Thank goodness we don’t have to be professional chefs to assemble a holiday cheese board that looks and tastes incredible.
Santa is not the only one with a list…
I have teamed up with Castello Cheese to share their checklist for creating a perfect cheese board this holiday season. And you can best believe I’ll be checking it twice! Trust me – if you could see some of the boards I’ve assembled in my day – oh boy. Fortunately, Castello arrived in the ‘St. Nick’ of time…
Off we go…….
#1. How much cheese do I need per serving? If your board is being served as an hors d’oeuvre, plan for 1 to 1.5 ounces of each type per person. If you’re serving as a light meal, plan for 2 to 3 ounces of each type of cheese per person.
#2. How do I know what flavors work together? Provide a variety of flavors that complement one another. Try a combination of aged, soft firm and blue cheeses. Another option is to use cheeses made from various types of milk, such as goat, sheep or buffalo cheese, as well as traditional cow’s milk cheese.
#3. What kinds of cheese should I serve? Aged Havarti – Mild and buttery in flavor, this well-matured cheese has a delicate crystalline structure, creating a crunchy surprise that’s delicious. Danish Blue – Full-flavored with a wonderful bite and tangy notes of blue balanced by sweet and salty undertones. Cheddar – With a sharp, pungent and often earthy flavor, it’s a cheese plate staple. Chèvre – A goat-milk-based cheese with a tart, earthy flavor. Triple Crème Cheese – The softest of cheeses, it’s extremely soft and spreadable.
#4. What foods should I pair with the cheeses? The perfect cheese board includes a variety of tasty accompaniments that allow the palate to appreciate the taste of the cheese. Consider four main types of pairings:
Bread – Flatbread, grilled crostini, crackers, baguette
Sweet – Figs, apricots, honey, berry preserves
Savory/Salty – Marcona almonds, cashews, walnuts, Kalamata olives, spicy mustard
Charcuterie – Salami, prosciutto, pork pâté, Andouille sausage
#5. How do I put it all together on a cheese board? Using a quality board will add to the visual appeal of your creation. There are beautiful boards out there made of wood, marble, metals, concrete and even slate. Arrange the flavors from mildest to strongest in a clockwise pattern on the board and if possible, identify the name of each cheese. Set out precut cheese about 30 minutes before serving, so the aromas and flavors can fully come to life. Then fill in the rest of the board in a visually pleasing manner.
And last but not least…
#6. How should I store leftover cheese? It is essential to store it properly so it retains moisture and flavor and doesn’t absorb other flavors from the refrigerator. Blue cheese – wrap in aluminum foil, then plastic wrap. Aged Harvarti and hard cheese – wrap in parchment or waxed paper followed by a layer of plastic wrap. Soft cheeses – store in a resealable plastic container.
By following this checklist, not only will your inner gourmet shine bright but you’ll create a holiday cheese board that delights your guests and makes them feel welcome.
Buon Appetito!
Print
Holiday Cheese Board
- Category: Appetiser
Ingredients
- Castello Havarti Creamy
- Castello Havarti Aged
- CastelloTraditional Danish Blue Cheese
- Hot Sopressata Salami
- Multi-Grain Olive Oil Crostini
- Satsuma Mandarins
- Pears
- Almonds
- Walnuts
- Pecans
- Fig Spread
Instructions
- Assemble each item on a large beautiful board beginning clockwise with the mildest cheese and ending with the strongest then filling in the rest of the board with the accompaniments.
Ciao!
There is nothing like a beautiful cheese plate to start a holiday party off on the right foot, Annie – and your’s is gorgeous. Love all the tips on how to set one up properly!
Thank you so much, Geraldine!
This is so perfect, my favorite kinds of meals revolve around cheese, and I love how you broke it down in an easy to follow way!
Thanks, Kari!! 🙂
This is so unbelievable! I can never get enough of a cheese board!
Thank you, Katrina! These are fun especially around the holidays! 🙂
I love how you spelled out how much cheese to buy per person. This is something I rarely think about and almost always end up having wayyy too much cheese. I don’t mind leftovers but after a night with a cheese plate I kind of don’t want to see cheese again for a while! 😉 This is on my christmas list…one giant cheese plate 🙂
Oh wow – I’d love to see a cheese plate under the Christmas tree!! We’re cheese people too and it is difficult to know how much to buy – I’m glad this will help!! Thanks, dear! 🙂
MMMMMMMM!!!!! I would rather devour that than any sweet dessert. Just hand me a glass of wine and that cheese board and I’ll be as happy as an Italian can be. I would have said I’d be as happy as a pig in mud but I’ve never been partial to mud 🙂 I don’t even like getting sandy . . . but I digress. Your photos are so realistic I know I can smell everything and it smells heavenly!! Thank you for the inspiration!!!
Hahahah! You crack me up! Thank you so much, my friend! I tell you what – I was nibbling while I was photographing and ended up having it for dinner with Hubby! 🙂 So good!
Cheese boards are one of my favorite things ever, so you’d have to plan several ounces for just me. 🙂 This cheese board looks so festive and perfect for the holidays, and I love Castello Cheese!
I would do that for you! Thanks so much, dear! Castello is awesome, isn’t it! 🙂
Oh, I love a good cheese board! This is gorgeous, Annie! I can’t believe you have oranges with leave on them! Thanks for all this valuable information. The amounts and storage tips are great – not that there’s usually any leftover cheese at my house…. 🙂
Why thank you! I know…I saw those babies and scooped them right up! They’re so sweet and delicious! 🙂
Ooooh, so many great tips here Annie! That’s always my big question.. how much cheese per person; I always over buy. Now I know!! No doubt a cheese board is such a great way to welcome guests. I love your addition of olives and… Mandarins! They add such a nice pop of color and interest. I’d love to sit down and share this board with you over a glass of red! This totally gets me in the holiday spirit! Thank you my dear! 😀
Gosh, that would be lovely, Traci… Thanks for your kind words, my friend. So glad this post could answer some questions for you! Cheers! 🙂
I can never withstand the pull of a rocking cheese board. This looks so incredible, and in my dream world, it’s dinner tonight. Love Havarti more than anything!
We lived the dream last night – it was dinner! Havarti’s sooo good!! Thanks, friend! 🙂
This is so helpful!! Now I know exactly where I’m going for inspiration for all my cheeseboards this holiday season 🙂 looks so delicious, and beautiful!
Ahhh! Music to my ears! Enjoy, my dear! 🙂
Beautiful!! 🙂
Thank you, Linda! Happy holidays! 🙂
A good cheese board is one of my favorite things to see at a party. 1. because I love them and 2. because until now I really didn’t know how to make one properly myself. Thanks for the tips on servings, types and presentation. This was very helpful! Definitely doing this on Christmas day. Pinned. Take care.
I’m thinking that’s the case for many people… So happy to share this information…it’s good stuff! Thanks, friend! 🙂
This is such a great post! I will admit that I’ve never actually made my own cheese board, but I’m loving all of your suggestions. I plan on using this for a new year’s party that I’m hosting and this will definitely come in handy!
I love that! I learned a lot from doing this post! The flavor combinations are really quite lovely! Thanks, friend! 🙂
I love cheese boards! yours look great with all the extras you added!! cheers Bambina!
Why thank you, dear! These are so fun to assemble! Cheers!