When entertaining during the holiday season you need an epic appetizer like a Cheese Platter to serve your guests. Check out my tips and step by step photos on how I make an epic cheese platter.
Cheese platters are one of the easiest appetizers to serve. You can make them small enough to serve 1 or 2 people or you can make them big enough to serve a large crowd.
Appetizer Ideas for Entertaining
Cheese platters make wonderful party appetizers. A combination of cheese, meats, fruits, crackers, and nuts will satisfy just about everyone.
A cheese platter or board will be one of the easiest appetizers you will ever make.
If you have never made a cheese platter you can start with my How To Make a Cheese Platter post.
Or my Cheese Platter Ideas where I show you how to make two very different cheese boards that are perfect served any time of the year.
Recipe FAQ's
3 or more varieties of cheese using a combination of soft, semi soft and hard cheeses. A combination of 2 or more cured meats like salami and Prosciutto. A combination of fruits and nuts. Fresh fruit and dried fruit pair well on a cheese board. Crackers, bread sticks and crusty breads. I like to include sweet and savory jams or honey.
What To Put On a Cheese Platter or Cheese Board?
What to put on a cheese platter is totally up to you and the budget you have. The fun of making a cheese platter is that you can make it with almost any type of cheese and crackers. There is no wrong way to make a cheese platter.
An epic holiday cheese platter will have a combination of cheeses, meats, nuts, fruit, and condiments that are perfect for the holidays. Grainy Dijon mustard is a good condiment to include.
Below is a list of some of the items to include in a cheese platter.
Since a holiday party is a special occasion you can go all out and put a few extra special touches on your holiday cheese platter.
Imported cheeses like French Brie or Camembert is perfect for a holiday cheese board. Keep in mind that these are just suggestions and you can use any of your favorite cheeses on a cheese board.
On my holiday cheese platter, I included French Brie, creamy Camembert, shaved Parmesan, sliced sharp cheddar and thinly sliced mozzarella cheese.
What kind of meat to include on a cheese platter? A Charcuterie board is a fancy name for a cured meat and cheese board.
If your epic cheese board will include cheese and meat there are many options.
Cured and smoked meats are available in many varieties. Prosciutto, herb-crusted salami slices, and thinly sliced pepperoni are just a few examples of the type of meats you can include on a holiday meat and cheese platter.
- What kind of fruit to include on a holiday cheese platter? Fresh fruits like crisp apples, winter blueberries, and crisp sweet green grapes are good choices. Pomegranate seeds, tangerine slices, sliced pears are in season winter fruit that would also be perfect on a winter cheese platter.
- Dried fruits like raisins, dried figs, dried dates, and dried cranberries are sweet and delicious dried fruit options.
- Mixed Nuts, and savory jams for a Holiday Cheese Platter: Add a mixture of sweet, salty and crunchy mixed nuts and candied pecans are a perfect sweet and salty addition.
- What type of condiments to include on a cheese platter? Adding sweet and savory condiments to a cheese board is a great way to take it up a notch.
- Jams for cheese board: Savory Peach Rosemary Jam, Habanero Apricot Jam or homemade Spicy Mustard are perfect condiments to serve with your meat and cheese platter. Sweet, savory and spicy condiments go perfect with all kinds of meats and cheese.
- What kind of crackers to Include on a Cheese Platter? Take a stroll down the cracker aisle of any grocery store and you will find a vast assortment of crackers to choose from. You will find a selection that includes basic buttery Ritz or Club crackers to specialty sesame seed flatbread crackers. Pick a couple of different types of cracker flavors and sizes.
- Should you include breads on a cheese platter? Squares and triangle of a crusty bread is perfect on a cheese board.
How To Arrange the Cheese Platter
Arranging a cheese platter is the funniest part of serving a cheese and meat board at a party.
Artfully arranging the ingredients on a pretty slate or wooden tray and placing it on an appetizer table will make a stunning impression for your guests.
- Start by placing the cheese on a serving platter. Leave space between each type of cheese.
- Begin filling in the spaces between the cheese with meat, crackers, fruit, and nuts.
- Continue adding to the cheese platter until all of the gaps on the serving platter are filled in.
Party appetizers do not need to be difficult at all. Cheese, meat and crackers are always a hit.
When you include a combination of types of cheese and meats you guarantee that all of your guest will have something to nibble on.
You can also try this Christmas Charcuterie Wreath this holiday season.
Have a safe and happy holiday!
Try some of these other holiday appetizers.
Email questions or recipe requests to flouronmyface@gmail.com. Follow me on Pinterest, YouTube, Instagram and Facebook.
Holiday Cheese Platter
Ingredients
- 5 ounces French Brie Cheese (wedge)
- 4 ounces Petite Camembert Cheese
- 8 ounces Sharp Cheddar Cheese (sliced)
- 2 ounces Mozzarella Cheese (thinly sliced)
- 4 ounces Parmesan Cheese (shaved)
- 4 ounces Prosciutto (thinly sliced)
- 4 ounces Herb Coated Salami (sliced)
- 8 ounces Mixed Nuts
- Candied Nuts (I used my Candied Pecans)
- 2 medium Apples (sliced)
- 9 ounces Dried Figs
- 2 cups Grapes
- 1 cup Blueberries
- 1 package Club Crackers
- 1 package Carrs Table Water Crackers
- 1 package Thin Bread Sticks
- 1 package Seasame Seed Flatbread Crackers
Instructions
- Place the serving platter you plan to use down on the table you plan to serve the cheese platter from. It is very difficult to move the cheese platter once all of the ingredients are in place.
- Start by placing the cheese on a serving platter. Leave space between each type of cheese.
- Begin filling in the spaces between the cheese with meat, crackers, fruit, and nuts.
- Continue adding to the cheese platter until all of the gaps on the serving platter are filled in.
Recipe Expert Tips
- Cheese: Cheese should be served at room temperature. Remove the cheese from the refrigerator about 30 minutes before you begin assembling the Holiday Cheese Platter.
- Fruits: Use any combination of fresh fruits you like. Pick a few that are in season during the holidays.
- Meats: Use a combination of meats in different shapes and sizes.
- Jams: Use a combination of sweet and savory jams.
- Honey: Honey can be used in place of jam.
- Crackers and Bread: Squares and triangle of a crusty bread is perfect on a cheese board.
Kathleen Smith
Well done explanation on the “how to” part of this post. I find arranging the items on the tray the most difficult to do. The step by step photos of each layer as they go down is very helpful. Thanks!