Brie is a soft cow’s milk cheese with a white rind and a smooth, creamy texture. When paired with the right kind of bread, it makes for an elegant and delicious snack or light meal. But what bread works best with brie?
Look for breads with a crisp crust and light, airy interior
The key to pairing bread with brie is contrast – you want a bread with some crunch to offset the rich softness of the cheese. Breads with a crisp crust and light, porous crumb are ideal. The crisp crust provides that contrasting texture against the creamy brie, while the air pockets in the interior allow the cheese flavor to come through. Dense, chewy breads will overpower the brie.
French bread is a classic choice
A classic French baguette is one of the most iconic pairings with brie. The crusty exterior and fluffy interior provide the perfect contrast to highlight the cheese’s rich flavor. Sliced baguette is ideal for spreading the cheese on top. Baguettes and other skinny French breads like ficelles are great for dipping into an oozing baked brie.
Ciabatta also pairs nicely
Ciabatta is another excellent choice. Like a baguette, it has a crisp, flaky crust and a light, porous interior with big holes. The holes allow the brie to ooze into the bread, combining the flavors. Ciabatta has a little more heft than a baguette, making it ideal for open-faced brie sandwiches.
Try brioche for a richer pairing
Buttery, eggy brioche makes for a more decadent pairing with brie. While not as flaky and crisp as French bread, brioche has a tender, cakier crumb that enriches the cheese. Especially tasty is toasted brioche – the crunch highlights the silkiness of brie. Brioche pairs well in Monte Cristo sandwiches with brie and ham.
Focaccia adds herby flavors
Olive oil-brushed focaccia is an excellent match for brie. Like ciabatta, it has a crisp crust with a chewy, holey crumb but with the added flavor punch of herbs, garlic, or other seasonings. This allows you to complement different types of brie, like herbes de Provence brie with rosemary focaccia. The oily focaccia also beautifully browns and crisps up when baked with brie.
Other breads that work
In addition to the above breads, other varieties that pair nicely with brie include:
- Rustic sourdough – The tang offsets the rich cheese
- Pita or naan – Great for bread and baked brie dipping
- Pumpernickel – The dense, rye flavor stands up to bold brie
- Rye crispbread – Provides crunch and cuts the richness
- Whole grain bread – Adds flavor complexity
Breads to avoid
On the other hand, some bread textures and flavors clash with brie’s delicate nature:
- Buttery enriched breads like challah
- Sweet breads like Hawaiian bread or milk bread
- Hearty multigrain or seeded breads
- Potato or dinner rolls
- American-style white bread
These all tend to be too bready and overwhelm the brie’s subtle flavor.
Serving suggestions
Here are some tasty ways to serve brie with bread:
- On a cheese board with sliced baguette, crackers, and fruit
- Baked in puff pastry with sliced French bread
- Grilled cheese with brie and artisan sourdough
- Croque monsieur or croque madame sandwich
- Stuffed in a crusty baguette with prosciutto, figs, and arugula
- Fondue with torn bits of baguette, apple, and honey for dipping
- Open face brie and caramelized onion sandwich on olive bread
- Brie panini with cranberry jam and walnuts on ciabatta
Key tips for pairing brie with bread
- Look for bread with a crisp crust and light, airy crumb
- Avoid breads that are too dense, sweet, or fatty
- Slice bread thinly to prevent it from overwhelming the brie
- Allow chilled brie to come to room temperature before serving for the best texture
- Try different breads and combinations to find your perfect match with different types of brie
Conclusion
With its rich, creamy taste, brie cheese pairs best with breads that provide contrasting texture. Baguettes, ciabatta, and focaccia make classic combinations, while brioche and sourdough can add their own flavor complexity. Avoid breads that are too heavy, sweet, or bready which overpower the delicate brie. With so many varieties of bread and types of brie, there are endless tasty pairings to discover.