How To Make Baked Camembert

This recipe is for the cheese lovers! If you like your cheese oozy and gooey, you are going to love this baked camembert recipe. Often served as a starter/appetiser but can also be a snack, or even an after dessert cheese option. We believe there is always an opportunity for baked camembert.

Baked camembert over the Christmas break is definitely a crowd-pleaser, so if you have friends and family around, this is a real treat. 

What is baked camembert?

Camembert is a soft, moist creamy cows-milk cheese similar to brie. It’s made in France, in the Normandy region. Camembert is ripened in small round shape and fully covered in a white rind. Camembert is stronger in flavour and more pungent in smell than brie. Unlike brie, camembert becomes creamier when warmed.

Baked camembert in its simplest form is the camembert cheese cooked in it’s wooden or cardboard box in the oven until creamy and then served with bread or crackers dipped into the middle.

Baked camembert is essentially a fancy hot cheese dip. You can see why it’s so popular for special occasions such as Christmas and the holidays.

What is in this camembert recipe?

In this baked camembert recipe we add a few simple flavours that marry well withe creamy cheese. We score the cheese with a super sharp knife and add in slithers of fresh garlic and some sprigs of fresh rosemary.

Often you will drizzle the baked camembert with honey or extra virgin olive oil. It’s always good to sprinkle with a good quality sea salt and some freshly cracked black pepper.

What other ingredients can you add to baked camembert?

Other ingredients you could use could include other fresh herbs such as thyme, chives, or parsley. Drizzle with some maple syrup. Or sprinkle on some chilli flakes.

We know Jamie Oliver likes to serve baked camembert along with a bowl of chopped nuts and dried cranberries to dip the gooey cheese on the toasted bread.

Some folks like to drizzle a little vermouth, white wine or kirsch over the scored cheese for some extra pep!

Can I bake camembert in a cardboard box?

Traditionally camembert is sold in wooden boxes, which can be put straight into the oven. Some of the cheaper varieties use cardboard, and some wrap in plastic. 

Check the packaging on your camembert first to see if there is any plastic to remove and if it is in a wooden box that can go in the oven. If not, use a cheese dish, terracotta pot, or small pan lined with foil, then wrap the cheese in another layer of foil and/or baking paper.

How do you bake camembert without the box?

If your camembert does not come in the thin wooden box, remove all the packaging and place it in a small baking dish.

You can get camembert baking dishes like this classic cheese baker and this lovely french style dish.

Just remember that the camembert will spread as it warms so you want to bake it in a snug dish or tray.

How long should camembert be baked for? 

Baked camembert usually takes about 20 minutes in the oven for a 250g cheese. Have a look at it after 15 minutes and once it’s gooey and soft in the middle it’s ready to serve.

How do you know when camembert is cooked?

If you gentle tap the middle of the baked camembert with a wooden spoon it should wiggle a little, or wobbly like a water bed.

Why is my camembert not runny?

The level of runny-ness of a camembert is all to do with its ripeness. The riper the camembert the runnier it can be. If you have a young chalky camembert it won’t melt as easily.

When buying your camembert give it a gentle press to check it is soft touch. Camembert is at its best about 10 days or less from its best before date on the packaging.

Can you eat camembert uncooked? 

Yes, of course. If eating the camembert uncooked bring it up to room temperature about 30 minutes before serving.

Can you microwave camembert?

Yes, you can microwave camembert. Unwrap the camembert from any plastic or foil wrapping and  place 

What do you eat with camembert?

The most popular way to serve baked camembert is with lots of crusty bread, or baguette, or ciabatta that can be torn up and dipped into the gooey, creamy cheese.

Another way to serve it is with a selection of crackers and maybe some pickles or chutney on the side.

For anyone that is gluten intolerant, or opting for a gluten-free diet, a non-wheat option to dip in your camembert could be to serve with crudités of carrot, cucumber, and celery. Maybe some slices of apple would go nicely with the camembert.

Serve with a side dish of nuts and dried fruits. 

If you want to do something totally different you could also cook up some chips or french fries and dip them in the cheese.

BAKED CAMEMBERT (SERVES 4)

INGREDIENTS

• Box of Camembert or camembert-style cheese
• A few Fresh Rosemary Tips
• 2-3 Garlic Cloves, peeled and sliced thinly.
• Olive Oil (optional)
• Baguette /Ciabatta / Crusty Bread

METHOD

1. Preheat the oven to 180C (fan).
2. Check the packaging of your box of camembert. Remove any plastic wrapper and place back in the box if you have a wooden box that can go in the oven. Otherwise remove all packaging. Place in a camembert baking box or a small baking dish lined with lots of foil. 
3. Score the top of the camembert rind with a small sharp knife in two directions to create diamond patterns. 
4. Insert a few slithers of garlic and some small tips of rosemary into the scored rind. Season with sea salt and freshly ground pepper. Then drizzle with a little olive oil.
5. Place the camembert baking box, or foil wrapped camembert in wooden box onto a baking sheet than place in the pre-heated oven for 15-20 minutes, or until the cheese is gooey inside.
6. Serve immediately.

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