How to Make the Perfect Cheese Board

20 minutes

Ever wondered how to put together your own perfect cheese board? It’s actually quite easy! Learn how to assemble a cheese board from start to finish with these simple step by step instructions. Perfect for holidays, ladies nights, or everyday entertaining, charcuterie boards are a fun, versatile, delicious addition to any gathering!

Is it just me…or is there something about a good cheese board? It’s the perfect appetizer for any occasion! Not only are they beautiful to look at…and delicious to eat…(who doesn’t love all things cheese?)…but they’re also s0 fun to put together.

And best of all, they have something for everyone! From different types of cheese to sweet and savory snacks to crackers and cured meats, the best cheese boards leave no one behind.

With the holidays fast approaching, it’s the perfect time to brush up on our cheese board ideas and refresh our charcuterie skills. I know it can be a little intimidating to put together the perfect board… but with my step by step instructions, you’ll be a cheese board queen (or king) in no time at all!

How to assemble a cheese board:

1. Start with the board. Cheese boards are typically assembled on a slate or wooden tray, which may be square, rectangular, or round. But if you don’t already own one, don’t feel like you need to go out and buy one. You can also use a plate, a cutting board, or even a baking sheet. Any flat surface will work.
2. Select the cheeses. Try to include a variety of flavors and textures by selecting cheeses from different families (see below).
3. Add some charcuterie…aka cured meats. Prosciutto, salami, sopressata, chorizo, or mortadella are all good options.
4. Add some savory. Think olives, pickles, roasted peppers, artichokes, tapenades, almonds, cashews, or spicy mustards.
5. Add some sweet. Think seasonal and dried fruits, candied nuts, preserves, honey, chutney, or even chocolate.
6. Offer a variety of breads. Sliced baguette, bread sticks, and a variety of crackers in different shapes, sizes, and flavors.
7. Finish it off with some garnishes. This is a great way to give your cheese board a seasonal touch. Use edible flowers, fresh herbs, or additional fruits to give your board the look and feel you want.

What are the best cheeses to include?

A good rule of thumb is to include cheeses from a variety of different families. Some basic families include:

• Aged: Aged Cheddar, Gruyere, Gouda.
• Soft: Brie, Camembert, Goat.
• Firm: Manchego, Parmigiano-Reggiano, Edam.
• Blue: Gorgonzola, Roquefort, Stilton.

Tips for making the ultimate cheese board:

1. Offer a variety of savory and sweet ingredients. The truth is everyone likes their cheese a little different. Some like it savory, some like it sweet, and some like a combination of both. The best cheese boards have something for everyone.
2. Offer a variety of textures. Because eating is such a sensory experience, a variety of textures makes any cheeese board more interesting.  Consider ingredients with various textures such as creamy, crunchy, crumbly, gooey, and crisp.
3. Use cheese markers to label cheese so everyone knows what they’re getting.
4. Bring cheeses to room temperature before serving in order to bring out their true flavor.
5. Don’t forget the knives, spoons, toothpicks, etc.

What I included on this cheese board:

CHEESE: Roth Kase Raw Private Reserve, Sartori Merlot Bellavitano, Wisconsin 5-Year Cheddar, St. Mark’s Bloomy Rind, Bri Du Pommier, Bayley Hazen Blue

MEATS: Murray’s Prosciutto di Parma, Murray’s Genoa Salami

FRESH FRUITS: Snapdragon apple slices, red grapes

DRIED FRUITS: Mariani Dried Apricots, Cherry Bay Orchards Dried Montmorency Cherries

NUTS: Blue Diamond Honey Roasted Almonds, Fisher Roasted Cashews, Roundy’s Pecan Halves

SAVORY: Murray’s Garlic Stuffed Olives, Trois Petits Cochons Cornichons

DIPS: Private Selection Whole Grain Garlic Mustard, Local Hive Honey, Divina Fig Spread

BREADS: Alessi Breadsticks, Private Selection Peppercorn & Poppy Water Crisps, Back to Nature Multigrain Flax Seeded Flatbread

More cheese recipes you’ll love

• Swiss Almond Cheese Ball
• Cranberry Pecan Baked Goat Cheese
• Mushroom Marsala Baked Brie
• Brown Sugar Walnut Baked Brie
• Pumpkin Pecan Baked Brie
• 3 Ingredient Cheese Spreads
• Baked Brie with Wine Soaked Blackberries
• Cheese Fondue

The Perfect Cheese Board

Yield: 24

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Ever wondered how to put together your own perfect cheese board? It's actually quite easy! Learn how to assemble a cheese board from start to finish with these simple step by step instructions. Perfect for holidays, ladies nights, or everyday entertaining, cheese boards are a fun, versatile, delicious addition to any gathering!

Print

Ingredients

• 1 wedge brie cheese
• 1 wedge blue cheese
• 1 wedge aged cheddar
• 1 wedge alpine cheese
• 1 wedge flavored cheese
• 1 apple, sliced
• 2-3 bunches grapes
• 1/3 c. olives
• 1/3 c. cornichons
• 1/3 c. dried apricots
• 1/3 c. dried cherries
• 1/4 cup whole salted cashews
• 1/4 cup whole almonds
• 1/4 cup whole pecans
• 2 ounces prosciutto
• 2 ounces salami
• 2-4 Tbsp. whole grain mustard
• 2-4 Tbsp. honey
• 2-4 Tbsp. preserves
• bread slices, crackers, and breadsticks

Instructions

1. Start with the board. Cheese boards are typically assembled on a slate or wooden tray, which may be square, rectangular, or round. But if you don't already own one, don't feel like you need to go out and buy one. You can also use a plate, a cutting board, or even a baking sheet. Any flat surface will work.
2. Select the cheeses. Try to include a variety of flavors and textures by selecting cheeses from different families (see below).
3. Add some charcuterie...aka cured meats. Prosciutto, salami, sopressata, chorizo, or mortadella are all good options.
4. Add some savory. Think olives, pickles, roasted peppers, artichokes, tapenades, almonds, cashews, or spicy mustards.
5. Add some sweet. Think seasonal and dried fruits, candied nuts, preserves, honey, chutney, or even chocolate.
6. Offer a variety of breads. Sliced baguette, bread sticks, and a variety of crackers in different shapes, sizes, and flavors.
7. Finish it off with some garnishes. This is a great way to give your cheese board a seasonal touch. Use edible flowers, fresh herbs, or additional fruits to give your board the look and feel you want.
   

Notes

Tips:

1. Offer a variety of savory and sweet ingredients. The truth is everyone likes their cheese a little different. Some like it savory, some like it sweet, and some like a combination of both. The best cheese boards have something for everyone.
2. Offer a variety of textures. Because eating is such a sensory experience, a variety of textures makes any cheeese board more interesting.  Consider ingredients with various textures such as creamy, crunchy, crumbly, gooey, and crisp.
3. Use cheese markers to label cheese so everyone knows what they're getting.
4. Bring cheeses to room temperature before serving in order to bring out their true flavor.
5. Don't forget the knives, spoons, toothpicks, etc.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 24 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 128Total Fat: 6gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 10mgSodium: 257mgCarbohydrates: 17gFiber: 1gSugar: 13gProtein: 4g