Wow your holiday guests with a beautiful and inexpensive cheese display this year. Combining a variety of flavors and textures is easy and a fantastic way to kick off any party.

The Ultimate Cheese Board | The Suburban Soapbox

Creating the perfect cheese display doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive. With a few quick tips, you can keep more money in your wallet this year and still have a palate pleasing display to share with your guests. You don’t even have to make a special trip to a cheese specialty shop, most well-stocked grocery stores carry everything you need to build your display. (Even the tiny convenience store at the shore had everything I needed for a quick cheese and charcuterie tray.)

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1. Be sure to buy a variety of cheeses made from different milks….goat, cow, sheep. And be sure to include a variety of textures….one with a soft, bloomy-rind, a semi-hard cheese and an aged harder cheese. Milk, creamy, buttery…you get the gist.

ALDI Cranberry White Cheddar

ALDI Cranberry White Cheddar

2. Don’t buy too much….four different types of cheese should be fine for a small group of people…if you’re hosting a large crowd, five cheeses would be perfect. You don’t want to end up with grilled cheese sandwiches for the next two weeks….although those sandwiches would be pretty epic.

ALDI Double Creme Brie

ALDI Double Creme Brie

3. Always include something briny (pickled veggies, olives, etc.) and something sweet (dried fruit, fresh fruit, jam) to balance the flavors and entice your guests to get creative with their pairings.

Maille Cornichons

Maille Cornichons

4. I like to include something crunchy…and not just crackers. This is the perfect opportunity to pull out your favorite nut recipe or my Spicy Cinnamon Maple Roasted Almonds to add to the party.

Sweet and Spicy Maple Roasted Almonds

Sweet and Spicy Maple Roasted Almonds

6. Don’t forget something salty, like a salami, some chopped speck, thin slices of prosciutto or a summer sausage.

Merlot Salami

Merlot Salami

5. Let it breathe. The cheese….let it sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes to an hour before serving. The cheese will thank you later….you’ll taste it…you’ll know what I’m talking about later.

Jarlsberg

Jarlsberg

6. Cut the cheese. 🙂  I’m serious…..slice the cheeses on a separate board and then arrange on your serving platter to keep things neat. Be sure to keep the correct (clean) knives with each cheese on the board and don’t forget to include something to pick up your briny items with, like a tiny fork.

Cranberry Goat Cheese

Cranberry Goat Cheese

That’s all….see how easy it is? And I saved you some money for the after-Christmas sales so you can go treat yourself. Win, win, win.

Disclaimer: All my cheeses were purchased at ALDI market, the entire cheese display cost under $30 including the crackers. (The nuts are not included in the cost but you can get the recipe HERE.)  This post is not sponsored by ALDI market, I just think their prices are extraordinary and wanted to share my love of cheese. 🙂  The “pickles” are Maille Cornichons that are available at any supermarket where Maille products are sold.