a small toaster oven baking pan with foil — plums release a lot of juice and you'll thank yourself later.
-
Arrange the plum wedges cut-side up on the lined pan. Scatter the butter pieces over them, drizzle with 1 tsp honey, and hit them with a pinch of salt and black pepper.
-
Roast for 14-16 minutes, until the plums are soft and starting to caramelize at the edges. The butter should smell nutty and the juices should be bubbling. Pull them out and set aside.
Toast the bread and assemble
-
While the plums cool slightly, brush both sides of the bread slices lightly with olive oil. Arrange them on the toaster oven rack or pan and toast at 400°F for 3-4 minutes per side, until golden and crisp. Watch closely — sourdough goes from perfect to scorched faster than you'd expect.
-
Pull the bread out. Working quickly, lay the brie slices over each piece. Return to the toaster oven for 2-3 minutes, just until the brie is melted and starting to look glossy. You're not trying to brown it, just melt it.
-
While the brie melts, scatter the chopped hazelnuts onto a dry corner of the pan (or a small piece of foil) and let them toast alongside — 2 minutes is enough.
-
Pull everything out. Spoon the roasted plums and any syrupy pan juices over the brie-covered toasts. Scatter the toasted hazelnuts on top, add the fresh thyme, drizzle lightly with honey, and finish with a pinch of flaky salt. Eat immediately.
Notes
Plum variety matters more than you'd think — Italian prune plums are my favorite here because they hold their shape and get properly jammy. Regular black or red plums work too, just don't use ones that are already super soft or they'll collapse into mush. The bread thickness is worth paying attention to; thin sandwich slices won't hold up under the toppings. If you can't find hazelnuts, toasted walnuts are a solid backup. Leftovers don't really keep well once assembled — if you're planning ahead, roast the plums up to a day in advance and reheat gently before building the tartines.
Nutrition
Rate this recipe
Made it? Tap a star to rate.
Written by
Emma is a home cook who loves coaxing big flavor out of a toaster oven — from crispy roasted vegetables to easy weeknight dinners and sweet treats. She develops and tests Toastera's recipes for small-appliance kitchens.
Free: the Toaster Oven Cheat Sheet
Get the printable cheat sheet (temps, cook times & safety tips) plus new recipes. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
