What is Brie en Croûte?
Brie en croute is a delicious French-inspired appetizer featuring creamy Brie cheese baked in buttery puff pastry. Brie en Croute translates from French to “Brie in pastry.” The combination of flaky pastry and rich, melty cheese has brought lasting popularity to this pastry. In fact, while the cheese and the inspiration are French, the actual dish is likely an American creation that gained traction at dinner parties in the 1970s and 1980s. Brie en Croute often includes additions with the cheese, such as fig jam, nuts, or dried fruit.
The Royal History of Brie Cheese
Brie cheese is a soft, rich cheese that originated in the Le Brie region of France. Its history runs deep, as it is believed to have been produced as early as the 7th century. While traveling through this region in the year 774, Emperor Charlemagne tasted Brie produced by monks at a monastery. He quickly fell in love with the cheese and regularly ordered shipments to his residence. Brie has remained a popular cheese throughout history, even earning the title “King of Cheeses” after an 1814 European cheese championship held to ease the political tensions of the time. Royal legends include other kings gifting wheels of Brie and even requesting Brie with final meals.
Brie Cheese Today
Made from cow’s milk, Brie has a buttery flavor and features a white rind meant to be eaten with the cheese. Today, Brie is served on cheese boards or baked with wine and fruit pairings. Traditional wheels of Brie cheese are quite large and take 6 gallons of milk to produce, measuring 9-18 inches in diameter and weighing 4-6 pounds. Today, mini wheels weighing 4-16 ounces are more common in retail settings. You can find imported and American-produced Brie at most grocery stores.
Brie vs. Camembert
Camembert is another French cheese known for its creamy texture and edible white rind. According to legend, it was first made in the 18th century in the village of Camembert in Normandy, France. Camembert is typically sold as a 5-inch wheel, unlike the large wheels of Brie, which can be cut into wedges. The main difference between Camembert and Brie is that they are made in different regions of France. Brie is traditionally creamier with a slightly nutty flavor, while Camembert is more robust, earthy, and savory and has a lower butterfat content.
Sweet or Savory: Endless Flavor Pairings
Brie is a versatile cheese that pairs well with both sweet and savory flavors, making it an ideal dinner party appetizer. When you combine Brie with pastry, you can utilize many flavors. Since gaining popularity, this appetizer has been served with pear, honey, and fig. Brie is popular on charcuterie boards, but it can also be enjoyed in other dishes such as omelets and sandwiches, or simply served with fresh fruit. We love coming up with new flavor pairings to include in our Brie en Croute pastry. Since we started producing the pastry, we have worked with our customers to create many successful custom flavor combinations.
Dutchland Classic Pastries’ Brie en Croûte Journey
Dutchland started making Brie en Croute pastries back in 2018 for a retail partner. We started producing the pastry for a leading US grocery retailer in 2022. Today, our Brie en Croute pastries are available for purchase by wholesale customers throughout the country. We currently produce two distinct styles of this pastry, along with many flavor pairings. We also welcome customers who want to create a custom Brie en Croute creation with our in-house R&D team.
The Cheese
We use both Brie and Camembert cheeses in our pastries today. We fill and bake our Brie en Croute with a delicious, creamy Camembert that pairs perfectly with our sweet and savory fillings.
The Flavors
Fig: A classic pairing with Brie en Croute, the earthy sweetness of fig balances the creamy, pungent cheese.
Onion: The sharp flavor of onion cuts through the creaminess, offering a grounded flavor profile ideal for appetizers.
Caramelized Onion: Sweet caramelized onions meld beautifully with the buttery pastry and melty cheese.
Cranberry Apple: Tart cranberries and bright apples provide a fruity contrast that lifts the richness of the cheese.
Cranberry Relish: This zesty, acidic pairing is an elevated combination, cutting through the butteriness of the cheese.
Hot Pepper Bacon Jam: Creates a dynamic sweet-and-spicy contrast to the cheese.
Fig & Pear: Another classic pairing, sweet fig and pear create a sophisticated, nuanced fruit pairing with the cheese.
Apple Butter: Smooth, sweet apple butter makes this flavor a hit in the fall.
Serving Suggestions
Brie en Croute should be baked until the pastry has puffed and turned a deep, golden brown. After removing it from the oven, let the pastry rest for 5-10 minutes before slicing it open. The cheese will set so it doesn’t ooze out or pool. Serve the pastry warm with other appetizer offerings, such as crackers, fresh fruit, and nuts. Pair this rich appetizer with a crisp acidic white wine to cut through the butteriness.
Interested in ordering Brie en Croute for your cafe or bakery? Visit the product page here.
