How to Build a Cheese Board

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If you have ever wondered to myself: How to Build a Cheese Board then look no further! It couldn’t be simpler to assemble. This is a step-by-step instructions and guide on building a gorgeous cheeseboard to wow your guests! And, you want to learn How to Build a Cheese Plate for Two, I got you!

How to Build a Cheese Board.

POV: You’ve been invited to a party or are having friends over and want to build a cheeseboard but you don’t know where to start or how to make it pretty. Don’t worry, I got you! It couldn’t be simpler. But with this guidance, you can write your grocery list and head to the store! And if you want to bring a drink? This Strawberry Lemonade Sangria is perfect for a crowd too!

Ingredients You’ll Need for Building a Cheese Board

Fresh fruit for cheese board.
  1. Fresh fruit – Get seasonal with it. If it’s fall, add figs, pears and apples. In the spring or summer add peaches, strawberries or nectarines.
  2. Dried fruit – I love the chewiness of dried fruit. I love dried apricots, figs and cranberries.
  3. Briny Things – Think castelvetrano olives, cornichons. cocktail onions, pepperoncinis or anything pickled
  4. Nuts – I love candied pecans, walnuts, marcona almonds, pistachios or nut brittles.
  5. Meats – Salami, prosciutto, sliced ham, cured sausages or chorizo are all delicious.
  6. Cheeses – I love a combination of different cheeses. Look below for more options!
  7. Jam or honey – I love adding honeycomb, jam (like this sungold tomato jam) or quince paste.
Honey and jam in a container.

The Best Cheeses for a Cheese Board

I believe there should be an array of different cheeses for your cheese board. Here’s the strategy I partake in:

  • Hard/Medium Cheeses – I love an aged cheddar, havarti, comté, manchego or gouda.
  • Soft Cheeses – I love adding a wheel of brie, camembert or a goat or sheep’s cheese.
  • Funky Cheese – You can also throw in something a little wild and alive like blue cheese (stilton), or gorgonzola. (I usually skip this because people are never that into it and it goes untouched.)
An array of cheeses.

Pick Your Carbohydrate Vehicle

  • Crackers – I like to serve two different types of crackers. Something crispy and something buttery.
  • Bread – Take your favorite baguette and slice it and serve it on the platter.
Cracks on counter.

How to Assemble a Cheese Board

I prefer everything nestled close together in an orderly fashion. I think it looks best. Here’s my strategy on making a pretty cheeseboard:

  1. Add the carbs first – These are most likely the largest items and take up the most space. I like to add them first. There are times when they take up too much space and you can simply add them to a small plate and place it next to the board.
  2. Add the cheeses – Adding the wedges or cubed cheeses along with the bread or crackers. Place them in different parts of the big platter or board you are working with. Play around with it.
  3. Add the meats – If you’re using meats, fan them out or layer them in ways that look attractive. Arrange them nestled against the cheeses.
  4. Add the fruits – Add small piles of the fresh fruit and dried fruit. I say get creative with how you’re cutting the fruit too!
  5. Sprinkle in the nuts – I like to add the nuts where it makes sense.
  6. Add the briny things – And then with the pickles or olives.
  7. Add the jam – You can add the jam straight to the board or if it makes more sense, add it to a small bowl and place it on the board.

Arranging Tip

Repeat ingredients on the board – For instance, I have two groups of the same olives, two groups of dried apricots and two groups of prosciutto. I think it looks pretty! And it also offers a practicability factor. If two or three people are reaching for the board, they have options as to where they can grab for the ingredients.

Crackers being arranged on cutting board.

Styling Tip

Get cute with it! Non-edible garnishes are very controversial but I’m down for it. I am pro-non-edible garnishes. I do go with organic flowers as garnish just in case someone decides they want to eat a flower (I dunno). You can also add little ornaments or tinsel around the cutting board.

How to Build a Cheese Board.

Cheeseboard FAQs

How much cheese should I buy per person?

If this cheese board is for four people I say two types of hard cheeses and two types of soft cheese. You can scale up or down from there. (This is assuming you’re including all other sorts of items too.)

How should I cut the cheeses for the cheeseboard?

