What Is Babybel?

Babybel is a brand of cheese produced by Bel Group, a multinational French cheese company. What most people think of as simply Babybel is actually called Mini Babybel, a snack-sized portion of what was originally sold as a larger cheese. Each miniature wheel comes enrobed in a soft, colorful wax coating that can be peeled off for easy eating. Babybel is 69 percent fat and a good source of calcium. 

What Is Babybel?

Originally modeled after Dutch Edam cheese, Babybel are miniature individual wheels of semisoft European style cheeses coated in soft wax. The Original flavor is creamy, smooth, and tangy, with a semisoft texture. Versions made in the style of several European cheeses in addition to the Edam style are also offered. 

Babybel is known for its characteristic packaging, which consists of silver dollar-sized wheels of cheese dipped in colorful wax. The original Babybel, a 380-gram wheel, was first produced in France in 1952. In 1977, the first Mini Babybel, which has become identified with the company and brand name, were produced.

In the United States, Babybel is produced at factories in Kentucky and North Dakota. Mini Babybel can be found in supermarkets and convenience stores across North America, Europe, Australia, and in other countries. Bel Group also produces Laughing Cow, a processed cheese spread.

How Babybel Is Made

Raw cow's milk is heated and pasteurized in large vats. Starter cultures are added to lower the pH of the milk and give it its characteristic tangy flavor. Next, vegetarian rennet is added to coagulate the milk. The curds are cut, stirred, and drained into tiny wheels, then pressed. They're briefly aged to reach the correct pH, then soaked in a salt brine, which firms up each wheel, adds flavor, and helps preserve the cheese.

The wheels are dried on racks for three hours, then dipped in two layers of wax, the first one clear and the next one colored red, black, orange, green, or blue depending on the type of Babybel being produced. Finally, each waxed wheel is wrapped and labeled. 

Types of Babybel

While Babybel Original, the Edam-style cheese, is most common, several types of Babybel made in the style of other common firm cheeses are produced. These include Light, Sharp Original, Gouda, White Cheddar, and Mozzarella. While there are subtle flavor differences, all feature the original flavor's semisoft texture and characteristic tang, although the Gouda version is nuttier and sweeter. The original flavor is available unwaxed in the form of Babybel Mini Rolls, a curled, string cheese-style product sealed in a plastic pull-top container rather than a wax coating.

In Europe, Mini Babybel Organic, a version of the Edam-style original made with organic ingredients, is also available. Babybel Maxi, as the hand-sized, 380-gram original-flavor wheels the company produced before it began making the miniature version is now known, can still be purchased in France. 

Substitutes

In recipes that involve grating, melting, or chopping Babybel, Edam can substitute for Original, young Gouda for Babybel Gouda, Cheddar for mild cheddar, and so forth. If portable, mild-tasting, single-serving cheese snacks are needed, individually-wrapped string cheeses make a good substitute.

Uses

In addition to out-of-hand snacking, lunchboxes, travel snacks, and casual cheese boards, Babybel's small size without further cutting or breaking down makes it great for stuffing other foods. After the wax is removed, Babybel cheeses can be wrapped in pastry or biscuit dough and baked or dipped in batter and coated in breadcrumbs and fried. Its small size and flat shape also make it great for stuffing into chicken breasts, oversized burger patties, or meatloaf before cooking. 

Babybel can also be chopped, sliced, or grated and added to pasta or vegetable salads, cold sandwiches, paninis, or pizza. 

Storage

Store Babybel cheeses in their original plastic wrapping in your refrigerator. According to the manufacturer, Babybel can be stored in a lunchbox or backpack for eating later in the same day for several hours. 

Babybel Recipes

• Easy Macaroni and Cheese
• Garlic Bread Grilled Cheese
• Doritos-Crusted Babybels

Can You Eat The Rind? 

Babybel's exterior is covered with a soft wax coating that should be removed before eating.