We all love a gooey baked camembert starter – but have you tried it like this?

With the festive entertaining season in full flow, there’s no better crowd-pleasing centrepiece than a gloriously gooey baked camembert. Luxuriously melty and irresistibly rich, this soft French cheese transforms into pure indulgence with just a little heat. It’s perfect for dipping into with vegetable crudités, breadsticks and slices of sourdough toast, so why not put together the perfect sharing platter around our classic baked camembert recipe and complete with a range of delicious toppings.

If you want something a bit more fancy, then try our 12 irresistible twists below, including a festive brioche version and bacon-wrapped breadsticks ready for dunking. For more festive inspiration, check out our Christmas canapé recipe collection, best recipes with brie, cheeseboards and sharing platters. If you can’t get enough cheesy goodness, see our most indulgent recipes with cheese and 10 twists on macaroni cheese.

1. Truffle & wild mushroom camembert

This chunky, savoury creation is as rich as it sounds. The wild mushrooms lend a wonderful umami flavour we find irresistible. To make, put a whole camembert on a baking sheet in its box. Make 3-4 slits and drizzle over some truffle oil. Bake until the cheese is oozing and top with cooked wild mushrooms and garlic. For more umami goodness, serve alongside our mushroom pâté.

2. Candied bacon & pickled chestnuts

Brush streaky bacon on both sides with maple syrup, grill until just cooked, then roughly chop. Put chopped cooked chestnuts in a small bowl with a little sherry vinegar for 2 mins until lightly pickled. Make 3-4 slits in the top of a whole camembert and scatter over the bacon and chestnuts. Cook until the cheese is melting. Try more of our chestnut recipes here.

3. Antipasti

Try an Italian twist. Make a few slits in the top of a whole camembert. Finely chop some capers and olives and sit on top of the cheese. Dot with a small handful of sundried tomatoes and bake until the cheese is melting. Discover our antipasti platter with homemade flatbreads.

4. Mulled wine & red onion chutney

These festive flavours work perfectly with camembert; perk up your standard red onion chutney with a dash of mulled wine. Heat the mulled wine until bubbling and reduced by half. Stir in some crushed garlic and red onion chutney. Put a whole camembert on a baking sheet with a few slits in the top. Bake until melty, then spoon over the chutney. For more inspiration, try our Christmas chutney recipes.

5. Nut roast

Give your cheese some extra crunch and a subtle sweetness. Make 3-4 slits in the top of a whole camembert and sprinkle over some finely chopped sage, walnuts, pistachios, flaked almonds and honey. Bake for 15 mins until the nuts are golden and the cheese is melting. Now why not try our nut roast rolls?

This tear and share brioche makes the perfect Christmas party food dish – and guests will love the buns’ festive filling of quince, chestnuts and cranberries. Next, try these cheese & garlic tear-and-share rolls.

Just when you thought you’d seen it all, bacon-wrapped breadsticks are here to take your baked camembert to a whole new level. The saltiness of the streaky pancetta is a match made in savoury heaven with the cheesy camembert. Discover more bacon recipes.

Molten camembert comes oozing out of this pie that’s just made to be shared. A fun group starter, the pie also features a layer of quince or cranberry jelly for an extra festive touch. Find our cranberry sauce recipes here.

A grown-up twist on baked camembert, this variation includes whisky, maple syrup and nuts. If you can’t get enough of the smoky liquor, why not serve alongside our spiced clementine mulled whisky.

Folded circles of pizza dough (use shop-bought to save time if you prefer) surround a melting, baked cheese to create a pretty flower effect. Your guests won’t be able to resist its golden charms. Follow it up with our cheese, chive & ham tear-and-share bread.

Ramp up the indulgence factor further by brushing your dough liberally with garlic and parsley butter before baking. The combination of garlicky pull-apart rolls dipped in tangy molten cheese is pure perfection.

Need a speedy centrepiece? Put your air-fryer to excellent use with this simple yet stunning baked camembert dish – ready in just 20 minutes. Flavour the cheese with rosemary and garlic before baking, then serve with a festive arrangement of pigs in blankets for the perfect mini dippers.

More cheesy inspiration

Our best camembert recipes
How to bake camembert
Our most indulgent cheese creations

Which is your favourite cheesy melting pot? Leave a comment below…