Ready for the perfect appetiser with friends? Baked Camembert with Honey has you covered. Just 4 ingredients and cooked in minutes, with soft melty cheese, crispy bacon and rosemary, drizzled in golden honey… this is real comfort food to the max! Pair it with our Oysters Kilpatrick for the ultimate in decadent starters.
Why We Love This
The fact it only takes 45 seconds to ‘bake’ in the microwave is a win for us! Then there’s all that melted cheese goodness AND it’s topped with bacon. It really doesn’t get much better. Grab a crusty loaf of bread and start scooping!
The flavours in this dish come out so complex for a recipe with only four ingredients, but it works. Get ready to impress your friends with basically a cheat’s fondue!
What is Baked Camembert with Honey?
We were first introduced to this in France – the country where Camembert cheese first originated.
Traditionally, it is a simple wheel of camembert with the top sliced off and baked in the oven.
However – we love the result just as much from popping it in the microwave. Plus, who wants to wait for an oven to warm up when you can have it melted in under a minute!
The toppings range from region to region, and chef to chef. Although, honey and bacon seem to be the most popular.
What You’ll Need
We do love minimal ingredients, and this one only requires 4. If you don’t have bacon, feel free to replace with ham or prosciutto in a pinch, and if you don’t have rosemary you can try thyme, sage or oregano instead.
How to make Baked Camembert with Honey:
In a pan over medium heat, add the bacon and rosemary and sautée for a few minutes until the bacon is cooked and the rosemary is fragrant. Remove from heat and set aside.
Slice off the top of the camembert. Place in the microwave oven and cook on high for 45 seconds or until the cheese has melted. Be careful not to overcook.
Top with sautéed bacon and rosemary, then drizzle with honey.
Serve immediately with slices of your favourite crusty bread or dig straight in with a spoon!
Wandercook’s Tips
- You can reheat the camembert, we did right after we finished shooting the photos and no problem over here.
- We think microwaving is way easier than the oven, but you can still bake it in the oven if you prefer. If you do, why not pop in some slices of garlic bread to toast at the same time?
- If you don’t want to waste the ‘lid’ of the cheese – you can slice up and pop on some bread while you wait, or dip a piece into the melted camembert for a double cheese delight.
FAQs
Of course, if you prefer to bake the camembert more traditionally, pop the oven on to 180°C / 350°F and bake for 15 minutes or until you notice it starting to soften and melt.
Brie is another common soft cheese used to bake if you don’t have camembert on hand. Being lighter in flavour, it goes very well with the honey. You can leave out the bacon if you prefer to lower the saltiness and keep the flavours light.
If you have the heat too high (usually with an oven) or you cook it for too long, the camembert can curdle. To try and avoid this, keep your eye on the cheese, and if you’re worried, pull it out and check it half way through the cooking process.
We LOVE eating this with sliced pieces of fresh crusty bread. You can also just use crackers or even slices of carrot and cucumber for a healthier accompaniment.
Variations
- Swap out the honey for any other sweet syrup such as maple or golden syrup.
- For a sweeter topping, omit the bacon and rosemary and top with berries, jam or chutney.
- To add some crunch, why not add some crushed walnuts to the mix!
More delicious snacks and sides:
★ Did you make this recipe? Please leave a comment and star rating below!
Ingredients
- 1 camembert cheese whole wheel
- 100 g bacon chopped
- 2 tsp rosemary fresh or dried
- 1-2 tsp honey
Instructions
- Heat the butter in a pan over medium heat. Add the bacon and rosemary and sautée for a few minutes until the bacon is cooked and the rosemary is fragrant. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Slice the top off the camembert. Place in the microwave oven and cook on high for 45 seconds until the cheese has melted. Be careful not to overcook.
- Transfer cheese to a serving plate. Top with sautéed bacon and rosemary, then drizzle with honey.
- Serve immediately with slices of your favourite crusty bread.
Video
Recipe Notes
- You can reheat the camembert, we did right after we finished shooting the photos and no problem over here.
- We think microwaving is way easier than the oven, but you can still bake it in the oven if you prefer. If you do, why not pop in some slices of garlic bread to toast at the same time?
- If you don’t want to waste the ‘lid’ of the cheese – you can slice up and pop on some bread while you wait, or dip a piece into the melted camembert for a double cheese delight.
- Can I use the oven instead of the microwave? Of course, if you prefer to bake the camembert more traditionally, pop the oven on to 180°C / 350°F and bake for 15 minutes or until you notice it starting to soften and melt.
