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A golden fried soft cheese wheel (Caprice des Dieux or brie) with a crispy coating and a warm, melted center, paired with roasted baby potatoes for dipping – this appetizer is a true show-stopper.
Lately, when I open my Instagram – melty fried cheese appetizer. TikTok – a fried brie fondue recipe. Facebook — yes, another crispy brie fondue recipe calling my name. It’s been haunting me, so I finally made it. And let me tell you, it’s gooey, rich, and completely irresistible. And if the cheese fondue isn’t enough to tempt you, dipping roasted baby potatoes into that molten cheese absolutely puts it over the top.
Why You’ll Fall For This Fried Soft Cheese Wheel
We all know cheesy potatoes are amazing, but this takes the whole idea to a new level. The crisp exterior cracks open into molten cheese, making it one of the coolest appetizers to bring to the table. And the best part is how many directions you can take it. I made seasoned roasted potatoes for dipping, but anything works here — bread, fruit, vegetables, meats, crackers, dried fruit — anything you’d pair with a crispy brie fondue recipe fits perfectly around this golden, molten cheese wheel. You can even build your entire appetizer spread around it: lay out a long sheet of parchment, place the cheese in the center, surround it with whatever you love, and you’ll have a starter that people talk about for years.
Table of Contents
Prep Your Ingredients: Fried Soft Cheese Wheel
The Potatoes
Peewee Potatoes | Olive Oil | Smoked Paprika | Chipotle Powder | Garlic Powder | Herbes de Provence | Salt |
Give your baby potatoes a head start because they take the most amount of time in this appetizer. Coat them in olive oil. Then, either mix your seasoning in a bowl first and spread it on top, or just sprinkle everything evenly and give them a good toss to make sure every potato is coated. For easier cleanup, place parchment paper on a baking sheet, then spread your seasoned potatoes out so they roast evenly and develop those crisp edges – the perfect crunch to go with your molten cheese later.
The Coating
Flour | Kosher Salt | Egg + Heavy Cream | Panko + Breadcrumbs |
Dredging Stations: You know the drill. Three shallow bowls: Flour + Salt (mixed), Egg + Cream (whisked), Breadcrumb + Panko (mixed). Coat the cheese in this order: Flour → Egg → Breadcrumbs → Egg → Breadcrumbs. If you are making ahead, this is where you pause – wrap your coated cheese wheel and refrigerate for up to 4 hours.
Frying: Preheat your oil to 350°F. The best way to tell is with an instant-read thermometer. If you don’t have one, you can use the wooden spoon test. Place the handle of a wooden spoon in the oil – if there’s a steady, moderate bubbling, it’s ready. Add your cheese wheel to the oil. When the bottom is crispy and golden, flip and fry the other side, spooning hot oil over the top occasionally. Frying will take about 3 minutes per side, but you may need to adjust depending on the thickness of your cheese. Remove and let drain on paper towels.
The Fried Soft Cheese Wheel Finale
Flaky Salt | Chives |
Once this fried cheese appetizer is nice and crispy, finish it with flaky salt and chives. Add it to your serving plate with the roasted baby potatoes and carefully remove the top rind of the cheese. You can leave it simple, or make this the centerpiece of your entire appetizer spread. Add bread, fruit, vegetables, meats, crackers, dried fruit – anything you would dip into a crispy brie fondue recipe.
Substitutions and Variations
Ingredient Swaps: The Cheese
For this recipe, I used Caprice des Dieux. It’s a soft-ripened French cheese that behaves almost exactly like brie when fried. The only real differences are the flavor is slightly milder and it’s creamier. It also has the signature oval shape. But, if you can’t find it, here are great alternatives:
- Brie Wheel: The closest swap. A classic brie wheel fries beautifully with the same crispy brie exterior and molten center. Choose a firm wheel so it holds its structure.
- Mini Brie Wheels: Perfect for individual servings or a party platter. Fry them the same way, just shorten the cook time. They’re fun, adorable, and great for serving multiple guests.
- Coulommiers: Think of it as brie’s slightly thicker cousin. Rich, buttery, and excellent for frying because of its firmer structure.
- Camembert: A little funkier than brie, this one also melts gorgeously. If you like a deeper, earthier flavor in the molten center, this is a great choice.
Flavor Twist: Similar Cheese Appetizer
- Whipped Brie with Figs – This one leans more toward a brie spread than a brie dip appetizer, but it’s just as gorgeous and incredibly easy to make ahead.
- Potato Croquettes with Cheese – Crispy on the outside, melty on the inside. These fried potato bites have a molten cheese center and pair perfectly with the hatch chile sauce.
- Pumpkin Cheese Fondue – If you’re short on time, this is your go-to. It uses a fondue cheese package, tastes amazing, feels festive, and comes together with almost no effort.
- Baked Feta and Tomato Dip – If you want a baked option instead of a fried one, this feta dip spread over warm focaccia is exactly what you’re looking for.
