How to Make an Epic Winter Cheese Board ~ grazing tables are all the rage, and this blockbuster appetizer is ideal for winter holidays, game days, or any time hungry friends and family gather. It can provide snacks for a crowd or a meal for an intimate group.
My winter cheese board always makes a splash!
Cheese platters are a great way to entertain any time of the year, but there’s something especially appealing about them during the winter months. This rotating cheese platter never fails to elicit ooohs and aaahs.
A cheese plate like this is perfect for the holidays, but also a wonderful way to perk up a dreary January or February night. Here’s how to do it, step by step ~
Lay down a base of greenery
When I make a holiday cheese board I start by laying down some pine boughs and a few pinecones around the edge of my platter. You could substitute branches of rosemary, fresh bay branches, or any other non-toxic winter greenery you have around. (All pines, spruce, and fir have edible needles.)
Rinse and dry your greenery before using. You can bake pinecones on a foil lined baking sheet in a 225F oven for about 30 minutes to prep them for your platter. You can also soak them in a sink of warm water with 1 part vinegar to 4 parts water. Let them dry thoroughly before using.
The cheeses anchor the arrangement
The cheeses go down first. I place each one on a small sheet of waxed paper and arrange them scattered evenly around the board. Choose a good variety, I always look for a couple of soft cheeses like Brie or St Andre. Then a blue cheese, a hard aged cheese like cheddar or Manchego, a spreadable goat cheese, and some sort of flavored cheese like a dilled havarti or a wine marbled cheddar. For this platter I left the cheeses whole, but sometimes I’ll cut cubes or small wedges for easy grabbing.
Try to include a small knife for each cheese, if possible, these simple knives will work for hard or soft cheeses.
I made a soft cheese ‘pinecone’ out of Boursin studded with sliced almonds.
To form the cheese into a rough pinecone shape I loosely cover it with waxed paper and then nudged it into shape. Then I insert the almonds in an overlapping pattern to cover. You can see it at the top of the cheese platter, above.
Include a variety of nuts
In winter I like to put a special emphasis on the nuts in my assortment, they’re in season and add a hearty, crunchy element to the mix. I usually like to corral the nuts in small bowls to keep the platter neat.
- Roasted nuts have the best flavor.
- I like to toast my own: spread out raw nuts on a baking sheet and roast for 10-15 minutes, stirring a couple of times. They’re done when you can smell their aroma and they just start to brown. They will become extra crunchy as they cool.
- For a winter platter I like walnuts, pecans, hazelnuts, and Marcona almonds.
- I always include some candied or spiced nuts ~ Trader Joe’s is a great source.
- If you include nuts in the shell, provide a nutcracker.
Choose seasonal fresh fruit for a punch of freshness and color
Fresh fruit brings bright color to any cheese board, and I’ll customize it to the season. For fall there are always apples, figs and grapes, but in winter I like to use persimmons, clementines, and pears. Fresh fruit not only breaks up the platter visually, but it makes it more appetizing and makes the arrangement seem less heavy. I’ll also use dried fruit like dates, apricots, cranberries ~ or use whatever you love.
(Ok you caught me, I also threw on some definitely out-of-season raspberries because I found them in the produce section. That’s the prerogative of the cheese plate maker. )
Add meats that have a variety of textures
The meat is an important part of my cheese platter, but you can leave it out if you prefer to keep vegetarian.
- I look for a variety of texture so I pick up a couple of hard salamis, (one spicy) and some sliced meats.
- Be sure to pre-slice the hard salami to make it easy to grab.
- I fold the sliced salami in quarters and arrange it so the ruffly edges are showcased.
- With prosciutto I’ll lay down each slice in loose folds.
Include one or two condiments and spreads
This is your choice, I like to include a grainy mustard and some sort of sweet spread like fig jam or honey on a winter cheese plate. I love to use the homemade marmalade I get from my friend Barb every Christmas. Provide a small spoon with each one.
I love to include one of my many hot pepper jams or jellies. In winter, my hot pepper cranberry jam is perfect. Another alternative is a sweet spiced jelly like my mulled cider jelly or my mulled cranberry jelly which go wonderfully with aged cheeses like cheddar.
Fill in blank spots with something pickled or brined
I always include tiny cornichon pickles, pickled veggies, and/or olives. The sharpness helps cut the richness of the cheese and meat. If your supermarket has an olive bar you can get great ideas there, and buy just the amount you need for your platter. No waste!
If you want to make your own quick pickles, check out my how to quick pickle anything post for ideas.
Don’t forget the crackers
If you’ve got space, I will add the crackers right onto the tray. If I don’t have the space, I’ll serve them separately. Raincoast Crisps are so pretty I always include them. I’ve got a recipe for homemade Raincoast crisp style crackers, here.
Arrange everything on an extra large platter, preferably one that spins so everybody gets a crack at everything!
tvfgi recommends: an extra large lazy susan
Reader Rave ~
“This is the most amazing “recipe” on the internet … LOVE LOVE LOVE the diagram by number – wonderful for us wana-bees … I made a cheese board recently – but yours is way beyond what I put together … Thank you for sharing .” ~Judy
Epic Cheese Board by the numbers ~ (if you’d like to pin this chart, click here.)
