Description
This Festive Winter Cheese Board is a delightful and visually stunning appetizer perfect for holiday gatherings. It features a variety of creamy and flavorful cheeses paired with fresh fruits, nuts, herbs, and artisanal crackers, creating a harmonious balance of flavors and textures that will impress guests and encourage leisurely snacking.
Ingredients
Scale
Cheeses
- 4–6 ounces brie
- 4–6 ounces aged gouda
- 4–6 ounces Wensleydale cranberry cheese
- 4–6 ounces herbed goat cheese
- 2–4 ounces mozzarella balls
- 2–4 ounces crumbled feta cheese
Fruits and Nuts
- 2–4 ounces cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/2 – 1 cup pistachios
- 1/2 cup pepitas
- Small apples as desired
- Red grapes as desired
- Pomegranate arils as desired
- Dates drizzled with honey as desired
Condiments and Garnishes
- Cranberry sauce as desired
- Thin bread stick crackers
- Assorted artisan crackers
- Fresh rosemary
- Fresh thyme
- Fresh dill, roughly chopped
- Olive oil for drizzling
Instructions
- Prepare Cheeses: Combine the crumbled feta cheese with a little roughly chopped fresh dill in a small bowl. In another bowl, combine the mozzarella balls with halved cherry tomatoes. Drizzle both bowls with a little olive oil to enhance flavor.
- Arrange Cheese on Board: On a wooden board or large platter, arrange the brie, aged gouda, herbed goat cheese, Wensleydale cranberry cheese along with the bowls containing feta and mozzarella mixtures. This arrangement allows for easy access and attractive presentation.
- Garnish Brie: Top the brie wedge with some cranberry sauce, sprinkle with pomegranate arils, and place a sprig of fresh thyme on top to add festive color and flavor.
- Prepare Dates and Honey: Place the dates drizzled with honey in a small bowl and set the bowl on the board or platter as an inviting sweet addition to the savory elements.
- Add Crackers: Surround the cheese board with thin bread stick crackers and an assortment of artisan crackers, giving guests a variety of crunchy options to pair with the cheeses.
- Fill the Board with Fruits, Nuts, and Herbs: Fill in the remaining spaces on the board with red grapes, sliced small apples, pistachios, pepitas, fresh pomegranate sprigs, rosemary sprigs, and thyme sprigs. The colorful and fragrant garnishes elevate the board’s festive appeal.
- Serve and Enjoy: Invite guests to snack away by sampling the cheeses, fruits, nuts, and crackers, creating varied flavor combinations to enjoy throughout your festive gathering.
Notes
- Choose a wooden board or large platter with enough space to create an inviting display.
- Use fresh, high-quality cheeses and fruits for best flavor and texture.
- Tailor the quantity of ingredients based on guest number; this recipe suits approximately 6-8 people.
- Keep the cheese at room temperature before serving to enhance taste and creaminess.
- Feel free to add other dried fruits, nuts, or seasonal garnishes to customize the board.
- Offer a mix of sweet and savory elements to create a balanced cheese board experience.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Assembly
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 100 grams
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 350mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 9g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 10g
- Cholesterol: 40mg
Keywords: Festive cheese board, winter appetizer, holiday cheese platter, cheese and fruit board, party snacks, easy appetizer
