Frederic Melton
Putting together a cheese and cracker tray is an easy and delicious way to impress guests at your next party. It's a simple, no-fuss appetizer that can be made as fancy or as basic as you like. The key to a great cheese and cracker tray is variety. Include a mix of different cheeses, crackers, fruits, nuts, meats, and condiments. When it comes to cheese, aim for a variety of types, such as hard, soft, and blue cheeses, and consider factors like milk type, age, and texture. For crackers, offer a range of flavours and shapes, from simple water crackers to breadsticks and crostini. Group each food together on the tray for easy access, and fill any gaps with extra cheese, nuts, or fruit.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of types of cheese | 2-5 |
| Types of cheese | Hard, soft, blue, triple-cream, aged, goat, etc. |
| Amount of cheese | 2-3 oz. per person |
| Number of types of crackers | 2-3 |
| Types of crackers | Water crackers, multigrain crackers, flatbreads, breadsticks, crostini, etc. |
| Other foods | Meat, fruit, vegetables, nuts, pickles, olives, jam, mustard, etc. |
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What You'll Learn
Choose a variety of cheeses
When putting together a cheese and cracker tray, the cheese is the star of the platter. It is best to provide a few different varieties of cheese since your guests' tastes can vary. A good rule of thumb is to include at least one of the three types of cheese: hard, soft, and blue.
For hard cheeses, familiar options include Swiss, Cheddar, Parmesan, and Gruyère. When it comes to soft cheeses, you can choose from goat cheese, Camembert, chèvre, and Brie. Some blue cheese options include Gorgonzola, Roquefort, and Stilton.
You can also mix it up by including some in-between cheeses, such as semi-soft varieties like Fontina, Havarti, and Muenster. Warm cheese is always a hit, so consider adding Halloumi to your tray. If you want to add a creamy cheese, go for Brillat Savarin, Nettle Meadow Kunik, Taleggio, or Jasper Hill Creamery's Harbison cheese.
When determining the amount of cheese, consider the strength of the flavours and how many accompaniments you will be serving. If you are serving a lot of accompaniments, your guests will likely eat less cheese. Plan for 2-3 ounces of cheese per person as an appetizer, and 4-5 ounces per person if the cheese plate is the main dish. If you are on a budget, choose just one or two cheeses and cut them into smaller pieces to make your tray look full and delicious.
Remember, there are no rules when it comes to creating your cheese and cracker tray, so get creative and have fun!
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Select complementary crackers
When selecting crackers to complement your cheese tray, there are a few things to keep in mind. Firstly, variety is the spice of life, so try to include a handful of different types of crackers to cater to different tastes and textures. You could include water crackers, multigrain crackers, seeded crackers, flatbreads, olive oil crackers, wafer crackers, crostini, rice crackers, and even breadsticks.
Secondly, consider the flavour of your cheeses. As a general rule, the stronger the cheese, the milder the cracker, and vice versa. For example, sharp cheddar goes well with buttery crackers like Ritz, while soft cheeses like brie and camembert pair nicely with water crackers, fruited crackers, or crostini. If you're serving a particularly strong blue cheese, sweet crackers or wafer crackers can help balance the flavour.
Thirdly, don't be afraid to get creative and experiment with different combinations. You can even make your own crackers, like Parmesan crisps, to add a unique touch to your tray.
Finally, remember that crackers are just one component of a cheese tray. Include other items like fruits, nuts, meats, and condiments to create a well-rounded and delicious spread for your guests to enjoy.
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Add meats, fruits, and nuts
When creating a cheese and cracker tray, you can take a simple approach or go all out with meats, fruits, nuts, and more. If you want to add these extra elements, you may want to upgrade to a full-on charcuterie board.
Meats
If you want to add meats, cured meats like prosciutto, salami, ham, cured chorizo, and summer sausage are popular choices. Fold the meats in half, or in half twice, so they are easy for guests to pick up and eat.
Fruits
Fruits add a burst of colour and sweetness to your cheese and cracker tray. Try to avoid very juicy fruits like pineapple or watermelon, as these can make the crackers soggy. Good options include grapes, berries, apples, pears, and peaches. Dried fruits like apricots, raisins, and figs are also a great addition.
Nuts
Nuts can be added to fill any gaps on your tray. Smoked, roasted, or seasoned nuts are a tasty addition. Try cashews, pistachios, almonds, or pecans.
