The Best 9 Camembert Substitutes (That Aren’t Brie)
Camembert cheese originated in, you guessed it… Camembert, France! This beloved French cheese has been around for a long time and is a favorite with the French. It’s been around for so long, in fact, that it was given its seal of approval by Napoleon III!
Camembert has stood the test of time and is so beloved because of its creaminess. It is a soft, moist cheese with a distinctive, bloomy edible rind. To make this cheese, cow’s milk is cultured with mesophilic bacteria and then rennet is added.
The curd is cut and washed and transferred to cylindrical molds. The cheese is then sprayed with a second bacteria to give it its signature rind, and it ages for a minimum of three weeks.
The result is a strong, slightly sour, slightly sweet super creamy, rich cheese. Its flavor profile is earthy, umami, and sometimes even chalky.
After production, Camembert is packaged whole, in small discs, wrapped first in wax paper and then in wooden boxes that are made from poplar. Camembert is less common than many French cheeses, so it can be quite expensive and difficult to find.
Many people swap Camembert for Brie, almost automatically, but it is important to make some distinctions. Camembert is from Camembert, Brie is from… Ile de France. Camembert is always sold in individual, whole discs, whereas brie is often sold in wedges or whole, large wheels. The size and shape of brie can vary.
Brie is ripened more quickly than Camembert making it much more milk in flavor and less creamy, and it also has a thinner rind that is always pure white. For these reasons, these cheeses are different… but you can definitely use brie as a substitute for Camembert!
Here are a few other camembert cheese alternatives that work well.
1. Hermelin
This cheese is known as the Brie of the Czech Republic and it is just that… a cheese made in a very similar way to brie but hailing from the Czech Republic.
This cheese will likely be hard to find, but if you can get your hands on some, it will make a very good replacement for Camembert!
2. Chevré (Goat’s Cheese)
Goat’s cheese is sometimes described as having the same chalky taste as Camembert, and is also super white and has a creamy texture. Chevré is, however, much firmer and crumbly than Camembert, so the texture and mouthfeel will be off if used as a direct substitute.
You could always mix Chevré with a bit of cream cheese or brie to give it a bit more fattiness and richness, making it closer to the uber-creamy Camembert!
3. Cream Cheese
Speaking of cream cheese… this is sort of like the ‘poor man’s’ Camembert.
Cream cheese is certainly creamy like Camembert, but is much more mild and even neutral in flavor. Cream cheese is slightly tangier and less salty, so it will not match up exactly, but it is, however, a much cheaper and more easily sourced option for any recipe that requires a lot of Camembert.
4. Toma Cheese
This Italian cheese is soft-ripened from cow’s milk, meaning it already has a lot in common with Camembert. It is smooth and creamy and has a distinct nut-like flavor, making it a good substitute for Camembert or brie.
It may not be the easiest cheese to find, but if you can find it, give it a try! Many French cheese lovers say that any non-French cheese just doesn’t compare, but we think Toma is the exception!
5. Saint-André Cheese
This cheese is sometimes known as ‘The Intense Brie‘ and is very, very similar to Camembert. It is quite easy to find as it is very popular, likely because of its triple crème status!
Because Saint-André cheese contains so much fat, it is sometimes compared to butter in its texture (and flavor!) so be prepared… This cheese is only for those who like big flavors! Saint-André is salty and smooth and makes a wonderful addition to any cheese board!
6. Fontina Cheese
Fontina is more popular and readily available than Camembert, so it will make a good alternative. It has similar flavors to brie; it is nutty, creamy, buttery, and slightly sweet, and pairs particularly well with fruit and jams. It also melts very well so it is great for a dip, fondue, or a replacement for baked Camembert.
It is important to note that Fontina is a semi-hard cheese so it is naturally quite a bit firmer than Camembert, but we think for its flavor profile, it belongs on this list!
7. Fresh Mozzarella
Easily one of the most popular cheeses, mozzarella certainly doesn’t have the same caché as Camembert. It does, however, have the same melting capabilities and is therefore a decent substitute for Camembert cheese!
If you’re using mozzarella as a replacement for Camembert, you may want to spice things up with some extra salt, or even combine it with a soft cheese like Chevrè or brie… because on its own, mozzarella is pretty bland.
8. Reblochon or Coulommiers Cheese
Either one of these French gourmet cheeses will make a fine substitute for Camembert because they share some of the same methodologies and are also both very creamy, soft-rind cheeses.
These are cheeses that go great on cheese boards, paired with a crunchy cracker and a sweet jam. Don’t get hung up on the names either… just tell everyone they’re about to have some fancy, French cheese and they’ll be happy!
9. And Lastly, If You Cannot Find Camembert, Opt For Blue!
Any type of blue cheese will work well, whether it is Stilton or Gorgonzola… the thing all these cheeses have in common with Camembert is their strong taste… and big cheese lovers will thank you if you sub Camembert with any blue! The only thing to note is that blue cheese can be very salty and at times crumbly, so go for one that is creamier. Also, if color is a factor, it might be best to choose one of the other substitutions from this list and leave the blue cheese for your salad!
Camembert is a beloved cheese all across the world, but especially in France, but it is becoming rarer. Cheese-making is a dying art, and because Camembert making involves so many steps (curdling, washing, coagulating, spraying, pressing, aging, etc.), it is being made less and less.
There are fears that someday we won’t be able to enjoy Camembert cheese at all! So, our recommendation is that you get out there and try some now, while you can… and if you decide it’s not for you, or the Camembert Extinction comes sooner than later, any one of the cheeses on this list will work fine in its place.
But, if you ask any Camembert purist, there really is no substitute for this miraculous, uber-creamy, sweet, tangy, soft, strong French cheese!
Related: Camembert en Croute Recipe
