Create your best cheeseboard to impress your guests with these delicious recipes and decorating tips to elevate your Christmas cheeses.

The holiday season is upon us, and what better way to celebrate than with a beautifully curated Christmas cheeseboard? Whether you’re hosting a traditional Christmas gathering or simply bringing a dish to a party, a Christmas cheeseboard can elevate your spread into a crowd-pleasing masterpiece!

When it comes to creating a truly unique and memorable Christmas cheeseboard, one of the best ways to surprise and delight your guests is by including unusual, unexpected accompaniments. Sure, grapes and crackers are great, but why not take it up a notch with some unexpected, festive flavours that perfectly complement your cheeses?

Unusual Accompaniments Work

The beauty of these unusual cheese accompaniments lies in their ability to challenge and complement the traditional cheese and cracker pairing. By incorporating these ingredients, you’re not only adding unexpected flavours and textures, but also creating a more exciting tasting experience. Each of these accompaniments—whether it’s the savoury anchovy shortbread or the sweet mincemeat twigs —introduces a new layer of complexity that enhances the overall enjoyment of the cheese, whilst providing innovative twists that your guests won’t expect, but are sure to love!

Homemade Christmas Gift Ideas

What’s more, these accompaniments are all home-made so, carefully packaged into a cellophane bag, or jar, and a twirl of ribbon, these will also make wonderfully thoughtful gifts.

The Cheese Recipes (courtesy of Chiswick Cheese Market)

1. Anchovy Shortbread

Shortbread is a classic, buttery treat, but by infusing it with anchovies, you get a delightful twist that adds umami depth. Anchovy shortbread might sound unconventional, but the savoury, salty flavour of anchovies paired with the crumbly texture of shortbread offers a delicious contrast to creamy cheeses like brie or camembert. These shortbread bites act as the perfect vehicle for strong cheeses, enhancing their flavour profile; the saltiness of the anchovies brings a delicious bite that cuts through the richness of cheeses like aged cheddar or blue cheese. For a more indulgent experience, serve alongside a glass of dry sherry or a light, crisp white wine.

2. Mincemeat Twigs

Mincemeat is a quintessential Christmas flavour, with its blend of dried fruits, spices, and often a hint of brandy, and these twigs are a clever way to incorporate this seasonal treat into your cheeseboard. The sweet, spiced pastry rolls filled with mincemeat create a festive, flaky complement to most cheeses on your board, but are particularly delicious with a traditional Lancashire or Wensleydale cheese.  They also pair wonderfully with stronger cheeses like a punchy Blue Stilton, where the sweet and savoury combination enhances both the cheese and the mincemeat’s depth of flavour.

3. Pan de Higo (Fig & Almond Slab)

A classic Spanish treat, Pan de Higo (or fig bread), is a delightful, chewy accompaniment that pairs beautifully with a wide variety of cheeses. This dense, sweet treat, made from dried figs, nuts, cinnamon and sometimes a touch of brandy, provides a luscious, slightly sticky texture and sweetness that contrasts wonderfully with the tanginess of cheeses like Manchego, goat cheese, or blue cheese.

For an extra holiday touch, sprinkle the Pan de Higo with a dusting of icing sugar or cinnamon before serving. These treats are delicious served with a glass of Port or a rich red wine.

4. Chocolate Brownies with Christmas Pudding

Who says cheese boards can’t have a touch of dessert? The dense, moist texture of the brownies, combined with the spicy, rich flavours of Christmas pudding, creates a decadent pairing that works surprisingly well with cheeses like brie or a creamy goat cheese.

The slight bitterness of the cocoa pairs wonderfully with the creaminess of your cheeses and complements heavier, richer cheeses perfectly. Consider serving these alongside a glass of port or spiced wine to bring out the full festive flavour profile.

5. Port-Soaked Raisins

Raisins soaked in port or another rich, fortified wine such as Madeira, are an excellent addition to any cheeseboard, offering both sweetness and depth. Their wonderfully intense flavour cuts through the creaminess of cheeses like brie or camembert, while their natural sweetness provides a beautiful contrast to the saltiness of cheeses such as Aged Gouda or Parmigiano Reggiano.

Their slightly boozy edge makes them an ideal companion to cheeses that have a bit of age or strong character. Try pairing them with a glass of port or a spiced red wine for a perfect Christmas treat.

Tips for Entertaining

The Cheeseboard

Cheeseboards don’t need to be wooden; choose a board with glamour such as mirror, glass, slate or ceramic. And then embellish with different textures and Christmas colours:

  • Red: Add red grapes, pomegranate seeds, or dried cranberries for a pop of colour. The rich red tones will create a striking contrast against the creamy cheeses.
  • Green: Use fresh herbs like rosemary or thyme as garnishes, or pile on green olives, pistachios, or fresh vegetables like cucumber slices or whole cornichons. These green accents will evoke the spirit of the season, reminiscent of pine trees and wreaths.
  • White: A dusting of powdered sugar on a wedge of brie or a sprinkle of white chocolate shavings can add a touch of winter magic to your board.
  • Gold: Include gold-wrapped chocolates or edible gold leaf to give your cheeseboard a luxurious, festive touch.

Christmas Decorations

It’s all about the details! Adding a few holiday-specific items will give your cheeseboard an extra festive feel, such as mini pine-cones, edible flowers, small ornaments or whole spices such as cinnamon sticks and star anise.

Homemade cheese accompaniments on a cheeseboard

How to Serve Cheese

  • Allow approximately 120 – 150g of cheese per person if cheese is your main offering. If the cheeseboard is part of a meal, aim for approx 50 – 75g.
  • Whilst three or five cheeses is often suggested for a cheeseboard, you might want to consider just one, really stand-out hero cheese, such as a perfectly ripened large wedge of Brie de Meaux or Blue Stilton.
  • If going for a classic three-cheese board, select a soft, hard and blue cheese. If opting for five, add on a washed rind, such as Epoisses and a goats or sheep’s milk or a flavoured such as truffled Baron Bigod or Wensleydale with Cranberries.
  • Bring the cheeses up to room temperature, by taking out of the fridge beforehand: up to an hour before serving for hard cheeses and 20- 45 minutes for soft and blue cheeses.
  • Don’t forget a knife for each cheese.
  • If serving just one wine, consider an all-rounder such as a crisp dry Riesling, or sparkling white.
  • IPAs and cider also make versatile options for pairing.

For more tips on serving cheese, check out our 101 Guide to Serving Cheese here.

These recipes are generously provided by our talented friends at Chiswick Cheese Market, which runs every 3rd Sunday each month.