Randy Chandler
A cheese and crackers platter is an easy and impressive appetizer for any gathering. It's important to select a variety of cheeses with different flavours and textures. A good rule of thumb is to have at least three different types of cheese, such as a hard cheese, a soft cheese, and a blue cheese. You can also add cured meats such as salami, pepperoni, or prosciutto, as well as crackers, crusty bread, or baguette. For a pop of colour, add seasonal fruits like apples, pears, or grapes, and some fresh herbs like rosemary or thyme. To complement the cheeses, add some sweet components such as jam, honey, or even chocolate. Arrange the items on a large platter or board, grouping them together and mixing different shapes, sizes, and colours. Don't overcrowd the board, and provide picks, forks, or spoons for your guests to easily access the food.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of cheese types | 3 or more |
| Type of cheese | Hard, soft, blue, spreadable, semi-soft, firm, funky, salty |
| Cheese examples | Cheddar, Swiss, Colby Jack, Gouda, Gruyère, provolone, pepper Jack, goat cheese, brie, cream cheese, Neufchâtel, burrata, mascarpone, Muenster, Havarti, mozzarella, blue cheese, Gorgonzola, Stilton, Roquefort |
| Amount of cheese | 3-5 oz per person |
| Other food items | Crackers, cured meats, fruits, nuts, olives, marinated veggies, dips, spreads, bread, chocolates, herbs |
| Arrangement | Place large items first, fill in gaps with smaller items, group similar ingredients together, create variety in shapes, sizes and colours |
| Drinks | Wine |
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What You'll Learn
Choose a variety of cheeses
When creating a cheese and crackers platter, the cheese is the star of the show. It's best to provide a few different varieties since your guests' tastes can vary. A good rule of thumb is to choose at least three different types of cheeses, such as a hard cheese, a soft cheese, and a blue cheese. This will ensure a variety of textures and flavours that will appeal to a range of palates.
When selecting your cheeses, consider a mix of firm or semi-firm cheeses, spreadable or soft cheeses, and something funky or strong-flavoured. For firm or semi-firm cheeses, options like aged white Cheddar, Gouda, Edam, Gruyère, Dubliner, or Manchego are excellent choices. These cheeses offer a nice contrast to softer varieties.
For spreadable or soft cheeses, Brie, Camembert, and soft goat cheese are delicious options. These cheeses are easy to spread on crackers and provide a creamy texture. If you're feeling adventurous, include a strong blue cheese like Gorgonzola, Stilton, or Roquefort. These funky cheeses have a distinct flavour that not everyone may enjoy, so consider your audience before adding them to the platter.
When in doubt, mix and match cheeses from different categories to create a well-rounded selection. For example, you could pair a soft goat cheese with Brie, knowing that their flavours are distinct. You can also include pre-sliced hard cheeses or cracker cuts like Cheddar, Swiss, Colby Jack, or Pepper Jack to reduce prep time.
Don't be afraid to get creative and have fun with your cheese choices. Visit a specialty shop or supermarket on sampling day to explore different varieties and discover new favourites. Remember, the key to a great cheese and crackers platter is offering a diverse range of cheeses that will cater to the varying tastes of your guests.
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Add crackers, bread, and/or breadsticks
When it comes to crackers, bread, and breadsticks, there are many options to choose from. Crackers are a staple of any cheese platter, and you can offer a variety of types such as water crackers, buttery crackers, multigrain crackers, and flatbread crackers. You can also include breadsticks like sesame breadsticks, olive oil breadsticks, or cheese straws.
If you want to include bread, sliced baguette, toasted crostini, and strips of focaccia are all excellent choices. For a more rustic feel, you could add a whole baguette or a few slices of crusty bread. You could also provide a bowl of extra crackers or bread on the side for those who want them.
When arranging your platter, it's a good idea to place the larger items first. So, if you're including a bowl of crackers or bread slices, position those on the platter first, then fill in the smaller items around them. You can fan out the crackers or breadsticks along the edges of the platter to make them easy to grab. If you're using a round board, it can be helpful to fill in the curved edges first.
If you're serving a separate Dips & Crackers Board, set up a platter with dip bowls in the middle and arrange the crackers and bread around them. You can also add breadsticks to this platter if you like.