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Arrange the tray
When arranging your cheese and cracker tray, there are a few things to keep in mind. Firstly, it's a good idea to provide a variety of cheeses to cater to different tastes. Include at least one of each of the three types of cheese: hard, soft, and blue. For example, familiar hard and semi-hard cheeses such as Swiss, Cheddar, Parmesan, and Gruyère, while soft cheeses could include goat cheese, Camembert, chèvre, and Brie. You can also add in-between cheeses, like semi-soft varieties (Fontina, Havarti, and Muenster).
Secondly, consider the amount of cheese you'll need. A good estimate is to plan for 2-3 ounces of cheese per person if served as an appetizer, and 4-5 ounces if served as a meal. If you're serving a lot of accompaniments, people will likely eat less cheese, so you may need slightly less.
Thirdly, think about the presentation. You can group similar ingredients together, such as keeping all the cheeses in one spot, or placing larger items first and filling in with smaller items later. You can also arrange items in piles, mixing different shapes, sizes, and colors to make the tray visually appealing.
Now, let's talk about the crackers. It's a good idea to provide a variety of crackers as well, including different shapes and flavors. You can place the crackers around the cheese, filling in any gaps. If you have a favorite cracker that you want to showcase, you can place it next to some of the board's central pieces, like wheels of cheese.
Finally, fill in any remaining spaces with extras like nuts, fruits, meats, and condiments. Fresh or dried fruits can add a nice touch of sweetness to balance out the salty flavors of the cheese and crackers. Nuts can also add a special touch, such as roasted and salted varieties or candied, sugared, or specialty nuts. If you want to include meats, consider adding cured meats like prosciutto or salami, and if you'd like condiments, provide small dishes of jam, mustard, or specialty mustards.
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Portion the cheese
Portioning the cheese is an important part of putting together a cheese and cracker tray. Firstly, you should plan to have 2-3 oz. or 3 ounces of cheese per person. If you are serving a lot of crackers, meats, fruits, and other accompaniments, your guests will likely eat less cheese. If you are serving fewer accompaniments, your guests will probably eat more cheese. If you are making a cheese plate for dinner, plan for 4-5 oz. of cheese per person.
If you are worried about having too much cheese, cut all your cheeses in half and put out one half at a time. You can always bring out the rest later if needed. It is also a good idea to have a little extra cheese in the fridge. If you are on a budget, choose just one or two types of cheese and cut them into smaller pieces. Place the cheese in multiple spots on the board so that it still looks full and delicious.
If you are serving a variety of cheeses, it is recommended to include at least one of each of the three types of cheese: hard, soft, and blue. Familiar hard and semi-hard cheeses include Swiss, cheddar, Parmesan, and Gruyère. Soft cheese options include goat cheese, Camembert, chèvre, and Brie. Some blue cheeses to consider are Gorgonzola, Roquefort, and Stilton. You can also include some in-between cheeses, like semi-soft varieties such as Fontina, Havarti, and Muenster.
When selecting your cheeses, aim for variety in the type of milk, age, and texture, as well as in shape and color. Try to include a mix of creamy, semi-hard, hard, and aged cheeses. Include no more than one goat or blue cheese, as these can be strong in flavor. If you want to add a wow factor to your cheese and cracker tray, consider adding a warm cheese like Halloumi.
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Frequently asked questions
A good rule of thumb is to have 2-3 oz. or 3 ounces of cheese per person. If you're serving a lot of accompaniments, people will eat less cheese. If you're not serving many accompaniments, people will eat more cheese. If you're making the cheese and cracker tray for dinner, plan for 4-5 oz. of cheese per person.
It's a good idea to include a variety of cheeses to cater to different tastes. Try to include a mix of hard, soft, and blue cheeses. Some examples of hard and semi-hard cheeses include Swiss, cheddar, Parmesan, and Gruyère. Examples of soft cheeses include goat cheese, Camembert, chèvre, and Brie. Some blue cheeses to consider are Gorgonzola, Roquefort, and Stilton.
It's a good idea to include a variety of crackers as well. Offer one robust and flavorful cracker that complements plainer cheeses, and one simple cracker that pairs well with more complex cheeses. You can also switch up the shapes of your crackers. Water crackers are always a good option as they are plain enough to pair with flavorful cheeses. If you're serving Italian food, you can add breadsticks or turn them into prosciutto "lollipops."
You can add meats such as prosciutto, salami, or dried sausages. You can also add fruits such as grapes, apples, pears, strawberries, raspberries, or blueberries. Nuts are also a great addition—try almonds, cashews, or walnuts. If you want to get creative, you can add pickles, olives, and small dishes of jam or mustard.
