French Cheeses That Work Surprisingly Well in Desserts

Mar 30 2026

Ask any connoisseur of French cuisine if cheese works in a dessert and you will receive an emphatic yes, but that isn’t simply a bias guided by a loyalty to the greatest cheese-producing region in the world. After all, anyone with a taste for French cheese will happily devour it any time of day, and at any stage of a meal. But the amazing versatility of French cheeses genuinely extends to being a suitable and enhancing ingredient in a variety of desserts.
Of course we can’t discuss desserts without referencing the classic French cheeseboard. This is often served after a main meal in European countries as it helps to settle the stomach after a big meal, but also because it is a very sociable food with character and history that creates an after-dinner discussion topic. Almost any French cheese is suitable for a cheeseboard, but French cheese also provides a diversity of flavours and textures that works in authentic dessert dishes and proves that desserts can have subtlety and depth, rather than simply being a sugar hit to keep you awake after a heavy meal. So here are some of the best French cheeses to use in desserts, along with some recipe suggestions.

The best French cheeses to use in desserts

Brie de Meaux – The king of cheeses and a mild, soft and accommodating cheese which is well known for its slightly fruity flavour profile. This enables it to be paired well with milk chocolate, honey and fresh fruit, maybe in a tart. The cheese works well to balance out excessive sweetness.
Ossau Iraty – A ewe’s milk cheese from the Pyrenees this also has a fruity flavour profile, but with nutty hints too. Try it in this dessert recipe for an egg parfait with Ossau Iraty cream and shortbread soldiers.
Roquefort – Another cheese that goes down well in chocolate-based desserts. The intense saltiness of Roquefort still stands out when paired with a rich chocolate, particularly a dark chocolate.
Fourme d’Ambert – This is one of the milder blue cheeses and its creamy texture makes it ideal for pairing with sweet ingredients like apple, pear or vanilla.
Bleu d’Auvergne – Another classic tart ingredient is this blue cheese that pairs well with honey, figs and dried fruit, maybe in a cream-based dish or in a tart with pecans and walnuts.
Mont Brie Bleu – A blue cheese from the Auvergne region with hints of Brie. It is a mild blue cheese and its softness means it melts well and can be used in desserts, such as this Phyllo with a strawberry and peach compote.
Comte - One of the most popular French cheeses simply because it is so versatile. And that includes pairing well with various fruits. As a dessert you can simply drip it over a scone or a pastry, and add an appropriate fruit in order to enjoy all the ingredients in their most basic, but most glorious form.
Coulommiers – A cow’s milk cheese from the Lorraine region that is similar to Brie and is soft and creamy, which is ideal for using in desserts. Here we suggest how you can combine it with cream when making a delicious crème bulèè.

Quality French cheeses from Sodiaal

French cheeses offer a great platform for experimentation and the vast range of pairing options make the dessert course an exciting playground for adventurous chefs. So check out all the French cheeses supplied by Sodiaal and extend your skills with French cheese desserts today.