How to Make Simple Cheeseboards Using Goat Cheese

The holidays are here again, and there’s nothing quite like a festive cheeseboard to elevate your gatherings and events. While traditional cheeseboards often focus on cow’s milk cheeses, this year, why not try something a little different? Goat cheese offers a fantastic range of flavors and textures, from tangy and fresh to rich and decadent.

Here’s how to assemble a cheeseboard that uses goat cheese to stand apart, and a few cheeseboard recipes (or how-tos) to make things easy. Don’t worry; assembling a stand-out cheese board is probably one of the easiest appetizers or sides that you’ll make this holiday season — if you start with great cheese.

What Goes into the Best Cheeseboards

A good cheeseboard starts with good cheeses, but they should be paired with complementary foods and beverages. Here’s what makes a truly unforgettable spread:

Cheeses

Most cheeseboards have an odd number of cheeses, with 3 and 5 different types being common. Ensure there’s a good variety of different cheese types. This way, people can find something they like, and have fun trying different pairings.

As a starting point, you choose three cheeses from different types of milk (goat, cow and sheep) or  different regions. That’s a simple way to make sure you have a diverse offering.

Another way to build variety is with cheese that has herbs or other additions mixed in. You can even create a themed board like spooky, fall, spring, pastels, etc.

For example, you could create a goat cheese board from the different cheeses that Cypress Grove makes. A board with Humboldt Fog Goat Cheese, Meyer Lemon and Honey Goat Cheese, and Psychedillic would be a great way to show , sweet and savory cheeses. You could further round this out with Midnight Moon (smooth and nutty),  Sgt. Pepper Goat Cheese (spicy) and Truffle Tremor (earthy), for something quite elaborate.

Creating diversity within a single cheese category is always an option, but it’s especially useful if ordering online. You can combine multiple cheeses from the same cheesemaker to save on shipping, but still have good diversity on your board.

Something Sweet

At least one sweet item should be on every cheese board, and sweets can taste particularly good if you have a couple of tangy cheeses (e.g. goat cheese or feta).

For a general guideline, have 1-2 fewer sweets than you do cheeses. Just 1 or 2 sweet additions are perfect for a 3-cheese cheeseboard. With five cheeses, add another sweet item.

Fruits can make a perfect sweet component for your boards.

Something Savory

Including something savory will balance out the sweetness, either of your sweet addition or a sweet cheese (e.g. honey goat cheese).

Again, aim for 1-2 fewer savory items than you have cheeses. Just 1 or 2 savories are perfect for a 3-cheese cheeseboard and an extra savory if doing a 5-cheese board.

Cured meats can make a delicious, savory addition!

Something Crunchy

A crunchy item isn’t for flavor balance and cheese pairing but rather for texture since all cheeses are smooth and soft for the most part. A crunchy item gives your board some literal bite rather than the metaphorical bite of a sharp goat or cheddar cheese.

Nuts are a classic crunchy item to add. You can either leave them plain or use sugared nuts to double them up as a sweet and crunchy addition.

Crackers

Don’t forget crackers and/or bread to put the cheese on. Crackers can range from the basic Wheat Thin or Triscuit, to your fanciest multi-seed crackers. You can also add some sweet or savoriness by using both plain and flavored crackers. Be sure to have at least some plain, as plain is the most versatile when pairing with different cheeses. Same with the bread!

(Crackers add some crunch, but your board will be even more diverse if you have another crunchy item alongside them.)

Garnish

For a final touch, add some garnish around the board. These could be sprigs of herbs, cranberries, edible flowers, or any other little edible items that you like.

The Display

Cheeseboards are as much show as they are flavor. Ideally you have a nice cutting board or platterd to put everything on. If you don’t, a plate and a couple of small dishes will work just fine for a cheese platter. 

Spread the cheese and other additions out around the board. This will create visual interest and ensure people can easily pair things together.

3 Easy Holiday Cheeseboard Recipes

The Basics

A basic cheeseboard is quick and easy to put together, making it perfect for small get-togethers or as a last-minute dish. Keeping it basic doesn’t mean you can’t have some fun.

• Cheeses:  soft goat cheese (e.g. Humboldt Fog Goat Cheese), sharp cheddar (e.g. 12-month cheddar), sweet goat cheese (e.g. Meyer Lemon & Honey Goat Cheese).
• Pairings: Fresh apple slices, olives.
• Crackers: Any of your choice!

Why it works: The cheeses are tangy and sweet, and each has a fairly strong flavor. The diversity and stronger flavors help when pairings are somewhat minimal. Apple slices are both crunchy and sweet — sprinkle them with lemon juice to prevent browning. Olives will add some saltiness without overpowering the cheeses, and you can grab Wheat Thins anywhere. They’re less crumbly than Triscuits.

The Festive

• Cheeses: Herb flavored goat cheese (e.g. Herbs de Humboldt or Purple Haze), soft goat cheese (e.g. Humboldt Fog Goat Cheese), cranberry cheese (any type).
• Pairings: Olives, pomegranate, cranberry sauce, herb sprigs.
• Crackers: Any fancy crackers.
• Cheeses: Herb flavored goat cheese (e.g. Herbs de Humboldt or Purple Haze), soft goat cheese (e.g. Humboldt Fog Goat Cheese), cranberry cheese (any type).
• Pairings: Olives, pomegranate, cranberry sauce, herb sprigs.
• Crackers: Any fancy crackers.

Why it works: There are lots of festive colors, namely red and green, in this spread. The cranberries and pomegranates are especially appropriate for the season.

The Smorgasbord

A large cheeseboard lets you get creative with unique variety. You can put together quite the smorgasbord of cheeses and pairings.

• Cheeses: Soft goat cheese (e.g. Humboldt Fog Goat Cheese), harder gouda (Midnight Moon or Lamb Chopper) , sharp cheddar (e.g. 12-month cheddar), flavored goat cheese (any).
• Pairings: Fresh apple slices, cranberry sauce, candied walnuts, blue cheese-stuffed olives, pesto, pomegranate seeds, fresh herb sprigs.
• Crackers: Any fancy crackers (2 types).

Why it works: This includes a large variety of familiar tastes and stronger tastes. Everyone will find something they like — and a few people will really like the more exotic items.

Create Cheeseboards This Holiday Season

Whether you’re hosting or going, prepare a cheeseboard for whatever holiday gathering you’re attending this season. Include a couple of goat cheeses, and that’s a good start toward a great board. Start off with the Humboldt Fog, and then add some others as your tastes guide you! There are plenty of goat cheese options here at Cypress Grove. Order online or use our store locator to get your hands on some today! Here’s to a happy — and cheese-filled — holiday season.

Don’t have time to make your own? Try one of our premade kits! We have kits for small and large gatherings. Order today!