Honey Baked Camembert

See how to transform a humble camembert wheel into the best honey baked camembert. Sweet and savory, this camembert cheese recipe is filled with warm, gooey cheese rippled with rivers of warm honey and crunchy pecans. Made with just 5 ingredients and ready in 20 minutes, this appetizer is as simple as it is delicious.

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What is baked camembert?

Honey baked camembert is a warm, melty cheese. The cheese is baked in the oven until the inside is hot and runny. When you poke through the rind, melted cheese comes pouring out, waiting to be scooped up with crostini or crackers.

It’s one of the easiest appetizer and snack recipes. You’ll only 5 ingredients and around 5 minutes to get the cheese oven-ready. Even better, I also show you how you can make a super-fast microwave baked camembert that will have you noshing on hot cheese dip in no time.

If you love no-fuss appetizers and starters, be sure to check out our cottage cheese dip, California chicken salad, and olive oil garlic bread.

Why You’ll love this baked cheese recipe

• Amazing flavors: Gooey camembert, sweet, sticky honey, earthy herbs, and crunchy nuts are the PERFECT combination of aromas and textures that taste like you put way more effort into the recipe than you actually did.
• Customizable: It’s really easy to customize this baked camembert recipe and work with ingredients you like and have available. For more tips, see the variations section down below.
• Quick prep: I’m not exaggerating when I say that oven camembert takes hardly any prep. The most time-consuming part is waiting eagerly to dig in while the cheese is baking.
• Oven + Microwave method: You have 2 options to cook the cheese. Bake it in the oven, which takes around 12 to 15 minutes. Or microwave and enjoy your baked camembert cheese in 2 minutes.

Ingredients

This is a quick overview of the ingredients you’ll need for baked camembert with honey. The measurements and recipe instructions are included in the printable recipe card at the end of the post.

• Camembert wheel:  I used a large, good-value French camembert that came in a wooden box. You can also use brie instead if preferred. We’ll talk more about this in the FAQ section.
• Honey: Be sure to use clear honey. It provides more flavor and mingles better with the melted cheese. You could swap it out for maple syrup or agave syrup if you don’t have honey.
• Pecans: Crushed pecans add a nice crunch that perfectly complements the soft, gooey camembert.
• Thyme and red pepper flakes add bold flavor and a little heat, contrasting beautifully with the sweet honey and tasty cheese.

How to bake camembert with honey

Honey baked camembert sounds fancy and may seem like a dish you’d find in a restaurant. But it’s actually super simple, and the medley of flavors is incredibly delicious. Here are the easy steps for how to bake camembert cheese:

What to bake it in?

Camembert is usually sold in a wood box that is an excellent vessel for baking. You also have a few other options.

• Wood box: Unwrap the cheese and put it back in the wooden box. To ensure no spillage happens, wrap the outside of the box with aluminum foil.
• Baking dish: Alternatively, bake the camembert in a shallow baking dish that’s slightly larger than the cheese.
• Small skillet: Another idea is to bake and serve the baked camembert in a small cast-iron skillet.

Step 1: Preheat the oven

Adjust a baking rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 350°F / 180°C / gas mark 4.

Step 2: Score the cheese

Remove the camembert from the plastic wrapping and place it on a cutting board. Using a sharp knife, score the top of the rind with a 1/4 in / 6 mm deep crosshatch pattern. Put the cheese back into the wooden box or in a baking dish.

Step 3: Add seasoning and topping

Season with red pepper flakes. Arrange the crushed pecans in the center of the cheese and generously drizzle with honey.

Step 4: Bake

Bake in the preheated oven for 12 to 15 minutes, until the cheese has softened and is oozy in the middle. Be careful not to overcook the camembert or it will re-harden.

Step 6: Serve

Serve hot from the oven. Sprinkle with thyme leaves and serve with toasted bread, crostini, crackers, apple slices, and grapes. If desired, drizzle the baked camembert with additional honey.

Microwave baked camembert

As I’ve mentioned, camembert can also be baked in the microwave. It’s so fast and simple.

1. Unwarp the camembert and score the top.
2. Put into a microwave-safe dish and top with red pepper flakes, pecans, and honey.
3. Microwave for 1 to 2 minutes, until the cheese is soft. Watch the cheese and turn the microwave off if the cheese starts to puff up.
4. Enjoy immediately.

