Randy Chandler
Christmas is the perfect time to impress your guests with a well-curated cheese board. A good cheese board has a variety of flavours and textures, and you can get creative with the presentation. The key components of a Christmas cheese board are crackers, nuts, seasonal fruits, meats, and of course, cheese. You can choose from a range of cheeses, such as a creamy Brie, a sharp Cheddar, goat cheese, or a mellow blue cheese like Stilton. Add some colour and sweetness with cherry tomatoes, fresh and dried fruits, and even coloured Oreos. For a savoury touch, include meats like salami, and salty snacks such as olives, marinated artichokes, and crackers. If you're feeling extra festive, you can shape your cheese board like a Christmas tree, using rosemary sprigs and star-shaped cookies as decorations.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of cheeses | 3-7 |
| Types of cheese | Creamy brie, sharp cheddar, goat cheese, farmhouse cheddar, Alpine-style cheese, stilton, camembert, Tunworth, Stichelton, comté, gouda, parmesan, blue-veined cheese |
| Other food items | Crackers, nuts, bread, salami, cherry tomatoes, grapes, dried fruits, pickles, olives, artichokes, pretzels, rosemary, cookies, chocolate, wine, beer |
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What You'll Learn
- Cheese selection: Choose 3-4 types, including a creamy Brie, sharp Cheddar, and goat cheese
- Crackers and nuts: Provide a variety, like sea salt pita crisps, fig and olive crackers, and spiced thins
- Fruits: Add fresh grapes, berries, and dried fruits like figs
- Meat: Include salami, prosciutto, or other savoury meats
- Extras: Try olives, artichokes, pickles, or sweets like Oreos and chocolate
Cheese selection: Choose 3-4 types, including a creamy Brie, sharp Cheddar, and goat cheese
When it comes to selecting the cheese for your Christmas cheese board, it's best to stick to three or four types. This keeps the board simple but impressive. A good combination of cheeses is likely to include something creamy, something sharp, and something a little more unusual.
A creamy Brie is a great choice for a Christmas cheese board. Brie isn't very Italian, but Trader Joe's Brie bites are the perfect base for shaping a wreath. You could also go for a soft, blooming-rind cheese like Camembert or Tunworth.
For a sharp cheese, a block of goat cheese is a good option. Humboldt Fog or an herb-rolled goat cheese log are both affordable and usually well-loved. A sharp Cheddar is another classic choice—a good Cheddar should be characterful, grassy, and earthy. An unpasteurised farmhouse Cheddar from Somerset, or a Cabot Clothbound Cheddar, will add a nice variety of flavours to your board.
You could also include a mellow blue cheese, such as Stilton or Fourme d'Ambert, or a creamy, blue-veined cheese made from organic milk.
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Crackers and nuts: Provide a variety, like sea salt pita crisps, fig and olive crackers, and spiced thins
Crackers and nuts are a must for any Christmas cheese board. They add variety, texture, and flavour to the board. When selecting crackers, it's best to offer a range of options, such as sea salt pita crisps, fig and olive crackers, spiced thins, and plain crackers. These choices provide a balance of flavours and textures that will complement the cheeses. For a more indulgent option, buttery Ritz crackers are always a crowd-pleaser, especially when paired with a slice of cheddar.
When it comes to nuts, feel free to choose any combination of your favourites. Marcona almonds, roasted pistachios, and candied walnuts are excellent choices, offering different flavours and textures. If you want to get creative, consider roasting or salting the nuts yourself to add a personal touch to your cheese board.
To further enhance your cracker and nut selection, consider adding some salty olives, marinated artichokes, or pickles. These savoury additions provide a nice contrast to the sweetness of some cheeses and the saltiness of the nuts.
Remember, there is no exact right way to arrange a cheese board. Feel free to experiment with different combinations and arrangements to create a unique and festive spread that your guests will love.
By providing a variety of crackers and nuts, you add depth and interest to your Christmas cheese board, ensuring that your guests have a delightful and memorable culinary experience.
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Fruits: Add fresh grapes, berries, and dried fruits like figs
When it comes to creating a Christmas cheese board, fruits are a must. Not only do they add a touch of freshness and sweetness to the savoury cheeses, but they also provide a pop of colour that makes your cheese board look even more inviting.
Fresh grapes are a classic choice for a cheese board and can be easily sourced all year round. To elevate your cheese board, consider using different types of grapes to offer a variety of colours and flavours. You could also try adding other berries such as strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries. These berries not only taste delicious but also add a festive touch with their vibrant red and purple hues.
Dried fruits are another excellent option for a Christmas cheese board. Their concentrated sweetness pairs wonderfully with the saltiness of cheeses and the crispness of crackers. Figs, in particular, are a popular choice and can be found either dried or fresh. Their unique flavour and soft texture make them a delightful addition to any cheese board.
For a truly festive feel, you could also incorporate some seasonal fruits. Cherry tomatoes, for instance, offer a fun pop of red or yellow. If you're feeling creative, you might even want to include some star-shaped or snowflake-shaped fruits, such as sliced apples or pears, to truly embrace the Christmas spirit.
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Meat: Include salami, prosciutto, or other savoury meats
Meat is a great addition to a Christmas cheeseboard, providing a savoury contrast to the cheese. Salami is a popular choice, and can be prepared in a number of ways to add interest to your board. You could make a salami rose, or fold slices of salami and pile 3-4 pieces on a decorative toothpick. Prosciutto is another delicious option, and its bright red colour will add a festive touch to your cheeseboard.
If you want to stick to a theme, you could choose meats from a particular country. For example, for an Italian-themed board, you could include mortadella, bresaola, and capocollo. Or, for a French-themed board, you could offer a selection of patés, rillettes, and saucisson.
If you're looking for something a little different, you could try a meat-based spread or dip. Pâté is a good option, or you could try a rillette – a French preparation made with shredded meat, similar to a coarse pâté. If you want to add a touch of luxury, foie gras is a decadent choice.
Finally, don't forget that meat doesn't have to be the star of the show. If you're including a lot of different meats, consider using them as a garnish or accent, rather than the main event. This will allow your cheeses to shine, while still providing a savoury contrast.
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Extras: Try olives, artichokes, pickles, or sweets like Oreos and chocolate
When it comes to extras, salty olives are a must-have for a Christmas cheeseboard. Marinated artichokes and pickles are also delicious additions that will add a tangy twist to your cheeseboard. If you want to add more sweets to the mix, coloured Oreos can be a fun choice, just make sure they are surrounded by other ingredients so they don't roll away. For a touch of sweetness, you can also include fresh grapes, dried fruits, jellies, and pastes such as damson cheese and membrillo. These sweet extras will provide a delightful contrast to the savoury cheeses and create an intriguing and well-rounded cheeseboard for your guests to enjoy.
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Frequently asked questions
It's usually best to stick to three or four types of cheese, such as creamy Brie, sharp Cheddar, and a block of goat cheese. You could also include some themed cheeses, such as a festive snowman cheese ball.
You can add crackers, nuts, seasonal fruits, meats, and bread. Olives, marinated artichokes, and pickles are also tasty additions. If you want to get creative, you can make a Christmas tree shape with your ingredients or add some sweets like Oreos.
There's no exact right way to arrange a cheese board. You can try arranging and rearranging the ingredients in different ways until you find something that looks good to you.
