Twelve Days Cheese Board (Printable Version)

A festive cheese board featuring twelve cheeses with unique pairings, ideal for holiday gatherings and celebrations.

# What You Need:

→ Cheeses

01 - 1.75 oz Brie
02 - 1.75 oz Aged Cheddar
03 - 1.75 oz Manchego
04 - 1.75 oz Roquefort or Blue Cheese
05 - 1.75 oz Goat Cheese
06 - 1.75 oz Gruyère
07 - 1.75 oz Camembert
08 - 1.75 oz Gouda
09 - 1.75 oz Comté
10 - 1.75 oz Pecorino
11 - 1.75 oz Havarti
12 - 1.75 oz Smoked Cheese (e.g., Smoked Provolone)

→ Pairings & Accompaniments

13 - 12 slices artisanal bread or assorted crackers
14 - 2 tbsp honey
15 - 2 tbsp fig jam
16 - 2 tbsp whole grain mustard
17 - 24 seedless grapes
18 - 12 dried apricots
19 - 12 walnut halves
20 - 12 toasted almonds
21 - 12 thin apple slices
22 - 12 slices fresh pear
23 - 12 pieces dark chocolate
24 - 12 cornichons
25 - Fresh herbs (thyme, rosemary) for garnish

# How to Make It:

01 - Arrange a large serving board and visually divide into 12 sections using small bowls, ramekins, or garnish lines.
02 - Place one cheese variety per section, cutting into bite-sized pieces as needed for presentation.
03 - Complement each cheese with its unique accompaniments: Brie with honey and apple slice; Aged Cheddar with fig jam and walnut; Manchego with quince paste and almond; Roquefort with pear slice and walnut; Goat Cheese with thyme and grapes; Gruyère with mustard and cornichon; Camembert with apple and almond; Gouda with dried apricot and chocolate; Comté with grape and walnut; Pecorino with pear and honey; Havarti with fig jam and almond; Smoked Cheese with cornichon and dark chocolate.
04 - Arrange bread slices or crackers around the board ensuring sufficient quantity for each section.
05 - Decorate with fresh herbs such as thyme and rosemary for a festive appearance.
06 - Present at room temperature to optimize flavors.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It's a showstopper that looks like you spent hours planning it, when really you just needed 35 minutes and a good eye for pairing
  • Twelve different cheeses means twelve different flavor discoveries in one meal—everyone finds their favorite moment
  • You can prep it ahead and just pull it out when guests arrive, making you look like the most organized host ever
  • The variety means there's something for every cheese lover, from the timid to the adventurous
02 -
  • Room temperature is everything—a cold cheese board tastes muted and closed off, but bring those cheeses to room temperature and suddenly they're voluble and generous with their flavor
  • Mise en place is your friend here; prep all your pairings before you start arranging so you can focus on the artistry rather than running back to the kitchen
  • The best boards have odd numbers of elements in asymmetrical arrangements—don't overthink the geometry, trust your eye for what looks inviting
03 -
  • Invest in a good cheese knife or three—a thin blade for soft cheese, a wider blade for firm cheese, and a fork-tipped blade for blue cheese makes arrangement infinitely easier and keeps flavors pure
  • Buy your cheeses a day or two ahead so you can taste them at home and plan your pairings with confidence, adjusting based on what you discover about how your specific cheeses want to be paired
  • The secret that changed my boards forever was understanding that contrast matters more than matching—a sweet pairing with a sharp cheese creates more interest than safe, similar flavors
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