Budget Christmas Cheese Board
A festive, affordable cheese board built from two blocks ofcheese cut three ways, filled out with cheap fruit and crackers, and finishedwith rosemary, pomegranate, and dried orange for a Christmas look without thespecialty price tag.
Ingredients
- 8 oz 8 oz brie or smoked gouda (hero cheese)
- 8 oz block sharp cheddar or Colby jack (budget cheese, cut three ways)
- 4 oz salami or pepperoni, sliced
- 1 cup crackers or sliced baguette
- 1 cup red grapes
- 1 apple, sliced
- ½ cup pomegranate arils
- ¼ cup mixed nuts
- 3 to 4 sprigs fresh rosemary
- 6 to 8 dried orange slices
- Figjam or honey for serving
Instructions
- Cut the budget cheese block into three shapes: thin slices, small cubes, and thick diagonal planks.
- Place the hero cheese slightly off-center on the board and cut it into a few wedges.
- Arrange the three cheese cuts in separate clusters around the hero cheese, leaving gaps between them.
- Fill the gaps with crackers, standing some upright and laying others flat.
- Tuck grapes and apple slices into remaining gaps, alternating colors so nothing similar sits next to itself.
- Scatter rosemary sprigs, pomegranate arils, and dried orange slices across the board.
- Fill any last bare spots with nuts, and add a small bowl of fig jam or honey for serving.
Notes
Assemble within an hour or two of serving so the fruit doesn't brown. The cheese can be cut a day ahead and stored separately in the fridge.