Description

This Christmas cheese board is a stunning and delicious holiday centerpiece, featuring a selection of gourmet cheeses, fresh fruits, nuts, crackers, and sweet accompaniments. Perfect for festive gatherings, this board offers a beautiful balance of creamy, tangy, and aged cheeses paired with honey, fig jam, and seasonal garnishes. Easy to assemble and endlessly customizable, this holiday cheese platter is sure to impress your guests.

Ingredients

Scale

Cheese Selection (Choose 3–5 Varieties)

Soft & Creamy: 1 wheel Brie, Camembert, or Goat Cheese
Semi-Soft: 4 oz Havarti, Gouda, or Fontina, sliced
Aged & Sharp: 4 oz Aged Cheddar, Gruyère, or Manchego, cubed
Bold & Blue: 4 oz Gorgonzola, Roquefort, or Stilton

Sweet & Savory Pairings

½ cup fresh figs, halved
½ cup pomegranate seeds
¼ cup dried apricots
¼ cup dried cranberries
½ cup candied pecans or walnuts
¼ cup honey
¼ cup fig jam or cranberry chutney

Crackers & Bread

1 small baguette, sliced
1 cup artisan crackers
½ cup whole grain or seed crackers

Festive Garnishes

Fresh rosemary sprigs
Cinnamon sticks
Star anise

Instructions

Prepare the Board: Choose a large wooden or marble serving board. Arrange small bowls for honey, jam, and nuts.
Place the Cheese: Start with the largest cheeses, spacing them out across the board. Cut some into slices or wedges for easy serving.
Add Fruits & Nuts: Scatter fresh figs, pomegranate seeds, and dried fruits between the cheeses. Sprinkle nuts throughout the board.
Arrange Crackers & Bread: Place crackers and baguette slices around the edges, ensuring easy access for dipping and spreading.
Garnish & Serve: Tuck in rosemary sprigs, cinnamon sticks, and star anise for a festive touch. Let the cheese sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before serving.

Notes

Cheese Pairing Tip: Pair Brie with honey, Blue Cheese with figs, and Aged Cheddar with apple slices for the best flavor combinations.
Make It Dairy-Free: Swap cheeses with plant-based alternatives like cashew-based Brie and almond milk Cheddar.
Wine Pairings: Serve with red wine like Cabernet Sauvignon or a crisp white like Chardonnay.
Storage: Leftover cheese should be wrapped in parchment paper and stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Category: Appetizer
Method: Assembled
Cuisine: French, European

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 portion (about 6 oz total)
Calories: 320 kcal
Sugar: 8g
Sodium: 450mg
Fat: 22g
Saturated Fat: 12g
Unsaturated Fat: 8g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 24g
Fiber: 2g
Protein: 14g
Cholesterol: 45mg

Keywords: Christmas cheese board, holiday cheese platter, festive cheese tray, gourmet cheese selection, charcuterie board