Creating A Cheesy Fruit Board: The Perfect Pairing

A fruit and cheese board is a delightful way to impress your guests at your next party. The perfect appetizer, it offers a burst of colours, flavours, and textures. The key to a well-rounded cheese board is to include a variety of fresh and dried fruits, crackers, and nuts.

When it comes to fresh fruit, apples, berries, grapes, and pears are classic choices that pair well with most cheeses. For a more exotic touch, try persimmons, oranges, or pomegranates. Dried fruits such as apricots, cherries, and figs add a nice contrast in texture and are a great option when fresh fruit is not in season.

To complement the fruit, a variety of cheeses with different textures and strengths is key. From soft cheeses like Brie and Camembert to hard cheeses like aged cheddar and Parmesan, offering a range will satisfy a variety of tastes. Don't forget to include some crackers, bread, or breadsticks for that crunchy texture.

Lastly, a few nuts and spreads will take your cheese board to the next level. Almonds, walnuts, and pistachios add a salty bite, while honey, jams, and spreads provide a sweet contrast. With a well-curated selection of fruits, cheeses, and accompaniments, your cheese board will be a feast for the eyes and the palate!

Apples, oranges, and berries

Apples are a classic choice for cheese boards, especially Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, Fuji, or Gala varieties. The tart and crisp Granny Smith apples, for instance, pair beautifully with white cheddar cheese and a drizzle of honey. You can also use red apples for a pop of colour. Slicing the apples thinly ensures they are easy to eat and complement the cheeses well.

Oranges bring a burst of citrus to the cheese board. Using dehydrated orange slices is a great way to frame the board and add a pop of colour. They also add a chewy texture to the board.

Berries, such as raspberries, strawberries, and blackberries, add a beautiful touch of colour and sweetness to the cheese board. They pair well with a variety of cheeses, including herbed or berry goat cheese.

When creating a cheese board, it is important to consider a variety of textures, flavours, and colours. You can also get creative with the way you slice and arrange the fruit to make the board look even more appealing.

Dried fruit

Dried apricots are a popular choice, known for their sweetness. They are a great summer choice, but dried apricots are delicious all year round. Apricots pair well with goat's cheese and blue cheese.

Dried cherries are another option, although they can be expensive. They work well with Fiscalini Farmstead 'San Joaquin Gold' cheese.

Dried figs are a lighter colour than their fresh counterparts and are best saved for the fall/winter months. They pair well with Manchego cheese.

Dates are also a good choice, although they are very sweet. They work well with stronger-flavoured cheeses such as goat's cheese.

Prunes, or 'dried plums', are perfect for pairing with strong, salty cheeses.

Sultanas, or golden raisins, are another option, although they are preserved with additives to keep their bright colour.

Dehydrated citrus fruits are different from dried or candied citrus fruits, as they are sliced and dehydrated with no added sugar or ingredients. They are bitter in taste and pair well with strong or extra-aged cheeses.

Dried persimmons are chewy and not very sweet, so they are best used for visual interest.

Stone fruits

Peaches and nectarines are a great choice for a light summer dinner, pairing well with creamy burrata cheese. A stronger, smoky blue cheese also goes well with these stone fruits, and the stronger the cheese, the sweeter the fruit should be. Creamy cheeses like burrata or mozzarella also pair well with peaches, as well as with apricots and prosciutto.

Plums are a bold, sweet stone fruit that work well with strong, salty cheeses like Manchego or Fontina, or even brie. For a Spanish twist, include Manchego cheese with stone fruit and romesco sauce.

Cherries are a fun, summery addition to a cheese board and pair well with brie, camembert, or goat cheese.

Apricots are a wonderful choice in the summer, but dried apricots are a great option for the rest of the year. Fresh apricots pair well with goat cheese, and dried apricots are a good match with blue cheese.

When creating a cheese board, it's a good idea to include an assortment of colours, textures, strengths, and shapes. Stone fruits are a great way to add colour and sweetness to a board, and their varying shapes will also add interest.

Honey and chocolate

Chocolate, especially dark chocolate, is a great addition to a cheese board. It pairs well with berries, apricots, and cheese. When pairing chocolate with cheese, it is generally recommended to match "like with like", i.e., pair chocolates and cheeses of similar strengths and flavour profiles. For example, Parmigiano Reggiano, a robust and nutty cheese, goes well with hearty dark chocolate with almonds. Soft ripened cheeses tend to be stinkier and more acidic, so they pair well with dark chocolate—the stinkier the cheese, the darker the chocolate.

• Parmigiano Reggiano + dark chocolate with almonds or other nutty flavours
• Goat Cheese + Milk Chocolate
• Blue Cheese + Extra Dark Chocolate (70% or higher)
• Extra Sharp White Cheddar + Dark Chocolate with raspberries or other fruity flavours
• Monterey Jack + Milk Chocolate
• Brie and Triple Cream Cheese + Dark Chocolate with earthy or spicy flavours
• Gruyere and Gouda + Extra Dark Chocolate with nutty flavours
• Goat Cheese + Dark or Milk Chocolate (depending on the goat cheese flavours)
• Truffle Cheese + Salted Caramel Chocolate

Nuts

• Pistachios
• Almonds
• Walnuts
• Hazelnuts
• Macadamia nuts
• Cashews
• Pecans
• Marcona almonds
• Flavoured nuts, such as honey-roasted peanuts

When it comes to nuts, it's best to go for roasted and salted varieties. If you're buying in bulk or keeping opened packets for longer than a month, it's a good idea to store the nuts in the freezer to keep them fresh.

• Blue cheese
• Goat's cheese
• Brie
• Camembert
• Gruyere
• Manchego
• Parmigiano-Reggiano
• White sharp cheddar
• Mild cheddar
• Pepper jack cheese
• Gouda
• Gorgonzola
• English farmhouse or Irish cheddar

Frequently asked questions