For firm cheeses, I say cut them in cubes. I like them to be easily assemble for people to grab and eat. For soft cheeses, I like to serve them with a butter knife or spreadable cheese knife.

At what temperature should I serve cheese?

I like to serve hard cheeses straight from the fridge. They’ll come to room temperature or shake off their chill pretty easily. For soft cheeses, I like to remove them from the fridge an hour before serving them. They’re the best at room temperature.

Cheese cubed on a board.

More Cozy Appetizers

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5 from 1 vote

How to Build a Cheese Board

Prep: 10 minutes
Assembling Time: 10 minutes
Total: 20 minutes
Servings: 6 people
How to Build a Cheese Board is an easy how-to on assembling the perfect cheese plate for a crowd. This makes the easiest, crowd-pleasing appetizer. This step by step guide will show you how to do it!

Equipment

  • 1 cheese board (large cutting board or large serving plate)

Ingredients 

Cheeses To Serve:

  • 12 ounces hard cheeses , such as gouda, havarti, comté or sharp cheddar
  • 12 ounces soft cheeses, such as brie, camembert, tallegio or goat cheese

Meats to Serve:

  • 1 pound cured meats, (such as sliced salami, prosciutto or chorizo)

Nuts to Serve:

  • 6 ounces nuts , (such as marcona almonds, caramelized pecans, pistachios, walnuts, pecans)

Fruit to Serve:

  • 1 pound fresh fruit , (such as sliced figs, pears, applies, grapes)
  • 4 ounces dried fruit , (such as crystallized mango, ginger, cranberries, cherries or golden raisins)

Fun Additions:

  • 4 ounces carb, (such as bread, crackers, mini toasts)
  • 4 ounces something briny, (such as olives, peppadews, cornichons)
  • 1/4 cup jam or honey

Instructions 

To Assemble the Cheese Board:

  • Place your board close to the area in which you're going to set it out. Traveling with this entire board can be heavy and scary (especially if you have a dog waiting for anything to drop). There's no wrong way to do this!
  • I like to add all of the cheeses and carbs to the board FIRST, this way I can arrange around them. Then I add the dried fruit, nuts, meats, briny things, etc. Don't be shy to divide each category in two, adding multiple piles of each group.
  • Garnish with flowers, if you like and serve.

Notes

Tips and Tricks: 
  • Repeat ingredients on the board – For instance, I have two groups of the same olives, two groups of dried apricots and two groups of prosciutto. I think it looks pretty! And it also offers a practicability factor. If two or three people are reaching for the board, they have options as to where they can grab for the ingredients.
  • Get cute with it! Non-edible garnishes are very controversial but I’m down for it. I am pro-non-edible garnishes. I do go with organic flowers as garnish just in case someone decides they want to eat a flower (I dunno). You can also add little ornaments or tinsel around the cutting board.

Nutrition

Calories: 312kcal | Carbohydrates: 40g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Sodium: 133mg | Potassium: 365mg | Fiber: 14g | Sugar: 18g | Vitamin A: 382IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 113mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Appetizer, Holiday
Cuisine: American, French
Like this Recipe? Please Rate & comment below!

Cozy Latin-Inspired Comfort Food Recipes

Hi! I'm Adrianna and this is my cozy space on the internet that is super-charged by butter, flour and copious amounts of pasta. Stay awhile, will you!

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5 Comments

  1. That’s a great cheese board. Looks amazing. Where can I get a board and utensils like the one you used?

  2. Thank you SO much for this, I am having a holiday party next weekend and have literally been googling “beautiful cheese board” for the past week with no luck of what I am looking for. This is exactly what I wanted, a few cheeses, meats, and other items to add texture. Thanks again for your recommendations on cheese, that’s the hardest part since there are SO many kinds!

  3. I swear, nothing makes me happy like seeing a bunch of cheese cubes on a board! 😀 This cheese plate looks so fancy!! I’m throwing a cookie exchange party at the end of the month, and I am serving some holiday drinks and savory apps to go along with the many cookies we will consume. I think I’ll make a cheese plate! Loved your ideas for fruit and spreads to go along with it; that’s something I never remember to think of myself. Thanks for the visuals and advice!!