Specialty CheeseboardSpecialty Cheeseboard
Specialty Cheeseboard

Specialty Cheeseboard

Planning on putting together a cheeseboard for your holiday party? Twin Cities food blogger greens & chocolate loads hers up with specialty cheeses — and a sweet-tart homemade cranberry jam.
Twin Cities food blogger greens & chocolate
Twin Cities food blogger greens & chocolate
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Recipe - EAGAN (+Wines & Spirits)
Recipe: Specialty Cheeseboard
Specialty Cheeseboard
000
Ingredients
FOR THE SPICED CRANBERRY JAM: 16 ounces fresh cranberries
1 cup sugar
Zest from 1 orange
¼ cup water
2 tablespoons fresh orange juice
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ground cloves
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
â…› teaspoon allspice
CHEESE SUGGESTIONS: Wensleydale with Cranberry
L&B Brie Cheese
L&B Parmigiano-Reggiano
Roquefort Blue Cheese
CONDIMENT SUGGESTIONS: L&B Cranberry Bourbon Pepper Jelly
L&B Meyer Lemon & Blood Orange Pepper Jelly
L&B Pineapple Jalapeno Pepper Jelly
Fig spread
Hot honey
L&B Amber Honey
MEAT SUGGESTIONS: Summer sausage
Salami
Air-cured ham
FRESH FRUIT & VEGGIES SUGGESTIONS: Grapes
Pears
Apples
Mini sweet peppers
Olives
NUTS SUGGESTIONS: Pecans
Mixed nuts
Snack mix
CRACKERS SUGGESTIONS: Flatbread crackers
Assorted crackers
Mini toasts ceackers
Gluten-free crackers
Directions

A cheeseboard should usually contain a variety of cheeses, meats, crackers, fruits, veggies, nuts and condiments/spreads. You’ll want to pick one cheese from each of these categories, depending on the size of your gathering and what else you will have on the cheeseboard.

 

Fresh Cheeses: chèvre, mascarpone, mozzarella and ricotta

Bloomy-Rind Cheeses: Brie, Bûcheron and Camembert

Washed-Rind Cheeses: Limburger, Muenster and Taleggio

Semi-Soft Cheeses: Havarti, fontina and Port Salut

Blue Cheeses: Gorgonzola, Stilton and Roquefort

Semi-Hard Cheeses: Gruyère, cheddar, Gouda and Manchego

Hard Cheeses: Parmigiano-Reggiano and Romano

 

CHEESES USED IN RECIPE: Wensleydale with Cranberry, Brie drizzled with hot honey, Parmigiano-Reggiano, Roquefort

 

  1. TO MAKE THE SPICED CRANBERRY JAM: In a medium saucepan, combine the cranberries, sugar, orange zest, water, orange juice, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and allspice over medium heat. Cook until the cranberries pop and the sugar dissolves, stirring often, about 10 minutes.
  2. Allow the jam to cool slightly, and then purée it with an immersion blender or a high-speed blender until the desired consistency is achieved.
  3. Transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate until ready to use. Enjoy!
  4. TO ASSEMBLE CHEESEBOARD: Let your cheeses come to room temperature for at least an hour before serving. Use a large wooden board or serving platters. Gather cheese spreaders and knives, small spoons, toothpicks and small plates and/or bowls for items such as condiments. Channel your inner cheesemonger and design the board in your own eye-appealing design. Or, use the image above as a guide.

TIP: Short on time? Substitute L&B Cranberry Bourbon Pepper Jelly for the homemade spiced cranberry jam.