1. Winter greens
2. Brillat Savarin triple cream cheese
3. French Mimolette cheese
4. Saint Agur soft blue cheese
5. Boursin cheese
6. Boursin cheese ‘pinecone’
7. Basil Gouda
8. Cheddar
9. Garlic herb Brie
10. Spiced pecans
11. Toasted hazelnuts
12. Hazelnuts in the shell
13. Walnuts in the shell
14. Marcona almonds
15. Fresh raspberries
16. Persimmons
17. Dried apricots, peaches, and pears
18. Fresh whole pears
19. Clementines
20. Candied orange slices
21. Dried dates
22. Prosciutto
23. Sliced salami
24. Hard salami log
25. Spicy hard salami log
26. Marmalade
27. Grainy mustard
28. Cornichon pickles
29. Raincoast Crisp crackers
*This post first published in November 2018, updated November 2020
24 Comments
Kathy
November 10, 2020 at 8:56 amWow! Have been trying to come up with an idea, and here you are! This looks wonderful, elegant and I can’t wait to make. Thanks.
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Sara Arif Azeemi
January 23, 2019 at 10:52 pmVery nice recipe.
Judy
January 5, 2019 at 1:20 pmThis is the most amazing “recipe” on the internet … LOVE LOVE LOVE the diagram by number – wonderful for us wana-bees … I made a cheese board recently – but yours is way beyond what I put together … Thank you for sharing .
Sue
November 10, 2020 at 7:14 amA great cheese platter is a thing of beauty 😉
TC
January 1, 2019 at 11:44 pmExcellent… a gorgeous piece of edible art. Question for you… where did you get the small containers for the nuts, mustard, and marmalade in pic above? I only have ramekins or custard cups, which are both too big for something like this.
Sue
January 2, 2019 at 8:37 amAs a food blogger I’m always picking up interesting dishes and serving pieces, and I probably got those at Cost Plus/World Market. And lately I’ve found a treasure trove of cheap little dishes like that at a local Japanese variety store, they’re popping up in larger cities. I think it’s called Daiso.
Charlie
December 29, 2018 at 7:07 amBest prepared cheese board I’ve seen.
The template and details are just awesome. Thank you for posting it.
Love the lazy Susan!
Have a Happy New Year, Sue :~D
Sue
December 29, 2018 at 11:28 amThanks Charlie, Happy New Year to you!
Laura | Tutti Dolci
December 28, 2018 at 8:30 pmSuch a stunning cheese board, Sue!
Sue
December 29, 2018 at 11:29 amThanks Laura, it was fun to do the winter theme…but I can just imagine how gorgeous a summer platter would be…will have to plan that for 2019 🙂
Linda
December 28, 2018 at 3:11 pmSue, love your recipes! This is beautiful and love how you broke down the elements and then listed the specifics. It will make a great cheeseboard “template” which is really helpful. I really struggle when putting together a cheeseboard to take to gatherings.
Sue
December 28, 2018 at 4:03 pmI’m glad the listing helped you Linda, I was unsure about doing it 🙂
judith
December 28, 2018 at 1:32 pmHonored to enjoy one of Sue’s most outstanding offerings; a truly amazing work of art! Loved sitting beside it (and enjoying its bounty) and chatting with my dear friend.
Sue
December 28, 2018 at 4:04 pmThanks friend <3
Joanna
December 28, 2018 at 1:11 pmThat is one magnificent cheese tray! I’m impressed! Saved to Pinterest for future reference. I love that you numbered and listed the food as it was laid out. Makes it so easy to copy.
Sue
December 29, 2018 at 11:30 amI’m glad the template helped, I wasn’t sure if readers would like it or not!
Liz
December 28, 2018 at 1:09 pmI have cheese board envy! Love this!!!
Sue
December 28, 2018 at 1:15 pmLol, thanks Liz!
Colleen
December 28, 2018 at 11:10 amLooks good Sue! I was actually wondering where did they find a spot big enough to accommodate it when you arrived at your sister’s house? That’s one big lazy susan. I’ve never seen one that big before.
Sue
December 28, 2018 at 11:18 amIt fit perfectly on their coffee table, which is fairly large but not oversized. I was relieved!
Maria
December 28, 2018 at 9:31 amThis is Beautiful! Love that this is a Lazy Susan! Clever! But where do you store it??? I’ve wanted one but not sure where to keep it when not in use. Maybe I should buy a new (round) dining room table to place it on?
Sue
December 28, 2018 at 9:38 amI actually store it standing on its side, next to my refrigerator. When you stand it vertically like that it’s easier to find a spot for it in a closet or pantry.
Joy
December 28, 2018 at 8:47 amYour cheese platter looks amazing. Food for my eyes!
Sue
December 28, 2018 at 10:20 amThanks Joy, I hope it inspires you to try one!