Serve!  How to create the perfect cheeseboard at home this Easter

Lighter nights and warmer weather await this Spring. Whether you’re welcoming family and friends or just looking to perk up your weekend spread, our guide to creating the perfect cheeseboard, is the blue print to entertaining this Easter…. and don’t forget those hot cross buns paired with lashings of Yorkshire Wensleydale for a truly delicious seasonal treat!

From storing to serving, and even the perfect accompaniments for each, let us take the strain of entertaining by sharing our top tip for a show stopping cheeseboard!

1. Storage

Always store your cheese wrapped, in an airtight container in the fridge, and away from other strong-smelling foods. This ensures that your cheese keeps its true flavour and prevents it from drying out.

2. The perfect Serve

Make sure you remove your cheese from the fridge an hour before serving.  This way you can enjoy the full flavour and texture of the cheese as it’s always best to be served room-temperature.

3. Selecting your Cheeses

Allow approximately 80g of cheese per person for your cheeseboard; we recommend 4-5 different options to keep things interesting. Think about a selection of cheese varieties that will give you a contrast of flavours, textures and colour on your cheeseboard. Our classic cheeseboard collection would include a selection from the following….

• A ‘hard’ cheese with strong flavour such as our Extra Mature Yorkshire Cheddar is always a crown pleaser.
• A ‘crumblier’ variety like Yorkshire Wensleydale has to be the winning choice here!
• A naturally smoked cheese such as Smoked Yorkshire Wensleydale or Cheddar offers a superb contrast of flavours to your spread.
• A Blue cheese like our Wensleydale Blue has broad appeal for newcomers to blue cheese and connoisseurs alike!
• Not forgetting a sweet, fruity variety.  We love Yorkshire Wensleydale & Cranberries, an eye-catching firm favourite, or how about our Yorkshire Wensleydale & Pineapple for a seriously fruity hit!

Find out more about our artisan range HERE

4. Cracking Crackers

Choose a selection of crackers to serve – different types of cheese will pair perfectly with a variety of flavours and textures including crackers, flatbreads and oatcakes, which will also add visual appeal as well as a delicious crunch!

5. Accompaniments

Serve your cheese with a selection of accompaniments – choose from grapes, chutney, quince, freshly cut apple or pear, celery, nuts, figs, dried fruit, or cured meats.

Consider including a charcuterie and pate selection, or go rogue and pair with sweet treats such as chocolate, flapjack, fruitcake or even a hot cross bun for a twist on a classic pairing.

6. Chutney Choices

Consider which accompanying chutney will make your cheeseboard standout; different types work well with certain cheeses, such as naturally sweet chutney made from apple, sultanas and traditional spices, which pair well with Yorkshire Wensleydale cheese.

Richer, full-bodied chutney such as Fig or Red Onion Marmalade are superb with Wensleydale Blue and Kit Calvert Old-style Wensleydale. Cheese.  You can find a huge selection of delicious options in our Cheese Shop.

7. Don’t forget the bread and butter…and the hot cross buns!

Don’t forget the bread and butter!  Crusty bread and our own salted Yorkshire Butter both work perfectly alongside our cheese and accompaniments.  So make like the French and indulge!

8. Enjoy!

Above all – take the time to savour and enjoy! If you aren’t sure which cheeses to choose, a trip to our Cheese Shop here at the Wensleydale Creamery is a great place to start! Packed full of our artisan range along with a hige array of delicious local accompaniments, out team help you create a spreadt o be proud of!

Find out more about our artisan range HERE