How to Make the Perfect Cheese Board

A stellar cheese board can be the centerpiece of any party or occasion. Learn how to pair flavors and textures and how to create unique cheese boards for every season with this step-by-step guide!

Offer a variety of cheeses

It’s important to feature different types of cheeses to satisfy a range of preferences. But how do you achieve balance and variety?

Include a variety of:

• Milk types
• Ages
• Textures
• Shapes
• Colors
• Flavors

Since cheese can be quite salty, it’s important to add some sweetness to a cheese board to balance out the flavors. Turn to fruits, jams, and honey to do the trick. Again, since variety is key when it comes to creating a cheese board, include at least one fresh fruit, one dried fruit, and something spreadable.

Sweet ideas:

Fresh fruits: Pair with the season

• Sliced stone fruit (plums, apricots, peaches)
• Black berries
• Sliced pear
• Grapes
• Figs
• Cherries
• Mandarin Oranges

• Dried apricots
• Dried figs
• Dried cherries

• Honety
• Honeycomb
• Chutney
• Jams

Carbs are key

Always offer some type of carb, like crackers and bread. Although they’re often eaten with the cheese, crackers and bread also act as palate cleansers between bites. Opt for crackers and breads that have minimal flavors added, like water crackers and a good crusty bread, such as a French baguette. For a gluten-free option, I like Mary’s Gone Crackers.

Miscellaneous additions

A few small bites offer additional variety in flavor and texture, while also being an option for people who may not be overly adventurous with cheese.

• Olives (Castelvetrano are a great choice)
• Cornichons
• Raw or roasted nuts (marcona almonds are a classic)
• Candied nuts
• Some type of green (microgreens, fresh herbs), for color

How much cheese do you need for a party?

As a general rule, account for about 4 ounces of cheese per person. And to be safe, having extra is better than not having enough.

• 6–10 guests = 2 pounds
• 11—15 guests = 3 pounds
• 16–20 guests = 4 pounds

When and how to prepare cheese for a cheese board

• Let cheese come to room temperature before serving, this takes about an hour. Doing so allows the flavors of the cheeses to become more pronounced.
• Thinly shave or “chip away” semi-hard and hard style cheeses (such as Parmesan, Manchego, Gruyere, Pecorino) for serving. Harder varieties are often quite salty, so sampling in smaller bites will actually benefit the flavors of these types of cheeses.
• For shorter-aged, fresh cheeses with a soft rind (such as brie and triple cream), slice some of the round into wedges. This gives guests an entry point, making it more likely that they will cut into it. Plus, it shows how to cut it once the precut pieces have been taken.

How to store cheese

Cheese Board Ideas:

Cheese

• Maytag Blue Cheese
• 6-Month Soirée Manchego
• Sartori Montamore Cheddar (Cross between cheddar and Parmesan)
• 5-year Aged Cheddar
• Triple Cream Goat Brie
• Burrata
• Mimolette — a classic bright orange, salty cheese. A staple on any cheese board.

Sweet

• Honeycomb
• Dried apricots
• Fresh cherries

Misc. additions

• Pistachios
• Roasted almonds
• Whole-grain mustard

Carbs

• Torn French baguette
• Black pepper crackers