Perfect Cheese and Cracker Tray
This approachable cheese and cracker tray is perfect for any gathering, from casual family snacking to elegant entertaining. With the right balance of flavors, textures, and visual appeal, you'll create an impressive spread that's both accessible and sophisticated.
Ingredients
- For the cheese (select 3-5 varieties):
- 4 oz soft cheese (like Brie, Camembert, or goat cheese)
- 4 oz medium-firm cheese (like cheddar, Gouda, or Havarti)
- 4 oz aged or bold cheese (like blue cheese, aged Parmesan, or smoked Gouda)
- For the crackers (select 2-4 types):
- 4 oz water crackers or neutral crackers
- 4 oz flavored crackers (like rosemary, black pepper, or seeded varieties
- Optional: 4 oz breadsticks or crostini
- For fresh accompaniments:
- 1 cup mixed grapes (red and green)
- 1 apple or pear, sliced
- Optional: ½ cup berries in season
- For savory accompaniments:
- ¼ cup mixed olives
- ¼ cup nuts (like almonds, walnuts, or pecans)
- For sweet accompaniments:
- 2 tablespoons honey or fruit preserves
- Optional: 2 tablespoons dried fruits (like apricots or cranberries)
- For garnish:
- Few sprigs of fresh herbs (like rosemary or thyme)
- Special equipment:
- Serving board or large platter
- Small bowls for dips and loose items
- Cheese knives and serving utensils
Instructions
- Remove cheeses from refrigerator 30-45 minutes before serving to allow them to come to room temperature.
- While cheeses are warming, prepare fresh fruits by washing, drying, and slicing as needed.
- Select your serving board or platter. Wood, slate, or marble all work well.
- Place small bowls for olives, honey, or other loose items on the board.
- Arrange cheeses on the board, leaving space between them. Cut soft cheeses into wedges or leave with a cheese knife. Slice or cube firmer cheeses for easy serving.
- Arrange crackers in fans or stacks around the cheeses, making sure they're easily accessible.
- Fill in spaces with fruit clusters, sliced fruits, and nuts.
- Fill small bowls with olives, honey, or preserves and place on the board.
- Tuck herb sprigs around items for color and aroma.
- Provide appropriate serving utensils for each component: cheese knives for soft cheeses, small forks for pickled items, and spoons for spreads or honey
Notes
For a budget-friendly version, choose one premium cheese and supplement with more affordable varieties.
Prepare the board up to 2 hours before serving, covering loosely with plastic wrap (remove garnishes and add just before serving).
Create a kid-friendly corner with mild cheese cubes, plain crackers, and fruit.
Scale up or down by maintaining the same general proportions of cheese, crackers, and accompaniments.
For dietary restrictions, include labels or a small key indicating which items are vegetarian, gluten-free, etc.