Cheese And Ginger Snaps: A Perfect Pairing Adventure

Ginger snaps are a type of cookie or biscuit with a distinctive flavour and crunchy texture. They are often enjoyed as a snack or dessert and can be paired with various cheeses to create unique and tasty flavour combinations. Some popular cheese pairings include soft blue cheese, brie, cheddar, and cream cheese, with recipes ranging from sweet to savoury.

Ginger snaps and blue cheese

If you are looking for a more substantial snack, try a ginger snap and cheddar combination. The Kemp Family Cookbook recommends arranging extra sharp cheddar cheese and crisp ginger snap cookies on a plate like crackers and cheese.

For a fun and beautiful holiday appetizer, try pairing ginger snaps with brie cheese, an apricot or orange compote, honey-roasted almonds, and pomegranate arils. Fresh rosemary sprigs can be used as a garnish.

For a sweet treat, serve ginger snaps with a spicy-sweet Hawaiian cheese ball. This combination is perfect for game day and includes crushed pineapple, red bell pepper, and jalapenos for a kick.

Ginger snaps with a Spicy-Sweet Hawaiian cheese ball

Ingredients

For the cheese ball:

• 16 oz. cream cheese, softened
• 8 oz. can crushed pineapple, well drained
• 1 jalapeno, seeds and membranes removed, finely minced (adjust to taste)
• ½ cup finely minced red bell pepper
• 3 tbsp. finely chopped green onion, green parts only
• 2 tsp. seasoned salt
• 2 cups toasted, chopped pecans, divided

For serving:

• Ginger snaps
• Crackers
• Toasted baguette slices
• Vegetables

Method

• In a large mixing bowl, combine the cream cheese, pineapple, jalapeno, red bell pepper, scallions, seasoned salt, and 1 cup of the pecans. Mix until well combined.
• Lay out two large sheets of plastic wrap on a clean work surface, slightly overlapping to make a big rectangle.
• Using a spatula or spoon, scoop the cream cheese mixture onto the plastic wrap, trying to get it as close to the centre as possible.
• Pull the sides of the plastic wrap up and around the mixture, using your hands to shape it into a ball. Don't worry if it's a bit misshapen at this point.
• Place the wrapped cheese ball into the fridge for 1 hour to chill. Chilling it beforehand will make it easier to work with.
• Once chilled, remove the cheese ball from the fridge. Spread the remaining chopped pecans onto a rimmed baking sheet.
• Carefully pull back the plastic wrap from the top of the cheese ball. Then, pick up the whole thing (plastic wrap and all) and invert it onto the chopped pecans.
• Now, remove the remainder of the plastic wrap from the cheese ball. If the cheese ball is sturdy enough, use your hands to roll it in the pecans, pressing them into the exterior to coat evenly.
• Place the cheese ball on a platter and cover it. Chill for at least 4 hours before serving.
• Serve the cheese ball with ginger snaps, crackers, toasted baguette slices, and/or vegetables. Enjoy!

This Spicy-Sweet Hawaiian cheese ball is the perfect centrepiece for any appetizer spread, and the ginger snaps add a unique and delicious touch. Impress your guests with this easy and tasty treat!

Ginger snaps with brie

Ginger snaps and brie is a fun and beautiful appetizer, perfect for the holidays. The ginger snaps can be made ahead of time, and the brie is simple to put together.

The recipe for the ginger snaps is straightforward. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. In a medium-sized bowl, mix all the dry ingredients: 2 cups of all-purpose flour and 1 and a half teaspoons of baking soda. In a separate bowl, beat 3/4 cup of softened butter until soft and light, then add 3/4 cup of raw sugar for baking and beat until smooth. Next, add 3/4 cup of molasses, one large room-temperature egg, and a teaspoon of vanilla, and beat until well combined. Finally, add the dry ingredients in two batches, beating until smooth and scraping down the sides of the bowl with a spatula.

Shape 1 tablespoon of the dough into a ball, then roll half of the ball in the raw sugar. Place the dough ball, sugar side up, on a parchment-lined cookie sheet, spacing the cookies 2 inches apart. Bake for 7-8 minutes for a chewy cookie, or a minute longer for a crisp cookie. Allow the cookies to cool for 2 minutes before removing them to a cooling rack.

To prepare the brie, cut the top off a wheel of brie and let it come to room temperature. In a small bowl, mix an 8-ounce jar of apricot-orange conserve with 1-3 tablespoons of Grand Marnier, tasting as you go. To serve, place the brie on a plate or platter, drizzle the apricot mixture over the top, and sprinkle with sliced almonds and pomegranate arils. Decorate with fresh rosemary sprigs and serve with the freshly baked ginger snaps.

Ginger snaps and cheddar

The recipe is simple: arrange crisp ginger snap cookies and extra sharp cheddar cheese slices on a plate, similar to how you would arrange crackers and cheese. The contrasting flavours and textures of the thin, crisp, and strongly-flavoured ginger snaps with the soft, spreadable sharp cheddar create an unexpected but delightful combination.

If you're looking for a more gourmet presentation, try pairing the ginger snaps and cheddar with a glass of mulled wine, such as glogg, for a perfect flavour combination. You can also add a twist to this combination by using port wine cheese instead of cheddar, creating a simple yet elegant appetizer for your next gathering.

So, the next time you're looking for something different to serve your guests, why not give ginger snaps and cheddar a try? It might just become your new go-to party snack!

Ginger snaps with port wine cheese

For a fun twist, try making your own ginger snaps from scratch. One recipe suggests mixing 2 cups of all-purpose flour, 1 1/2 teaspoons of baking soda, 3/4 cup of softened butter, 1 large egg, 3/4 cup of raw sugar for baking, and a splash of molasses. Shape 1 tablespoon of the dough into a ball, roll half of the ball in the raw sugar, and place the dough sugar-side up on a parchment-lined cookie sheet. Space the cookies 2 inches apart and bake for 7-8 minutes for a chewy cookie or leave them in a minute longer for a crisp cookie.

To elevate your cheese and crackers, serve the ginger snaps with a wheel of brie cheese, an apricot or orange compote with a splash of Grand Marnier, honey-roasted almonds, and pomegranate arils. If you're feeling extra fancy, add some fresh rosemary sprigs for garnish.

If you're looking for a drink pairing, look no further than mulled wine. During the winter, Scandinavians pair thin, crisp ginger snaps with blue cheese and glogg, a type of mulled wine.

Frequently asked questions