Guide to Using Brie Cheese in the Kitchen

A guide to using brie cheese in the kitchen! Find out what brie cheese is, how it’s made, and how to use it in the kitchen!

What is Brie Cheese?

Brie is a soft and creamy cheese that is originally from France, specifically the region of Brie. The flavor of this cheese is mild and buttery, and the texture is soft and creamy. The characteristic interior of Brie is surrounded by a thick rind of white mold (don’t worry it’s the good kind!).

Brie is traditionally made from cow’s milk but can sometimes be made with either sheep’s milk or goat’s milk. In the cooking process, once the cheese has thickened, curdled, and been cut, the whey is then drained, the cheese is salted, and left to ripen for about four to five weeks. As this cheese is ripening, the rind will bloom, and this is where the white mold will come from.

Typically, the cream is added in the cooking process to make brie even creamier, giving it a higher milk fat content than other cheeses. Depending on how much cream is added will determine how creamy the brie is. For example, triple cream brie has the most cream added and therefore, has the smoothest and richest texture.

Fun Facts About Brie Cheese

1. You can eat the rind.
2. Brie ripens from the outside in – this is what gives it the liquid-like edges and a dense center.
3. You should store brie (and other soft cheeses) in plastic wrap to keep it creamy.
4. For optimal enjoyment, allow brie to sit at room temperature for about 1 hour before serving. This will make it super creamy!

How to Use Brie Cheese in the Kitchen

• Use it to make a grilled cheese.
• Put it on a cheese board with bread and fruit preserves.
• Bake it in a pastry.
• Use it in a casserole.
• Top pizza or flatbreads.
• Pair with apples for a satisfying snack.

Recipes Using Brie Cheese

Asparagus and Brie Grilled Cheese with Arugula Pesto via The Foodie Dietitian

Onion Plum Jam with Sweet Cheese via Amy Gorin

Cranberry Brie Pastry Puffs via The Nutrition Adventure

Grilled Turkey and Brie Sandwich via Nourish Nutrition

Apple and Brie Grilled Cheese via Laurel Ann Nutrition

Baked Brie Puff Pastry with Fig Jam via Cozy Peach Kitchen

Dandelion Grilled Cheese with Fig and Brie via The Foodie Dietitian

Cranberry and Apple Baked Brie via Jenny Shea Rawn

Baked Brie with Pumpkin Butter and Walnuts via Jenny Shea Rawn

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