Cheese comes in many varieties, textures, and flavors. Some cheeses are hard and crumbly while others are soft and spreadable. Soft cheeses are a delightful addition to cheese boards, sandwiches, salads, and more. Their creamy, mild taste adds richness without overpowering other ingredients. Here we will explore three popular types of soft cheese.
Brie
Brie is a soft cow’s milk cheese named after the French region where it originated. It has a white rind and a smooth, buttery interior. Brie has a rich, earthy flavor that becomes more intense as it ripens. Young brie is mild and slightly tart while aged brie is gooey with prominent mushroom and nutty notes. This cheese is often baked or grilled to accentuate its flavor. Brie pairs well with fruits, nuts, honey, and wines.
Characteristics of Brie
- Made from cow’s milk
- Has edible white rind
- Smooth, creamy interior
- Mild when young, earthy when aged
- Pairs well with fruit, nuts, and wine
Camembert
Like brie, Camembert is a soft cow’s milk cheese from France. However, it comes from the Normandy region. Traditional Camembert has a white, bloomy rind and a rich, creamy interior. It is less earthy than brie with a mild, salty, mushroom-like flavor. As it ripens, it becomes runny with a more pronounced sweetness. Camembert holds its shape well when baked or grilled. It pairs nicely with apples, pears, jams, cured meats, and sparkling wines.
Characteristics of Camembert
- Made from cow’s milk
- Has white, bloomy rind
- Creamy, supple texture
- Mild and mushroomy in flavor
- Softens to runny with age
- Pairs with fruit, cured meat, and wine
Mascarpone
Mascarpone is a rich, creamy cheese originally from Italy. Unlike brie and Camembert, mascarpone is made from cow’s cream rather than milk. It has a soft, spreadable texture similar to cream cheese. However, it is less tangy with a sweet, milky flavor. Mascarpone is used in many Italian desserts like tiramisu and cannoli filling. Its neutral flavor pairs well with coffee, chocolate, berries, nuts, and liqueurs. Mascarpone adds velvety richness to dips, sauces, pastas, and more.
Characteristics of Mascarpone
- Made from cow’s cream
- Thick, creamy, spreadable texture
- Mildly sweet, creamy flavor
- Used in many desserts
- Pairs with coffee, chocolate, nuts, fruit, and liqueurs
Comparing Brie, Camembert, and Mascarpone
| Cheese | Made From | Texture | Flavor | Pairings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brie | Cow’s milk | Smooth, creamy | Earthy, mushroomy | Fruit, nuts, wine |
| Camembert | Cow’s milk | Creamy, supple | Mild, salty, mushroomy | Fruit, cured meat, wine |
| Mascarpone | Cow’s cream | Thick, creamy, spreadable | Sweet, milky | Coffee, chocolate, berries, nuts, liqueurs |
Conclusion
Brie, Camembert, and mascarpone are all soft, creamy cheeses with subtle flavors that complement other ingredients. Brie is earthy, Camembert is mild and mushroomy, and mascarpone is sweet and milky. While they share some traits, each cheese has distinctive origins, textures, tastes, and uses. Brie and Camembert both pair wonderfully with fruits and wines. Mascarpone is used more often in desserts. No cheese board or recipe is complete without these soft cheese varieties!