There are few things at a gathering that I love more than a good holiday cheeseboard. While I normally keep things pretty simple during the year, the holidays call for a gorgeous and festive spread of bites that elevate any cheeseboard to the center of attention. A few fall and winter favorites, some cheeseboard classics, and a festively decorated baked brie will have everyone gathered around for a great night.
Sure, this cheese board looks fancy, but by taking a few simple shortcuts and rummaging through your own pantry, you’ll be able to whip this up in no time, and no one will realize how easy it was for you to do!
What do you put on a holiday cheese board?
While it may sound counterintuitive, when it comes to crafting the perfect holiday cheese board, I like to go simple. Include an abundance of ingredients and your cheese board will look like a mess (or, as Ina Garten says, a dog’s breakfast). Instead, select no more than of the ingredients listed below. We like to ensure there are at least a few of the following:
- 1-2 cheeses (cheddar, goat cheese, parmesan slivers, swiss, or any blue cheese like gorgonzola)
- Fresh and dried fruit (I love grapes, apples, pears, dried apricots, persimmons, and pomegranate seeds)
- Toasted nuts (pistachios, marcona almonds, walnuts, pecans, or cashews)
- Olives
- Honey for drizzling
- Crackers or sliced baguette
- Chocolate squares
- Dried meats (prosciutto, mozzarella, salami,
To Make a Holiday Cheese Board a Meal
The good news is that when you start with a substantial cheese board, you can keep the rest of the meal simple. Want to keep the board theme consistent? Follow up with a Pita and Kebab Board for dinner, and our Cookie and Candy Board for dessert! Here are a few other options to complete the meal:
- Whole Roasted Gochujang Cauliflower with Smashed Roasted Butter Beans
- One Pot Garlicky Mushroom Pasta with Sausage & Arugula
- Spicy Pesto Pasta Alla Vodka
- Roasted Chicken & Vegetable Confit
- Sweet & Spicy Braised Short Ribs
How do you decorate a holiday cheese board?
In the spirit of less is more, I like keeping the focus on the food itself. You can bring color to the board through a variety of edible extras. Pickles, cranberries, and rosemary for garnish bring accents of jewel tones to the forefront. I also love creating height and varied depth by using vessels, jars, and small, low plates. If you’re going for both flavor and aesthetics, this spin on the classic charcuterie board is the perfect appetizer.
Are you making this cheese board for your holiday gatherings? Let us know in the comments or tag us in your post on Instagram!
This post was originally published on November 26, 2019, and has since been updated.
The post How to Create the Ultimate Holiday Cheese Board appeared first on Camille Styles.
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