- Blue Cheese Olive Dip – The creamy whip is savory, the olives are briny, and it tastes like your favorite dirty martini in every bite! This one isn’t exactly similar, but it has gone viral so it’s great if you’re looking for different appetizer ideas.
The Perfect Pairings
The Salty Vinegartini – If you love a filthy dirty martini, this Salty Vinegartini recipe is right up your alley.
Lamb Loin Chops in Herb Butter – If you want a rich, aromatic, herby dish – this recipe for lamb loin chops grilled in the most amazing herb compound butter is the way to go.
Arugula Fennel Salad – This arugula fennel salad truly is delicious, and it is one of those recipes where simplicity wins.
Amaretto Peaches – Warm peaches with their natural sweetness heightened by the amaretto and the caramelization process that comes with sautéed peaches.
Fried Soft Cheese Wheel: Questions Answered
Caprice des Dieux is a soft-ripened French cheese with a soft, edible rind and a creamy interior. It tastes similar to brie, but has a milder flavor and it is in a signature oval shape which makes such a statement. If you want to learn more about it, visit their website at https://www.capricedesdieux.com/. It is in French, click the translate button in your browser to change to your language.
Yes, a brie wheel works great here. The flavor is slightly stronger, but it fries just as well and gives you the same molten cheese center plus it’s easier to find.
You can prep it ahead up to the dredging stage. Once it’s coated, wrap the cheese and refrigerate for up to 4 hours. Fry right before serving for the crispest crust.
Spread them on a baking sheet and roast at 400°F for 10–15 minutes, flipping halfway through, until hot and crispy again.
Roasted baby potatoes are classic, but bread, fruit, vegetables, meats, crackers, or even dried all work great for dipping – anything you’d pair with a crispy brie fondue recipe works perfectly.
Any neutral, high-heat oil like canola, vegetable, or grapeseed works. Olive oil also works, but keep it around 350°F.
Chef Nadia’s Tips
This recipe will be a tougher one to prep too far ahead. Here are a few things that you can do to make this easier when hosting:
Baby Potatoes:
This part of the baby potato appetizer can be roasted ahead and reheated. Preheat your oven to 400°F, place the potatoes on a baking sheet, and roast for 10–15 minutes, flipping halfway, until heated through and crispy again.
Crispy Fried Brie:
Follow the recipe up until you have finished with the dredging steps. Then cover well and store in the fridge for up to 4 hours – fry right before serving.
Fry and Keep Warm:
If you want to make it just prior to your guest arriving, you can make it and keep it warm at 200°F-225°F. Don’t do this for over 20 minutes though because the crust can soften, causing it to leak.
Large Dinner Party:
If you’re serving a crowd, double the baby potatoes for this fried cheese appetizer or add fresh baguette slices, since people always want more dipping options for the molten center.
Fried Soft Cheese Wheel
Equipment
- 1 Mixing bowl
- 1 baking sheet
- parchment paper, (optional)
- 3 shallow plates or bowls, (for dredging)
- Large skillet or shallow frying pan
- Instant-Read Thermometer, (optional but helpful)
- tongs
- paper towels, (for draining)
Ingredients
- 1 lb peewee potatoes, or new potatoes, small
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp chipotle powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1½ tsp Herbes de Provence
- 3 tbsp flour
- kosher salt, to taste
- 1 large egg
- 1 tbsp heavy cream
- ½ cup panko
- 1 cup plain breadcrumbs
- 1 caprice de dieux, or brie wheel
- oil, for frying
- chives, chopped
- flaky salt, to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400℉. Wash and dry the potatoes, add to a mixing bowl. Drizzle with olive oil and add smoked paprika, chipotle powder, garlic powder, Herbes de Provence, and a pinch of kosher salt. Toss to coat.1 lb peewee potatoes, 3 tbsp olive oil, 2 tsp smoked paprika, 1 tsp chipotle powder, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1½ tsp Herbes de Provence
- Roast the Potatoes: Spread the potatoes on a lined baking sheet and roast for 20–25 minutes, or until tender.
- Set up the dredging stations:Plate 1: flour + pinch of saltPlate 2: egg + heavy cream (whisked)Plate 3: panko + breadcrumbs3 tbsp flour, kosher salt, 1 large egg, 1 tbsp heavy cream, ½ cup panko, 1 cup plain breadcrumbs
- Dredge the cheese:Coat the cheese wheel in flourDip in the egg mixtureCoat in the panko/breadcrumbsRepeat with the eggs and then the breadcrumbsChill for 15 minutes1 caprice de dieux
- Fry the Cheese: In a pan, preheat about 1½ inches of olive oil to 350°F. Add your cheese and fry until deeply golden, flip and fry the other side, spooning the hot oil on top. Remove and let drain on a paper towel for a minute.oil
- Serve: Add the fried cheese to a serving plate and sprinkle with flaky salt. On the side of the cheese add the roasted potatoes and top with chopped chives. Remove the top rind of the warm cheese and serve immediately for dipping.flaky salt, chives
Kitchen Cam
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
