What To Serve With Baked Camembert: 10 Delicious Choices
What to serve with baked camembert is an important question if you’re planning to serve it up for friends at a special occasion!
Many of us associate this soft, creamy cheese with dinner parties and indulgence, and it’s true that it makes a wonderful centrepiece on any table.
Part of its beauty though is that it’s remarkably easy to prepare. This means less time fussing in the kitchen, and more time enjoying the company of your guests.
Choosing what to dip in baked camembert will help you to really take things to the next level, and the good news is that many options can be prepped in advanced.
Need a little inspiration? You’ve come to the right place! Here are ten delicious choices for what to serve with baked camembert…
1. Freshly baked, warm bread
It’s oh so satisfying to take a chunk of freshly baked, warm bread, and spread some melted camembert over it with a knife. Alternatively, you can dip your bread directly into that molten cheese. Perfection!
In this instance, it’s definitely worth taking the time to prepare your own bread, though do keep in mind that you can find plenty of excellent part baked options in the supermarket that you simply pop in the oven to finish off and heat through.
When it comes to what kind of bread to serve with baked camembert, there are no rules. My personal preference is for French baguette, ciabatta, or focaccia.
For a lighter bite, some sticks of toasted pitta can work really well too.
2. Your favourite preserves and jams
A dollop of your favourite preserve or jam works wonderfully with baked camembert, and the sweetness perfectly complements the creamy, slightly earthy taste of the cheese.
Choose strawberry, raspberry, blackberry, or fig… The choices are endless!
3. Honey
Honey is well known for being a great partner for strong cheeses. This is because the sweetness of the honey mellows out the big and bold character of the cheese, resulting in a real taste sensation on the palate.
These days, you can find a wonderful selection of infused honeys in gourmet supermarkets and farm shops. I recommend trying rosemary, ginger, and mint varieties with your camembert!
4. Bacon wrapped breadsticks
If you love bacon as much as I do, you really need to try this bacon wrapped breadsticks recipe!
They take around 40 minutes to prepare from scratch, and they’re also a real treat when served with creamy pasta dishes.
5. Almond flakes and dried cranberries
Flaked nuts and dried fruits are delicious when it comes to what to serve with baked camembert.
I like to sprinkle them over the top of the cheese with a little oil, before baking in the oven.
Dried apricots are another fabulous choice that you might want to try.
6. Flavoured oils
Keep things simple by drizzling some flavoured oil over your cheese before baking.
Oils flavoured with garlic, chilli, and truffle are readily available, and work so well with camembert.
If you like to get experimental in the kitchen, check out this guide to making infused olive oils. It’s a great kitchen skill to have as infused oils can be used in all kinds of different recipes, and they make fabulous gifts for the fellow foodies in the your life!
7. Rocket and sun dried tomato salad
As delicious as camembert is, it can be extremely rich and fairly heavy. As such, you might decide to serve a salad on the table.
Rocket and tomato is perfect here, with a drizzle of good quality balsamic vinegar.
When you’re ready to eat, get a chunk of bread, dip it in the cheese, and then load with some of your fresh salad. The result is an absolute taste sensation, and just as satisfying as any complicated recipe you’ll ever make!
8. Pickles
The acidity from the vinegar gives pickles a salty, sour taste, that teams really well with strong cheeses.
Add a selection of pickles such as onions, gherkins, and mixed veggies to your serving platter to add another dimension to your meal.
9. Fresh fruit and veggie crudités
Fresh fruit and veggies can be used for dipping into that creamy camembert, and add a lovely crunch.
Apple, celery, cucumber, peppers, and carrots are all good choices. With most of these things, you can chop them up in advance and just keep them in the fridge until you’re ready to serve. Wait until the last minute though before cutting your apple, to avoid it going brown.
10. A splash of alcohol
Pouring a splash of alcohol over your camembert before it’s baked can add a beautiful flavour.
Vermouth, port, dry white wine, and orange liquor are all excellent options.
Alternatively, you can just ensure that you have a variety of tipples for your guests to choose a glass of when it comes time to serve. My personal favourite for what to serve with baked camembert is a nice glass of red wine.
Common questions about baked camembert
Baking a camembert is a fairly straightforward process, but there are a few important factors that you need to consider.
Can you bake camembert in its wooden box?
Traditionally, camembert is sold in a wooden box, and this can be put straight into the oven for baking. Make sure you remove the internal paper wrapping! Of course, you should always read the instructions for the best results. A baked camembert can look impressive when served inside its wooden box, for that rustic feel.
You should not bake your camembert in a cardboard box, and you should also not place it directly on to a baking tray with nothing around it. If you do this, you’ll end up with a big gooey mess inside your oven, as it won’t retain its shape!
Is camembert a starter or a main course?
Baked camembert can be either a starter or a main course. It’s all down to personal preference.
Do remember though that camembert is rich and quite heavy, so if you are serving it as a starter, you’ll want to choose a much lighter main course to follow.
I personally like to serve camembert with a variety of options for dipping and dunking as the main event at a casual dinner party. This way, your guests can help themselves and graze throughout the evening whilst enjoying drinks and conversation.
Why is my baked camembert lumpy?
There are several reasons why your baked camembert might be lumpy.
Firstly, you need to ensure that you’re purchasing the right kind of cheese for the job. You need to buy an unpasteurised variety, or it will curdle during the cooking process.
You also need to make sure that you don’t bake your cheese for too long. This is an easy mistake to make if you’re not following a recipe. You should typically bake a camembert at 180 degrees for 15-20 minutes. You might think that leaving it in for longer will give you a softer and meltier cheese, but this isn’t correct. If you bake for any longer, it’s going to harden and dry out, and once it’s at this stage, it’s impossible to salvage.
How do you know when camembert is cooked?
Your camembert will be cooked and ready to serve once it’s been baked for 15-20 minutes.
A quick touch test will tell you if its cooked. It should feel like a waterbed. Use a wooden spoon to avoid burning your fingers!
Can you reheat camembert?
If you have leftover camembert, you can reheat it the next day in the oven or in the microwave. You’ll likely notice though that it’s not as good as when it’s cooked for the first time, so you might be better off buying a smaller wheel of cheese, or ensuring that everyone is encouraged to tuck in and get it used up!
Can you microwave camembert?
You can indeed microwave camembert. Simply microwave on medium for a minute at a time, for 3-4 minutes, or until melted and soft to the touch. For the best results though, it’s advisable to use the oven instead.
So there you have it – all the ideas you need for what to serve with baked camembert, plus some extra tips for ensuring you get it right first time!
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