How long does baked camembert stay gooey?

The cheese will stay creamy and scoopable for 10 minutes in the wooden box or 15 minutes in a ceramic baking dish. When the cheese becomes too firm for scooping, smear it on with a knife or spoon.

Tips for the best baked camembert with honey

The addictive combination of warm camembert and sticky honey has to be tasted to be believed. And before heat up your oven and get baking, read through my tips to make the best honey baked cheese.

• Use good-value camembert. No need to splurge on expensive cheese, an economical camembert or brie will do just fine.
• Score the top of the cheese so the honey and seasoning can sink into the cheese and infuse every bite with a sweet-savory aroma. A sharp paring knife works best for this job. You could also remove the top rind if preferred.
• Don’t hold back on the seasoning and honey. More is more in case of French camembert cheese, so add the honey, herbs, chili flakes, or black pepper liberally.
• Watch the baking time. Don’t bake your camembert longer than 12 to 15 minutes. Baking the cheese any longer than that will change the texture and harden the camembert.

Variations

• Maple Syrup: If preferred, substitute the honey with maple syrup. The bourbon-like aroma of maple syrup is a great addition to cheese in the oven.
• Herbs + spices: Swap out the thyme for rosemary and replace red pepper flakes with a few cracks of black pepper. You can also sprinkle the cheese with Italian seasoning after baking.
• Berries + fruit: After baking the cheese, serve it topped with fresh raspberries or pomegranate seeds. Or serve it with a spoonful of apple pie filling or cranberry sauce.
• Garlick: Finely slice a garlic glove and poke the garlic slices into the top of the cheese.
• Pastry crust: To take this honey baked camembert to the next level, bake the cheese in a pastry crust. You’ll need 1 sheet crescent roll dough. Place the camembert round in the middle of the dough, then fold it over the cheese and pinch the ends together to seal. Brush the top with melted butter and bake for 15 minutes until the dough has browned and is baked through.

How to serve camembert cheese

Baked cheese is one easy and delicious appetizer that everyone will love. It’ll be a showstopper at your party and is made for sharing. Here are a few ideas of things you can serve alongside your camembert appetizer.

Honey baked camembert is best served with crusty bread, crostini, or sturdy crackers to scoop up the melted cheese. Avoid thin wafers or chips as they are fragile and will break off.

Another idea is to serve the baked cheese recipe with apple slices, carrots sticks, or baby carrots. We also love it with juicy grapes on the side.

FAQ

Can I make this ahead of time?

You can score and assemble the baked camembert with honey in advance and store it in the refrigerator for a day or two before baking. Just be sure to serve hot, right out of the oven, so the camembert is soft and gooey.

What is camembert?

Camembert is a mild, creamy cheese with a white, bloomy rind made from cow’s milk. It originated in the 18th century in the French village Camembert in Normandy.

What does camembert taste like?

The camembert taste can be described as nutty, milky, grassy, eggy with mushroomy and garlicky notes. Camembert tastes delicious paired with all kinds of delicacies like fruits, nuts, jam, crackers, or bread.

Can you eat the rind?

Yes, the white mold rind of camembert is edible. It’s a bit tougher than the creamy interior and has a stronger flavor.

What is the difference between brie and camembert?

Camembert and brie share many similarities. Both cheeses are made from cow’s milk, have a soft, edible rind, and originated in northwestern France.

They mainly differ in taste. Brie is milder and has a buttery aroma, whereas camembert is denser and has a more intense flavor. Another difference is that brie has added cream and is richer than camembert.

Can I make this recipe with brie?

Absolutely, you can use brie and camembert interchangeably in this baked cheese recipe. The instructions and quantities remain exactly the same.

What are other substitutes for camembert?

Aside from brie, other soft-ripened, creamy cheeses are good substitutes for camembert such as Brillat-Savarin, Mt Tam, or Saint-Andre.

Storage instructions

How to store honey baked camembert

Let leftovers cool to room temperature before transferring them to an airtight storage container. Store in the fridge and consume within 3 days.

As the cheese hardens, honey mixes through, making it even more delicious. You can enjoy it as is or pile it on toast and grill.

How to reheat baked camembert

Place the cheese in a microwave-safe dish and reheat for a few seconds in the microwave or until warmed through.