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Include fruits and vegetables
When making a cheese and crackers platter, it is important to include fruits and vegetables. This not only adds colour and freshness to the platter but also provides a variety of textures and flavours that will appeal to your guests.
Firstly, wash and prepare any fresh fruits and vegetables. Slice larger fruits such as apples and pears, and consider squeezing lemon juice over them to prevent browning. For vegetables, consider cucumber, cherry tomatoes, carrots, snap peas, or cornichon pickles. You can also add a pop of colour with festive sprigs of fresh herbs such as rosemary, thyme, or parsley.
Next, arrange the fruits and vegetables on the platter. If using a round board, fill in the curved edges first with fruits and vegetables. Scatter relatively small pieces of fruit in several places across the board to create balance and make it easy for guests to grab. Try to place these items near cheeses you think they'll pair well with. For example, apples go well with cheddar, and grapes or berries pair nicely with a strong blue cheese.
Finally, fill in any remaining spaces with more fruits and vegetables, creating piles and mixing different shapes and colours. Get creative with your arrangement, and don't be afraid to add extra fruit to round out the platter.
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Pick salty and crunchy snacks
When making a cheese and crackers platter, it's important to offer a variety of textures and flavours to satisfy different tastes. Here are some ideas for salty and crunchy snacks to include:
Nuts are a great option to add some crunch to your platter. You can offer a variety of nuts, such as cashews, pistachios, almonds, walnuts, or pecans. If you want to get fancy, you can even candy the nuts or add some spices for an extra kick.
Crispy chickpeas are another salty and crunchy snack that can be a unique addition to your platter. You can make your own by roasting chickpeas with your choice of spices, or buy them pre-made in various flavours.
Pretzel sticks or pretzel chips are a great crunchy option to pair with cheese. They add a different texture to your platter and can be a nice change from crackers.
Olives are a salty, savoury snack that can add a nice Mediterranean flair to your platter. You can offer a variety of types of olives, such as Kalamata, Castelvetrano, or Gaeta olives.
Cured meats, such as salami, prosciutto, or pepperoni, can also add a salty element to your platter. Fold the meats or pile them up to create visual interest and variety.
Pickles, such as cornichons or pickled green beans, can also provide a crunchy, salty contrast to the other items on your platter. You can even include other types of pickled or marinated vegetables, such as peppers or artichokes.
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Arrange the platter and add garnishes
When arranging your cheese and crackers platter, it's important to have a variety of textures and flavours to offer something for everyone. A standard cheese board contains crackers, fruit, and nuts, but you can also add meats and other crudités to make a charcuterie board.
If you're using two boards or platters, set up the dips, spreads, crackers, and bread separately from the main cheese platter. Place the large items on the cheese board first, such as dip bowls and soft cheeses. If you're using a round board, it helps to fill in the curved edges of the board first. Then, add sliced cheeses, crackers, and breads, building around the larger elements. You can line up cheese cubes, layer cheese slices in a line, or arrange items like crackers in piles—it's up to you!
Fill in the board with fruits, vegetables, and snacks. Try to place these items near cheeses you think they'll pair well with. For example, apples and pears can be sliced and placed next to a mild cheese like Brie or Camembert. Grapes can be scattered across the board to add a pop of colour. If you're using bowls for pickled or marinated items, arrange the other items around them. Add crackers around the cheese and meats, and fill in any empty spots with more fruit and nuts. The key is grouping everything in piles and mixing different shapes, sizes, and colours.
Finally, add garnishes and utensils before serving. Garnish your platter with fresh herbs such as rosemary, thyme, or parsley for a nice pop of colour. Place spreaders or spoons in any dips or soft cheeses that may need them. You can also add some small forks or tongs for guests to use.
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Frequently asked questions
A good rule of thumb is to plan for 3 oz of cheese per person if serving as an appetizer, or 4-5 oz if it's a main course. It's also a good idea to have at least three different types of cheese to cater to different tastes.
It's best to have a variety of flavors and textures. You could include a mix of hard, semi-soft, soft, and blue cheeses. For example, cheddar, gouda, brie, and gorgonzola.
You can add crackers, bread, cured meats, fresh or dried fruit, nuts, olives, marinated vegetables, dips, and spreads such as honey or jam.