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Prep Time
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Servings

Shop Ingredients

Makes 0 servings
FOR THE SPICED CRANBERRY JAM: 16 ounces fresh cranberries
Wetherby Fresh Cranberries
Wetherby Fresh Cranberries, 16 Ounce
$2.99$0.19/oz
1 cup sugar
C&H Pure Cane Granulated White Sugar
C&H Pure Cane Granulated White Sugar, 10 Pound
$15.19$1.52/lb
Zest from 1 orange
Seedless Navel Oranges
Seedless Navel Oranges, 0.6 Pound
$1.79 avg/ea$2.99/lb
¼ cup water
L&B Spring Water
L&B Spring Water, 20 Ounce
$0.99$0.05/oz
2 tablespoons fresh orange juice
Seedless Navel Oranges
Seedless Navel Oranges, 0.6 Pound
$1.79 avg/ea$2.99/lb
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
L&B Ground Korintje Cinnamon
L&B Ground Korintje Cinnamon, 2.4 Ounce
$7.49$3.12/oz
¼ teaspoon ground cloves
L&B Ground Cloves
L&B Ground Cloves, 1.9 Ounce
$7.99$4.21/oz
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
L&B Ground Nutmeg
L&B Ground Nutmeg, 2.1 Ounce
$8.59$4.09/oz
â…› teaspoon allspice
L&B Ground Allspice
L&B Ground Allspice, 1.9 Ounce
$7.69$4.05/oz
CHEESE SUGGESTIONS: Wensleydale with Cranberry
Somerdale Wensleydale Cheese with Cranberries
Somerdale Wensleydale Cheese with Cranberries, 1 Pound
$26.99/lb$26.99/lb
L&B Brie Cheese
L&B Triple Creme Brie Cheese
L&B Triple Creme Brie Cheese, 1 Pound
$18.99/lb$18.99/lb
L&B Parmigiano-Reggiano
L&B Parmigiano-Reggiano Cheese
L&B Parmigiano-Reggiano Cheese, 1 Pound
$29.99/lb$29.99/lb
Roquefort Blue Cheese
Roquefort Blue Cheese
Roquefort Blue Cheese, 1 Pound
$23.99/lb$23.99/lb
CONDIMENT SUGGESTIONS: L&B Cranberry Bourbon Pepper Jelly
L&B Cranberry Bourbon Pepper Jelly
L&B Cranberry Bourbon Pepper Jelly, 13 Ounce
$8.99$0.69/oz
L&B Meyer Lemon & Blood Orange Pepper Jelly
L&B Meyer Lemon & Blood Orange Pepper Jelly
L&B Meyer Lemon & Blood Orange Pepper Jelly, 13 Ounce
$8.99$0.69/oz
L&B Pineapple Jalapeno Pepper Jelly
L&B Pineapple Jalapeno Pepper Jelly
L&B Pineapple Jalapeno Pepper Jelly, 10.5 Ounce
Deal
$4.99 was $5.49$0.48/oz
Fig spread
Divina Fig Spread
Divina Fig Spread, 9 Ounce
$6.49$0.72/oz
Hot honey
L&B Sweet & Spicy Hot Honey
L&B Sweet & Spicy Hot Honey, 12 Ounce
Deal
$7.99 was $8.99$0.67/oz
L&B Amber Honey
L&B Amber Honey
L&B Amber Honey, 1.8 Ounce
$3.49$1.94/oz
MEAT SUGGESTIONS: Summer sausage
L&B Double Smoked Summer Sausage
L&B Double Smoked Summer Sausage, 12 Ounce
$9.99$0.83/oz
Salami
Veroni Antipasto Italiano Salame Trio Slices
Veroni Antipasto Italiano Salame Trio Slices, 4 Ounce
Deal
$7.99 was $8.99$2.00/oz
Air-cured ham
Veroni Serrano Jamon Ham Slices
Veroni Serrano Jamon Ham Slices, 4 Ounce
Deal
$7.99 was $8.99$2.00/oz
FRESH FRUIT & VEGGIES SUGGESTIONS: Grapes
Green Seedless Grapes
Green Seedless Grapes, 1 Pound
$3.99/lb$3.99/lb
Pears
Washington Red Pears
Washington Red Pears, 1 Pound
$3.49/lb$3.49/lb
Apples
Honeycrisp Apples
Honeycrisp Apples, 0.75 Pound
Huge Deal
$1.87 avg/ea was $2.99 avg/ea$2.49/lb
Mini sweet peppers
NatureFresh Farms Sweet Snaps Peppers
NatureFresh Farms Sweet Snaps Peppers, 12 Ounce
Huge Deal
$3.99 was $4.99$0.33/oz
Olives
L&B Pitted Greek Olive Mix with Feta
L&B Pitted Greek Olive Mix with Feta, 7.4 Ounce
Deal
$7.99 was $8.99$1.08/oz
NUTS SUGGESTIONS: Pecans
L&B Pecan Halves
L&B Pecan Halves, 4 Ounce
Deal
$4.99 was $5.99$1.25/oz
Mixed nuts
L&B Gourmet Deluxe Nut Assortment
L&B Gourmet Deluxe Nut Assortment, 9 Ounce
$8.99$1.00/oz
Snack mix
L&B Gourmet Roasted Northwoods Nut Mix
L&B Gourmet Roasted Northwoods Nut Mix, 9 Ounce
$10.99$1.22/oz
CRACKERS SUGGESTIONS: Flatbread crackers
L&B Olive Oil & Sea Salt Sourdough Flatbread Bites Crackers
L&B Olive Oil & Sea Salt Sourdough Flatbread Bites Crackers, 4 Ounce
$5.99$1.50/oz
Assorted crackers
Wellington Crackers & Biscuits for Cheese
Wellington Crackers & Biscuits for Cheese, 8.8 Ounce
$8.99$1.02/oz
Mini toasts ceackers
Asturi Classico Virgin Olive Oil Italian Bruschettini Mini Toasts
Asturi Classico Virgin Olive Oil Italian Bruschettini Mini Toasts, 4.23 Ounce
$4.99$1.18/oz
Gluten-free crackers
Schar Gluten Free Entertainment Crackers
Schar Gluten Free Entertainment Crackers, 6.2 Ounce
$5.49$0.89/oz