- Do I have to use camembert or can I bake another soft cheese? Brie is another common soft cheese used to bake if you don’t have camembert on hand. Being lighter in flavour, it goes very well with the honey. You can leave out the bacon if you prefer to lower the saltiness and keep the flavours light.
- Why has my camembert curdled? If you have the heat too high (usually with an oven) or you cook it for too long, the camembert can curdle. To try and avoid this, keep your eye on the cheese, and if you’re worried, pull it out and check it half way through the cooking process.
- What to serve with baked camembert? We LOVE eating this with sliced pieces of fresh crusty bread. You can also just use crackers or even slices of carrot and cucumber for a healthier accompaniment.
- Swap out the honey for any other sweet syrup such as maple or golden syrup.
- For a sweeter topping, omit the bacon and rosemary and top with berries, jam or chutney.
- To add some crunch, why not add some crushed walnuts to the mix!
24 Comments
Pam
21/04/2020 at 11:18 pmLooks great! I’ve never thought about sauteeing rosemary along with bacon. What an awesome idea!
Wandercooks
22/04/2020 at 9:59 amIt really brings out the aroma of the herb, especially simmering in the bacon fat!
Veena Azmanov
21/04/2020 at 10:45 pmI love your combination and I love the presentation too. Picture perfect. I am drooling. This is delicious.
Wandercooks
22/04/2020 at 9:59 amAww, thank you Veena!
Anna
21/04/2020 at 10:30 pmJust looking at these photos makes my mouth water! Baked cheese is one of my guilty pleasures, and your version of this baked Camembert looks utterly delicious! Love the added crispy bacon on top!
Wandercooks
22/04/2020 at 10:00 amYes! The saltiness from the bacon goes so well with the soft flavour of the cheese.
Rebecca
21/04/2020 at 10:20 pmlove your method to fake bake it in the microwave! I’m up for anything to save time, and this is brilliant!
Wandercooks
22/04/2020 at 10:00 amHaha – Any way to save time in the kitchen and that melty cheese in front of me!
Nart | Cooking with Nart
21/04/2020 at 4:47 pmThis looks absolutely divine! Gotta get me some camembert so I can make this!
Wandercooks
21/04/2020 at 8:38 pmHaha cheers Nart, definitely get your hands on some – you won’t regret! 😀
Martin @ The Why Chef
26/12/2016 at 7:36 amChristmas Day check-in! Just made three of these for supper with all the family. I’m a hero right now! 😀
Wandercooks
26/12/2016 at 9:55 amWoohoo go Martin! Merry Christmas to you, Emma and family! ????????
Mark, Compass & Fork
06/04/2016 at 10:59 pmGreat idea on the baked camembert. The combination of honey, bacon and rosemary with the cheese sounds sublime.
Wandercooks
07/04/2016 at 10:24 amThanks Mark, it’s totally addictive too. (Sorry-not-sorry!) 😀
jayne
06/04/2016 at 9:59 pmThis looks all kind of amazing! don’t think there would be any left of this in my house
Wandercooks
07/04/2016 at 10:23 amNot gonna lie Jayne, the camera may eat first for us food bloggers but this Camembert didn’t last 3 minutes after the shoot!
MyCookingSecrets.com | Krystallia Giamouridou
06/04/2016 at 9:19 pmThere is nothing better than a good baked camembert cheese! Love cheese and I would go for the thyme, sage version you suggested above. THanks for sharing this recipe.
Wandercooks
07/04/2016 at 10:20 amGood idea Krystallia – love how versatile this snack can be depending on your favourite flavour combo. Enjoy!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
06/04/2016 at 8:26 pmThose are lovely flavors! Anything rosemary!
Wandercooks
06/04/2016 at 9:03 pmTotally! Rosemary is amazing – especially with lamb too 😀
Sylvie
06/04/2016 at 6:00 pmThere’s nothing better than warm Camembert!
Wandercooks
06/04/2016 at 7:37 pmAgreed Sylvie! What do you pop on yours? Or do you like it just plain and creamy?? 😀
Martin @ The Why Chef
19/01/2016 at 2:06 pmI was just talking to the wife how some bloggers clearly have exactly the same tastes as I do, then BAM this lands in my inbox about 2 minutes later! She actually said ‘God yes!’ out loud when I showed her it! Love it.
Wandercooks
20/01/2016 at 7:45 pmHahahahaha! Love the reaction. Hope you both enjoy, I tell you…it didn’t last 5 minutes after that photoshoot 😛