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 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.

What Goes into the Best Cheeseboards

A good cheeseboard starts with good cheeses, but they should be paired with complementary treats. 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 types. People can find something they like, and have fun trying different pairings.

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

Another way to build variety is with cheese that has herbs or other additions mixed in. You can even create a themed board but create variety this way.

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 have a standard, sweet and savory cheese. You could further round this out with the Sgt. Pepper Goat Cheese (spicy) and Truffle Tremor (earthy), for something quite different.

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. All cheeses are smooth and soft to some extent. 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 to put the cheese on. No one wants to be getting cheese on their fingers.

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.

(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, or any other little edibles that you like.

The Display

Cheeseboards are as much show as they are flavor. You ideally have a fancy cutting board or charcuterie board to put everything on. If you don’t, a plate and a couple of small dishes will work just fine for a cheese platter. If using a plate, add some colored toothpicks for a bit of pop.

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

(Selecting a Charcuterie Board: Look for a cherry, walnut or maple board if you want an affordable and good-looking option. Some oak woods have open pores, and aren’t suitable for getting wet. Olive wood is beautiful, but olive wood boards tend to be smaller and much more expensive.)

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: Basic goat cheese (e.g. Humboldt Fog Goat Cheese), x-tra sharp cheddar (e.g. 12-month cheddar), sweet goat cheese (e.g. Meyer Lemon & Honey Goat Cheese).
• Pairings: Fresh apple slices, almond-stuffed olives.
• Crackers: Wheat Thins.

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. Almond-stuffed olives will add some saltiness without overpowering the cheeses, and you can grab Wheat Things anywhere. They’re less crumbly than Triscuits.

The Festive

• Cheeses: Herb-encrusted goat cheese (e.g. Herbs de Humboldt), port wine cheese (with nuts), 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, and port wine cheese adds something a little exotic. Get one that’s encrusted with nuts to add another crunchy item without actually putting another side pairing on the board.

The Smorgasbord

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

• Cheeses: Basic goat cheese ((e.g. Humboldt Fog Goat Cheese), exotic artisan goat cheese (Sgt, Pepper Goat Cheese or Truffle Tremor Goat Cheese), x-tra sharp cheddar cheese (e.g. 12-month cheddar), cranberry cheese (any), sheep 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!