Be the hero of your next holiday gathering in five easy steps.
Move over, gingerbread houses. Cheese boards are the new Christmas craze! With our fresh fruit selections and curated partner collaborations, you’ll have everything you need to build the board of your dreams. Not sure where to begin? Our sweet and savory DIY guide will walk you through the basics of arranging a fresh and festive cheese board.
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Get to Know Your Cheeses.
Cheese is clearly the star of the show, and familiarizing yourself with different cheeses can help you choose a single standout or design a spectacular constellation of flavors for your guests to explore. Cheeseboards can certainly include regular refrigerator residents like cheddar or your grandma’s famous herb cheese dip. However, the special nature of the holiday season and the opportunity for a gourmet adventure to enjoy with loved ones may encourage you to try new kinds of cheeses.
Not sure where to start? The experts at America’s Test Kitchen highlight some of their favorite cheese selections, and VegNews provides a list of eight artisanal, vegan cheese providers that offer plant-based choices that everyone will enjoy. Want to be able to talk about your cheese choices or answer questions that may arise? Food & Wine shares their knowledge as well as insights from other cheese experts to help you chat about cheese with authority!
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Create the Perfect Pairings.
Whether your cheese board selections center around a particular theme or you’ve leveraged the expertise (and top selections) of the cheesemonger at your local farmer’s market, pairings and other extras are the next step in unforgettable cheese board design.
Fruit is a well-known accompaniment to a variety of cheeses. Interspersing small bunches of grapes or apple slices with their complementary cheese partners is a popular choice. For a more unique design to your artful cheese board arrangement, wow your guests with a vibrant fresh fruit centerpiece, like the Edible® Elegance bouquet of ripe strawberries or another colorful bouquet that includes strawberries, pineapple, melon and grapes.
In addition to fresh, dried or spreadable fruit, candied or toasted nuts, crusty artisan bread and crackers, slices of smoked turkey or cured meats, pickled vegetables, olives, wine and other delicious additions often accompany cheese board designs. Our most important tip in choosing your pairings? Don’t overthink it! Remember: the goal is to let your delicious, gourmet cheeses shine!
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Choose Your Board.
Many people literally use a wooden board specifically designed to be a cheese board, so a quick online search will reveal an array of options in various shades, designs and sizes. These selections often include specialty accessories that complete a cheese display like spreaders, mini spoons and forks, tongs, and toothpick flags to identify the cheeses. However, being creative with your existing serving ware may lend an even more unique or festive flair to your cheese board arrangement. Add a little holiday touch to your design with trees or stars made of cheese or fruit or a layout that is wreath-like instead of the usual linear set-up. A general guide is to leave about four to five inches between each cheese and use the extra room for the array of delicious accompaniments.
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Have A Game Plan.
Once you’ve chosen your cheeses, accompaniments and presentation accessories, it’s time to formulate a game plan for actually preparing and sharing your cheeseboard. Will you pre-slice the cheese or let guests customize their own portions? Will you write cards with recommendations for pairing or just invite individuals to take their own personalized cheese journey? Developing a plan, including how to honor any dietary considerations, can make the day of preparation more relaxing for you and provide maximum cheese board enjoyment to all.
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Arrange and Amaze!
It’s time – time to share your sweet and savory holiday cheese board with your loved ones. For holiday gatherings, celebratory events or just because, a cheese board is a colorful and delicious offering that always excites a hungry crowd. Given the thought and care that goes into its creation, it makes any day or occasion just that much more special. Take a deep breath, gather your goodies and employ these ideas to help you arrange a cheese board that is sure to amaze and delight your guests!
Have you run out of time to create your own holiday cheese board? Choose a delicious party platter from Edible Arrangements® instead. With options like the Edible® Signature Dessert Board that can serve 15+ people and other selections that include treats like fresh fruit, chocolate covered strawberries, decadent cheesecakes and other fresh-baked desserts, take advantage of same day delivery when you need gourmet goodies for your upcoming events!
