Easy Camembert Appetizer with Figs, Honey and Nuts

This easy stuffed Camembert is filled with dried figs, pistachios, walnuts and honey for a sweet, savory and delicious no-bake Camembert appetizer that takes just 15 minutes to prepare..

Apparently, I am in my Camembert era.

I just shared my baked Camembert with cranberries and walnuts, and here I am again with another entire wheel of Camembert.

Should I diversify?

Probably.

Will I?

Absolutely not.

As we say in French, "Quand on aime, on ne compte pas." Literally: When you love something, you don't keep count.

Which I think is a very elegant French way of saying that once you love something, moderation is no longer our problem.

And I do love Camembert.

This time, though, we are not baking anything. This easy Camembert appetizer is sliced in half and generously stuffed with dried figs, crunchy pistachios and walnuts, honey and just a touch of crème fraîche, sour cream or mascarpone to make everything beautifully creamy.

Then you simply close it back up, refrigerate it and pretend you worked much harder than you actually did.

Exactly the kind of kitchen deception I fully support.

Sweet, salty, creamy and crunchy, this Camembert appetizer with figs and honey looks fancy enough for a holiday table or cheese board, but takes about 15 minutes to put together.

Très pratique.

Jump to:

• Ingredients You'll Need
• How to Make This Camembert Appetizer
• Camembert Appetizer Variations
• Easy Camembert Appetizer with Figs, Honey and Nuts

Ingredients You'll Need

You only need a handful of ingredients for this easy French cheese appetizer.

Camembert: Use one whole wheel of good-quality Camembert, around 8 to 9 ounces (225-250 g). You want it ripe and flavorful, but still firm enough to slice horizontally without completely collapsing on you.

Dried figs: Chop them into small pieces so you get a little sweet, chewy fig in every bite. Dried figs are perfect here because they add sweetness without making the filling watery.

Pistachios: Finely chopped pistachios add wonderful crunch and a slightly sweet, nutty flavor.

Walnuts: Because apparently one type of nut was not enough. Walnuts add a deeper, earthier flavor that is especially delicious with Camembert, figs and honey.

Crème fraîche: This makes the filling creamy and helps hold everything together. You can use crème fraîche, sour cream or mascarpone, depending on what you can find and what you already have in the refrigerator.

Honey: Just one tablespoon is enough to balance the salty Camembert and bring all the flavors together. Use any honey you love-there is absolutely no need to track down anything fancy.

How to Make This Camembert Appetizer

This may be one of the easiest French appetizers you will ever make.

Start by slicing the Camembert horizontally through the middle so you have two round halves.

In a small bowl, combine the finely chopped pistachios, walnuts and dried figs. Add the crème fraîche, sour cream or mascarpone and the honey, then stir until everything is well combined.

Spread the fig and nut mixture generously over the cut side of one half of the Camembert.

And when I say generously, I mean generously.

This is not the moment for restraint. We already discussed the French philosophy on that.

Place the second half of the Camembert back on top and gently press everything together.

Wrap the stuffed Camembert tightly and refrigerate until ready to serve. You can prepare it several hours ahead or even the day before, which makes this Camembert appetizer especially convenient for entertaining.

Take it out of the refrigerator at least 30 minutes before serving so the cheese can soften and become beautifully creamy.

Serve it with sliced baguette, crackers, fresh grapes, pears or as part of a cheese and charcuterie board.

Camembert Appetizer Variations

Once you have the basic idea, this stuffed Camembert is very easy to change up.

Change the nuts: Swap the walnuts or pistachios for pecans, hazelnuts or almonds. You can also simply use one type of nut instead of two.

Change the dried fruit: Dried apricots are delicious with Camembert, while dried cranberries or dates would also work beautifully. Just chop everything into small pieces.

Add fresh herbs: A little finely chopped thyme or rosemary gives the filling a more savory flavor and works especially well if you want your Camembert with honey to feel a little less sweet.

Try maple syrup: Replace the honey with a small amount of pure maple syrup for a slightly different sweetness.

Add a little tang: A tiny drizzle of balsamic glaze pairs wonderfully with Camembert and figs. Emphasis on tiny. We are making stuffed cheese, not dressing a salad.

Use Brie: If you prefer a milder cheese, you can use a small wheel of Brie instead. Consider it Camembert's slightly more polite cousin making another appearance.

However you make it, this is one of those recipes that looks far more sophisticated than the amount of effort involved.

Six ingredients. Fifteen minutes. No oven.

And yet you arrive at the table carrying an entire Camembert stuffed with figs, honey and nuts like the chic French hostess you were clearly destined to become.

I see absolutely no downside.