Creamy camembert, a sweet pear, some walnuts, and a drizzle of honey: that's all you really need for an appetizer that's always a hit. Turn on the oven, let the cheese melt for twenty minutes, and you'll have something on the table that looks much more impressive than the effort it takes.
Why this works
Camembert is soft and a little mushroomy in flavor. That calls for something sweet to balance it, which is exactly what the pear and honey do. The walnuts provide crunch and a slight bitterness, and the thyme adds a herbaceous touch that ties everything together. Nothing overpowers, everything complements each other.
Ingredients (for 2-4 people)
- 1 round camembert, preferably in a wooden box
- 1 ripe pear, thinly sliced
- A handful of walnuts, roughly chopped
- 2-3 tablespoons thyme honey
- A few sprigs of fresh thyme (or half a teaspoon dried)
- Baguette or toast to serve with
- Black pepper, to taste
How to make it
- Preheat oven to 180°C.
- Remove the camembert from its packaging and place it back in the wooden box without the lid, or in a small ovenproof dish.
- Score a crosshatch pattern into the top of the cheese.
- Arrange the pear slices and walnuts on top, and tuck the thyme sprigs in between.
- Drizzle with honey.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes, until the cheese is gooey inside.
- Grind some pepper over it and serve immediately with baguette for dipping.
Which honey to choose?
Thyme honey is the obvious choice here: herbaceous enough to support the thyme in the recipe without overpowering the cheese. But there are good alternatives. Oak honey might be an even better match than you'd expect — this honey doesn't come from flower nectar but from honeydew, giving it a dark, syrupy texture with notes of caramel and wood. That caramel accent pairs surprisingly well with the sweetness of the pear and the bitterness of the walnuts. If you prefer something bolder, chestnut honey is also an option, or perhaps lavender honey if you prefer something milder and more floral.
Variations
No camembert at hand? Brie can also work. Feel free to replace the walnuts with hazelnuts or pistachios, and lightly toast them in a dry pan if you like extra crunch. For a strictly vegetarian version: check if there's a vegetarian label on the cheese packaging, as camembert is often made with animal rennet.
Serving
This works well as an appetizer for two to four people, or as part of a charcuterie board with some cured meats and grapes. A glass of white wine, or a light red, nicely complements the sweetness of honey and pear.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I prepare this in advance? You can prepare the cheese, pear, walnuts, and honey, but only bake the camembert just before serving. Otherwise, it won't be warm and gooey anymore.
Which honey pairs best with camembert? Thyme honey is the classic. Oak honey gives a caramel-like, bolder accent, chestnut honey is even more intense, and lavender honey keeps it mild and floral.
Can this be made vegetarian? Choose a camembert with a vegetarian label, as conventional rennet is often animal-derived.
Looking for the right honey for this dish? Check out thyme honey or oak honey at Honingwinkel.nl.
