How to make a Cheese Board

This easy cheese board is a must have appetizer for any holiday get together! 

Ok, I’m feeling pretty high class right now!!  This is my first “real” cheese board I have put together and I loved it!!!!  The flavors, textures and combinations of fruit, honey and cheese was to die for!!

I do realize this will cost more than the regular meat and cheese tray you get from the grocery store, but it is totally worth it.  Plus, it’s only for special occasions so it won’t happen all that often.  Or it might once you start nibbling on this platter of goodies!!

This is one of the easiest appetizers I have ever put together and, in my opinion, the most impressive looking.  I have done a lot of researching in preparing this cheese board to get it right and so you can too! 🙂

Here are my tips and tricks for a successful cheese board:

1. Let your cheese come to room temperature for 30 minutes before serving to your guests.  This will allow for the cheese to come to maximum flavor, always a good thing!
2. You will want to pick one cheese from each of these 4 categories to serve.  Plan to serve about 3 ounces of cheese per guest.
   1. Soft: goat cheese rolled in chopped fesh herbs (my favorite), brie, camembert, Humboldt Fog
   2. Semi-soft: gouda, Jarlsburg, havarti
   3. Semi-hard: manchego, gruyere, comte
   4. Hard: aged cheddar, parmesan, aged asiago
   5. Optional, but included on most cheese boards: a good quality blue cheese
3. Now you will need to fill in with the extras, and this is what can make for an impressive board, I think! (Not everything listed needs to be on your board, unless you want it)
   1. Nuts: almonds, pistachios and candied walnuts are all great choices
   2. Honey: an absolute must (try it with bleu cheese)
   3. Meats: prosciutto, salami, or other cold cuts
   4. Fruit: depending on the year- grapes, blackberries, fresh figs, dried apricots, and olives are really good!
   5. Crackers:  You will need some really sturdy, crispy crackers (no ritz).  Even crispy bread sticks make a great addition.
   6. If you are offering wine with your cheese board be sure to research which types to offer with the cheeses you have selected.

Now, it is time for the fun part- assembly!!  I had a lot of fun putting this together and while it may look overwhelming, trust me it is really easy!!

First, start by placing your cheeses on your board.  I also cut a few chunks of cheese to lay beside the cheeses just to give the guests a more inviting feel to the platter.

After your cheese is on it’s time to fill in with your extras you have chosen.  Just group everything in somewhat orderly piles and it will all come together to look like a work of art, I promise!!

**Below you will find the recipe to make this exact cheese board I have pictured here, but please feel free to use my tips above and make it your own!**

How to make a Cheese Board

Prep Time: 30 minutes minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes minutes

Author: Countryside Cravings

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Ingredients

• Goat cheese rolled in freshly chopped herbs
• Jarlsburg
• Manchego
• Aged white cheddar
• Blue Cheese
• Prosciutto
• Capocollo
• Salame Calabrese
• Green and red grapes
• Blackberries
• Black and green olives not the ones from the can
• Honey with comb
• Almonds
• Pistachios
• Multi grain crackers

Instructions

• To assemble: start by placing your cheeses on your board. Cut a few slices from each and lay beside to make the platter feel more inviting. Fill in with your extras and keep things grouped together. If it is something runny like honey place in a small bowl.
• Don't forget the cheese knives, plates and napkins.

Notes

*If you are choosing to serve wine with your cheese platter be sure to research which wines to pair with the cheeses you have chosen.
**Plan to serve about 3 ounces of cheese per guest.