Baked Camembert: Cheese, Garlic, Cranberry & Bread Topping

There are few things more comforting, or more dangerously delicious, than a wheel of baked Camembert fresh from the oven.

The gooey center, the faintly earthy aroma, and that golden, bubbling top are what cozy evenings were made for.

This version combines roasted garlic, a touch of sweet-tart cranberry, and a warm bread topping for dipping that feels like pure luxury with minimal effort.

It’s the kind of dish that looks impressive on a cheese board, smells heavenly, and comes together in under 20 minutes. Perfect for dinner parties, festive evenings, or those “I deserve something indulgent” nights at home.

What Makes Baked Camembert So Irresistible?

To bake Camembert is to experience the essence of comfort. As the cheese melts, it transforms into a luscious, oozing pool of creamy indulgence that pairs beautifully with tart cranberries and golden toasted bread.

The contrast between the crispy crust of the baguette and the velvety hot cheese feels almost sinful.

Unlike brie, Camembert cheese has an earthy depth that makes it ideal for baking. Its rind keeps everything contained, allowing you to slice the top of the cheese and add toppings like rosemary, roasted garlic, or cranberry compote.

When done right, the result is a balance of savoury, sweet, and tangy flavour in every bite.

What Ingredients To Use In This Recipe

(Serves 4)

For the baked Camembert:

• 1 wheel of Camembert cheese (in its wooden box, if available)
• 1 clove of garlic, thinly sliced garlic
• 1 rosemary sprig or a few leaves of fresh thyme
• 1 drizzle of olive oil
• 1 pinch of salt (sea salt flakes) for finishing
• 1 baking tray or small baking dish lined with parchment

For the cranberry topping:

• ½ cup cranberries (fresh or frozen)
• 1 tbsp maple syrup or honey
• ½ tsp orange zest
• 1 tsp balsamic vinegar
• Optional: a handful of walnut pieces or toasted nuts for crunch

For serving:

• Crusty bread, baguette slices, or garlic bread
• Crackers or crostini (for a lighter dip)
• Optional: prosciutto, pear slices, or seasonal fruit for your cheese board

How To Make This Camembert

1. Have your oven preheat at 350°F or 180°C. This ensures gentle, even baking so the camembert cheese melts perfectly without splitting.
2. How to Prepare the Camembert for Baking: Remove any plastic wrapping but keep the cheese in its wooden box (or place on a small baking tray lined with parchment). Take a sharp knife – A clean, sharp blade works best for clean cuts. Make light cuts – Don’t cut all the way through the cheese, just make shallow slashes on the surface lightly in a crisscross pattern on the top of the camembert.
3. Add the flavour: Insert sliced garlic into the cuts, tuck in a rosemary sprig, and drizzle lightly with olive oil. Sprinkle a pinch of salt over the top of the cheese for that irresistible, golden on top finish.
4. Bake the Camembert: Place the cheese in the oven and bake for 12–15 minutes or until golden brown and gooey in the center. Don’t overbake, once it starts to ooze, it’s ready.
5. Make the cranberry compote: In a small saucepan, add cranberries, maple syrup, orange zest, and balsamic. Put it over medium heat and stir the mixture until it thickens into a glossy sauce. Turn off the heat, take the pan away from stove and leave to cool down for a few minutes before serving.
6. Assemble and serve hot: Once the baked cheese is ready, spoon the warm cranberry sauce or compote over the top of the camembert. Scatter walnuts or toasted nuts around the cheese for texture. Serve hot immediately with toasted bread, baguette slices, or crackers.

The Secret to Perfectly Gooey Cheese Every Time

A perfectly baked Camembert should ooze when you cut into it. To achieve that dreamy oozy texture, bake for 12–15 minutes, just until the center softens but before it collapses completely.

Overbaking can make it too runny, while underbaking leaves it stiff in the middle.

A small baking tray works best to keep the shape contained, and always bake in the oven rather than microwavingm it ensures that even golden heat.

Once it’s ready, leave to cool for two minutes before serving. This short wait allows the cheese to settle, making it easier to scoop up with crostini or crackers.

Creating a Festive Cranberry Topping for Camembert

Cranberry and Camembert are simply made for each other. To make the topping, heat and stir fresh or frozen tart cranberries in a small saucepan with a spoon of maple syrup, a drizzle of balsamic, and a hint of orange zest.

Keep the heat at medium and allow it to simmer until it becomes thick like a glossy cranberry compote.

Take away from the heat and stove and leave to cool for a few minutes before spooning over the top of the camembert.

The tartness of the cranberry sauce cuts through the richness of the cheese, while the maple adds a soft sweetness that feels unmistakably festive. Scatter some toasted nuts or crushed walnuts for texture, and it’s ready to shine.

The Magic of Roasted Garlic and Fresh Herbs

Garlic transforms the baked cheese into something extraordinary. Slice a few cloves of garlic thinly.

Prepare a baking sheet, add olive oil, add the garlic and roast them until fragrant and golden brown. The result is roasted garlic that’s sweet and mellow, no bitterness, just pure depth.

Tuck the slices gently into the top of the cheese before baking, along with a few rosemary sprigs or fresh thyme leaves.

As the cheese bakes, the herbs infuse it with subtle fragrance. The aroma of rosemary and hot cheese wafting from the oven feels like winter comfort at its finest.

Simple Variations—From Pear and Walnut to Maple and Rosemary

Once you master the basic technique to bake camembert, you can experiment endlessly. For an autumn twist, add sliced pear and toasted walnuts on top of the cheese. For something indulgent, drizzle honey or maple syrup over baked cheese before serving.

If you love savoury depth, scatter prosciutto or toasted nuts on top of the camembert for extra crunch. For a subtle sweetness, layer thin slices of cherry or raspberry compote. Each combination highlights the natural flavour of the camembert cheese while keeping that gooey texture intact.

Presentation Ideas: Turning Your Baked Cheese into a Show-Stopping Appetizer

Presentation elevates your bake camembert from simple snack to centerpiece. Serve it on a rustic wooden board or ceramic platter surrounded by toasted bread, baguette slices, and crostini.

Add small bowls of chutney or cranberry sauce, toasted nuts, or even roasted pear slices.

If you’d like something more special, you can toss a few rosemary sprigs on top and drizzle just a touch of maple syrup before serving.

It gives the cheese that beautiful glossy look and the scent, oh! It’s heavenly. Perfect for Christmas, New Year’s Eve, or honestly, any cozy night when you just want something a little fancy without the fuss.