For true cheese aficionados, Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without a celebration cheeseboard – and ’tis the season to pull out all the stops.
We have everything required to kickstart a bespoke sharing platter that will wow your guests. Award-winning cheeses and traditionally made chutneys. Crunchy crackers, buttery Sicilian olives and cocoa-dusted salted caramel truffles. It’s a delicious base to which you can add your favourite festive flourishes – fresh figs, berries, charcuterie, breads – as well as a selection of seasonal decorations to make it your own.
Served as an indulgent Christmas Eve feast or as the final course on the big day itself, a well-crafted cheeseboard is always keenly anticipated – and this won’t disappoint. Here, we share our step-by-step guide to building the ultimate Christmas cheeseboard.
Choose your cheese
Start with the hero of any cheeseboard: the cheese, of course. We recommend choosing three to five Snowdonia cheeses – and, handily, the Christmas Cheeseboard Hamper contains five of our most popular Cheddars and Red Leicesters. For optimum flavour, remember to remove them from the fridge for 1-2 hours to reach room temperature before cutting and serving.
Black Bomber: Creamy extra mature Cheddar with intense, deeply savoury flavour notes
Beech Wood: Mature Cheddar, naturally cold-smoked over beechwood for a mellow depth and warmth
Truffle Trove: Luxuriously rich extra mature Cheddar infused with Italian Black Summer truffle
Red Storm: Complex and refined vintage Red Leicester with sweet caramel notes
Rock Star: Smooth and creamy vintage Cheddar, matured in Welsh slate caverns
Build your cheeseboard
1. Select a large slate or wooden board as your canvas. A rustic aesthetic beautifully enhances the festive theme.
2. Next, cut the cheeses into varying shapes – such as slices, wedges and cubes – for visual contrast, and place them on the board.
3. If you’re making a non-veggie board, add further savoury notes with slices of good-quality cured meat, such as Iberico ham, salami or chorizo.
4. Fresh fruits such as grapes, figs or pomegranate offer a sweet contrast to the cheeses and charcuterie, as well as a splash of colour. Dried fruits also work wonderfully here – we love apricots and cranberries on a festive board.
5. Add a mix of walnuts, almonds and pecans for a delightful crunch.
6. All good cheeseboards need great biscuits – and our Fig & Cranberry Crackers pack plenty of sweet and fruity flavour.
7. Place the Sicilian green olives and cocoa-dusted salted caramel truffles in ramekins on the board for a delicious “sweet and salt” contrast.
8. The Christmas Cheeseboard Hamper includes jars of Balsamic Caramelised Onion, Rhubarb & Gin, and Fig & Apple chutneys, which pair beautifully with our cheeses. Decant them into small bowls for easy dipping and dolloping.
9. Scatter fresh herbs such as rosemary or thyme around the board for a touch of greenery and a seasonal aroma.
Pro tips for presentation
- Colour and texture: Decide on a colour palette – we love to take our cues from our truckles’ distinctive wax casings – and add a variety of textures with cheese-cutting techniques and ingredients.
- Height and layers: Use small bowls for nuts, olives, chocolate truffles and chutneys to create height. Embrace layering ingredients, too – scattering berries and nuts adds visual interest to your display.
- Seasonal touches: Incorporate small decorations such as mini pinecones or (non-toxic!) Christmas ornaments for an extra-festive feel.
Drinks pairing suggestions
- Wines: Offer a bold red, a crisp white and a sparkling option to suit different preferences – or take a look at our cheese and wine pairing guide for inspiration.
- Craft beers: Light beers can pair beautifully with the richness of our cheeses.
- Non-alcoholic options: Consider serving a festive non-alcoholic punch or a sparkling water infused with seasonal fruits.