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How to Make a Christmas Cheese Board

Whether you’re decorating the tree or indulging in a few too many holiday movies, there’s always an occasion for a Christmas cheese board. This delightful snack (or light meal) is a wonderful pick-me-up, and it can be customized to feed just a few people or a family-sized crowd. Here’s how to incorporate this trend into your own celebration.

How to Make a Christmas Cheese Board

Step 1: Pick Your Cheeses

The key to a delicious Christmas cheese board is, well, the cheese! Aim for variety—a good rule is to include one cheese from each of the following categories: soft, semi-soft, firm, blue and aged. A cheese ball is another great choice.

You can also pick cheeses based on your family’s preferences. If kids or non-adventurous eaters will be snacking, there’s nothing wrong with keeping your picks familiar.

Step 2: Add Your Favorite Snacks

While the cheese is the star of the show, your board’s supporting cast is equally as important. You’ll want to add elements that are crunchy, salty and sweet to accompany each cheese choice. These are some of our favorite ideas:

  • A variety of crackers
  • Nuts—both plain and candied
  • Jams, honeys or conserves
  • Pickles and olives
  • Fresh fruits and veggies
  • Sausage and deli meats
  • Fresh herbs
  • Candies or small cookies

Step 3: Get Festive!

  • O’ Christmas Tree: Shape your charcuterie into a glorious beacon of the holiday season. Cut your chosen cheeses into bite-sized cubes, then layer with grapes, berries, nuts, small crackers or salami chunks into a tree-shape. Find more Christmas tree-inspired recipes.
  • Cool Cutouts: Your holiday cookie cutters aren’t just for sweet treats. Use them to cut out shapes from firm cheeses, like cheddar and provolone. Scatter your shapes around the board to add easy, festive flair. Another fun idea? Turn already-shaped cheeses (like wheels of brie) into a jolly snowman.
  • Beautiful Wreath: For a sophisticated, party-ready Christmas cheese plate, arrange herbs in a ring shape. (Rosemary is a particularly good choice). Then layer in all of your fixins’ to create a gorgeous, edible wreath.
  • Candy Cane Chic: Savory gets inspired by sweet when you layer red and white charcuterie into a candy cane shape. Try fresh mozzarella with tomato slices, Swiss chunks with summer sausage or goat cheese with red grapes.
  • Red and Green: Celebrate the colors of the season with a Christmas cheese board decked out in red and green. At the store, keep an eye out for cheeses encased in a colorful rind, as well as Sage Derby cheese that has a naturally green hue. For accompaniments, consider beet crackers, cherry tomatoes, grapes, olives, pomegranate seeds and gherkins.

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