Twelve Days Cheese Board (Print Version)

Festive board with twelve distinct cheeses and unique savory-sweet pairings. Perfect for parties and celebrations.

# Ingredient List:

→ Cheeses

01 - 1.75 oz Brie
02 - 1.75 oz Aged Cheddar
03 - 1.75 oz Manchego
04 - 1.75 oz Roquefort or Blue Cheese
05 - 1.75 oz Goat Cheese
06 - 1.75 oz Gruyère
07 - 1.75 oz Camembert
08 - 1.75 oz Gouda
09 - 1.75 oz Comté
10 - 1.75 oz Pecorino
11 - 1.75 oz Havarti
12 - 1.75 oz Smoked Cheese (e.g., Smoked Provolone)

→ Pairings & Accompaniments

13 - 12 slices artisanal bread or assorted crackers
14 - 2 tablespoons honey
15 - 2 tablespoons fig jam
16 - 2 tablespoons whole grain mustard
17 - 24 seedless grapes
18 - 12 dried apricots
19 - 12 walnut halves
20 - 12 toasted almonds
21 - 12 thin apple slices
22 - 12 fresh pear slices
23 - 12 pieces dark chocolate
24 - 12 cornichons
25 - Fresh herbs (thyme, rosemary) for garnish

# Recipe Steps:

01 - Arrange a large serving board or platter and visually divide it into 12 sections using small bowls, ramekins, or garnish lines.
02 - Place one variety of cheese in each section, cutting into bite-sized pieces where suitable and arranging attractively.
03 - Pair each cheese with its designated accompaniment, for example: Brie with honey and apple slice; Aged Cheddar with fig jam and walnut; Manchego with quince paste and almond; Roquefort with pear slice and walnut; Goat Cheese with thyme and grape; Gruyère with mustard and cornichon; Camembert with apple and almond; Gouda with dried apricot and chocolate; Comté with grape and walnut; Pecorino with pear and honey; Havarti with fig jam and almond; Smoked Cheese with cornichon and dark chocolate.
04 - Distribute bread slices or crackers evenly around the board to accompany all sections.
05 - Decorate the board with fresh herbs such as thyme and rosemary to enhance presentation.
06 - Present at room temperature to highlight the full flavor profiles.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It's the only appetizer that feels like a complete experience, with twelve distinct flavor adventures waiting to be discovered
  • Your guests will spend the whole party talking about it because each cheese section tells a different story
  • You get to play cheese curator without any cooking involved, which means more time with your guests
  • It's showstopping and elegant but honestly easier to put together than most appetizers
02 -
  • Room temperature is non-negotiable. Cheese straight from the refrigerator tastes muted and closed off, like it's holding back its secrets. Give it time to open up and share itself.
  • The order you arrange things matters less than making sure each pairing can be easily identified. Your guests are reading your board like a story, and they need to know which pairing goes with which cheese.
03 -
  • Buy your cheeses from a real cheesemonger if possible. They'll help you choose specimens at their peak, and they'll have stories about each one that you can share with your guests.
  • The secret nobody talks about is that this board actually gets better as it sits. The pairings meld slightly, the flavors find each other, and everything tastes more integrated after thirty minutes than it did right when you arranged it.
Go Back