Easy Holiday Cheese Board Recipe

ByLuna Ryder
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Introduction

A holiday cheese board is a simple yet elegant way to impress your guests with minimal effort. Combining a variety of cheeses, meats, fruits, and nuts creates a colorful and flavorful spread perfect for any festive gathering.

A large wooden board filled with many layers of colorful foods arranged neatly; on the top left, there are thin breadsticks standing upright next to long cream-colored crackers stacked and slices of orange cheddar cheese fan out beside them. In the middle left, round white beans and pistachios fill spaces around a small glass jar of honey with a rosemary sprig and an orange slice inside. At center, there is a wheel of creamy white cheese topped with pomegranate seeds and an apricot slice, surrounded by red pomegranate halves. To the right, a square piece of soft white cheese and stacked round golden crackers layer neatly. The bottom left shows diced pale yellow cheese cubes, thin slices of smoked ham, and fan-shaped orange cheese. Below center right, a wedge of blue cheese topped with an apricot half sits next to dark dried fruit slices, and small bowls of mixed olives and dark jam appear near the bottom edges. Fresh green leaves are placed decoratively around the board on a white marbled surface with soft lighting. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

  • 3-4 cheese wedges or blocks, such as Brie, goat cheese, cheddar, and blue cheese
  • Assorted meats, such as salami, prosciutto, and pepperoni
  • Assorted nuts, such as Marcona almonds and pistachios
  • Assorted fruit, such as pomegranate, pears, citrus, and persimmons
  • Assorted veggies, such as marinated artichokes, mixed olives, and pickles
  • Spreads, such as honey, fig preserves, and cranberry sauce
  • Crackers or a variety of your favorites

Instructions

  1. Step 1: Arrange the cheese on a large serving board. While the cheese is still cold, slice or cube some of the cheese blocks or wedges if desired.
  2. Step 2: Fill the board with the assorted meats, nuts, fruits, veggies, and spreads, placing them as you like to create a balanced, appealing display. Add the crackers around the outside, filling any remaining empty spaces.
  3. Step 3: Let the cheese board sit at room temperature for about 20-30 minutes before serving to enhance the flavors.

Tips & Variations

  • Choose a mix of soft, semi-soft, and hard cheeses to provide different textures and flavors.
  • Add fresh herbs like rosemary or thyme for a fragrant garnish.
  • Swap nuts for seeds if you have allergies or preferences.
  • Try seasonal fruits for added freshness and color.

Storage

Store leftover cheese, meats, and accompaniments separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Bring cheese back to room temperature before serving again. Crackers are best kept in a sealed container to maintain their crunch.

How to Serve

A large rectangular wooden board holds a colorful and rich cheese and snack platter arranged in layers; starting on the left, there are long, thin pale crackers standing up next to folded thin slices of reddish cured meat, and scattered pale round nuts. Moving upward, there are medium-sized orange cheese wedges stacked, surrounded by more pale nuts and leafy green sprigs. In the middle, a round soft white cheese topped with small red pomegranate seeds and a slice of orange fruit sits next to a jar of honey with a wooden stick and a honeycomb piece inside, along with a halved bright red pomegranate. To the right, a rectangular block of creamy white cheese is partly sliced. Below it, folded thin pink cured meat lies under a wedge of blue cheese topped with an orange fruit slice and herbs. Various round and square crackers in light beige tones fill the right side, with dark brown nut-filled bread slices stacked nearby. Small jars of fruit preserves and mixed olives with green leaves add color and texture. The board is set on a white marbled surface decorated with green leaves and some bright oranges nearby, illuminated softly, photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I prepare the cheese board in advance?

Yes, you can assemble most components a few hours ahead. Keep the cheese refrigerated and bring it to room temperature before serving for the best taste.

What if I don’t eat meat or have dietary restrictions?

Simply omit the meats and add more fruits, nuts, veggies, and additional cheeses or plant-based spreads to keep the board varied and delicious.

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Easy Holiday Cheese Board Recipe

★★★★★

4.9 from 72 reviews
  • Author: Luna
  • Total Time: 15 minutes
  • Yield: Serves 6–8 people 1x
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Description

This Easy Holiday Cheese Board is a perfect festive appetizer featuring a delightful assortment of cheeses, meats, nuts, fruits, vegetables, spreads, and crackers. It’s ideal for entertaining guests during the holidays, combining savory, sweet, and tangy flavors for a beautifully balanced and visually appealing platter.

Ingredients

Scale

Cheeses

  • 3–4 wedges/blocks of cheese such as Brie, goat cheese, cheddar, and blue cheese

Meats

  • Assorted meats such as salami, prosciutto, and pepperoni

Nuts

  • Assorted nuts such as Marcona almonds and pistachios

Fruits

  • Assorted fruit such as pomegranate seeds, sliced pears, citrus segments, and persimmons

Vegetables

  • Assorted veggies such as marinated artichokes, mixed olives, and pickles

Spreads

  • Honey
  • Fig preserves
  • Cranberry sauce

Others

  • Variety of crackers of your choice

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Cheese: Arrange the cheese wedges or blocks on a large serving board. While still cold, slice or cube some of the cheese to facilitate easy serving and add visual variety.
  2. Add Meats and Nuts: Fill in the spaces around the cheese with an assortment of cured meats like salami, prosciutto, and pepperoni, along with nuts such as Marcona almonds and pistachios.
  3. Incorporate Fruits and Vegetables: Place assorted fruits like pomegranate seeds, sliced pears, citrus segments, and persimmons around the board along with vegetables including marinated artichokes, mixed olives, and pickles for color and contrasting flavors.
  4. Include Spreads: Add small containers or dollops of spreads like honey, fig preserves, and cranberry sauce strategically on the board for sweetness and tang.
  5. Arrange Crackers: Position a variety of crackers around the perimeter of the board, filling any empty spaces to complete the presentation and provide different textures.
  6. Serve at Room Temperature: Allow the entire cheese board to sit for a short time to reach room temperature before serving, which enhances the flavors and textures of the cheeses and accompaniments.

Notes

  • Select a variety of cheese textures and flavors for balance: soft, hard, mild, and strong.
  • Include seasonal fruits and vegetables to add freshness and color.
  • Use small bowls or ramekins for spreads to keep them neat.
  • Let cheese come to room temperature before serving for best taste.
  • This board can be customized easily based on preferences and dietary needs.
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Category: Appetizer
  • Method: No-Cook
  • Cuisine: American

Keywords: holiday cheese board, cheese platter, appetizer, party platter, festive snack, no cook appetizer

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