Serve up a Stylish Cheese Tasting!
One thing is for sure, we love cheese around here! Partnering with Kraft Cracker Barrel cheese this summer has not only given us tons of practice at perfecting a stylish cheese plate, but it has also taught us so much about the craftsmanship of high quality cheeses that are full of flavor and perfect for snacking! We’ve shown you how to serve up a cheese judging party, host a wine + cheese bridal shower, and recipes for the perfect grilled cheese. Now it’s time for one of my favorite ways to display the perfect cheese plate, cake stands! You don’t have to have the perfect slate board or wooden palette to display your cheeses. Add some whimsy by re-purposing items you already own that nod to your inner-hostess…namely, cake stands!
It’s quite simple really. Cake stands provide a cute pedestal for easy reaching and are easy to carry around to allow your guests to enjoy a nibble while mixing and mingling. They instantly add a little “fancy” to your cheese plate. Don’t have a cake stand? Don’t worry! Use any pretty china or mismatched dishes. You can even make your own cake stand by setting a plate on a simple glass candle stick holder and gluing with a secure adhesive (like E-6000 glue from the hardware store). Below, I’ve shared a few details about what to serve on the perfect cheese plate!
Cheddar is a fabulous staple and great place to start for cheese plating. It’s a popular favorite for many flavor palettes and pairs well with a variety of other cheeses and accompaniments. Cracker Barrel Extra Sharp Cheddar is the cheese I grew up on (I can still remember my Mom making me grilled cheeses with it) and what I prefer to use as my cheese plate staple. It’s rich and full in flavor! With cheddar as the staple of your cheese plate, it’s on to additional cheeses to add. I added an herbed goat cheese for a creamy flavor, a gruyere, and my favorite cheese – Cracker Barrel’s Aged Reserve.
As you can see above, the cheese was the staple of my plate but additional accompaniments rounded out the plate for lots of possible combinations of tasty appetizers. I included dried pomengranates, fresh basil from my garden, green grapes, walnuts, and flatbread crackers. It’s a simple, summery cheese plate with lots of rich flavors that pair well with sparkling water, white wines, or sangria! Cheers to summer!
You might notice this cake stand from my recent post here on mini ice cream cone cakes. See? You really can mix and match china, dishes, and stands. So visit your cabinets (or if you’re like me, then you have stands tucked away everywhere) and look for an unusual suspect to play holder to your next cheese tasting soiree.
Next up is a different “look” with the same concept. I chose a vibrant blue glass cake stand with a cute striped napkin. I envision this display for birthdays, celebrations, or anything fun and vibrant! I love the white above but don’t be afraid to play with color. It really adds quite a “pop”!
This cheese plate is also stapled with cheddar – Cracker Barrel’s Sharp Cheddar to be exact – and combined with a gruyere. I added in basil again (it adds a green that I just love), strawberries, cracker sticks, apricots, and honey. The Cracker Barrel Sharp Cheddar is rich in flavor without being overbearing and pairs well with a variety of flavors from sweet to savory! For cooking, I love adding grated sharp cheddar over my dishes as well as just slicing it here for a cheese tasting.
So now you have the basics of serving up a fabulous cheese plate! I encourage you to get creative with flavors and have fun! If you get stuck, just remember that Cracker Barrel’s cheddar makes a great staple.  Add in nuts, fruits, additions like honey or balsamic glaze, and flatbread toasts. A sprig of micro greens or basil makes a great pop of color too. Your guests will be creating delicious appetizers in no time!
This post is part of a continued partnership with Kraft Cracker Barrel Cheese. All opinions are my own.Â
Photography 2013 Courtney Whitmore
Fa, fa, FABULOUS!!
Thanks, Michael! :)
such great ideas:)