Directions

A cheeseboard should usually contain a variety of cheeses, meats, crackers, fruits, veggies, nuts and condiments/spreads. You’ll want to pick one cheese from each of these categories, depending on the size of your gathering and what else you will have on the cheeseboard.

 

Fresh Cheeses: chèvre, mascarpone, mozzarella and ricotta

Bloomy-Rind Cheeses: Brie, Bûcheron and Camembert

Washed-Rind Cheeses: Limburger, Muenster and Taleggio

Semi-Soft Cheeses: Havarti, fontina and Port Salut

Blue Cheeses: Gorgonzola, Stilton and Roquefort

Semi-Hard Cheeses: Gruyère, cheddar, Gouda and Manchego

Hard Cheeses: Parmigiano-Reggiano and Romano

 

CHEESES USED IN RECIPE: Wensleydale with Cranberry, Brie drizzled with hot honey, Parmigiano-Reggiano, Roquefort

 

  1. TO MAKE THE SPICED CRANBERRY JAM: In a medium saucepan, combine the cranberries, sugar, orange zest, water, orange juice, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and allspice over medium heat. Cook until the cranberries pop and the sugar dissolves, stirring often, about 10 minutes.
  2. Allow the jam to cool slightly, and then purée it with an immersion blender or a high-speed blender until the desired consistency is achieved.
  3. Transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate until ready to use. Enjoy!
  4. TO ASSEMBLE CHEESEBOARD: Let your cheeses come to room temperature for at least an hour before serving. Use a large wooden board or serving platters. Gather cheese spreaders and knives, small spoons, toothpicks and small plates and/or bowls for items such as condiments. Channel your inner cheesemonger and design the board in your own eye-appealing design. Or, use the image above as a guide.

TIP: Short on time? Substitute L&B Cranberry Bourbon Pepper Jelly for the homemade spiced cranberry jam.