Once halls are decked, the presents are under the tree, and the stockings are hung by the chimney with care, it’s time to actually relax and enjoy some long awaited quality time with friends and family this season. When you know how to create a festive holiday cheese board, not only will you always be ready to host a holiday event of your own, you won’t have to stress over what to take to that next impromptu ugly sweater party.

If you don’t know where to start (or maybe you just don’t know how to make your cheese board jolly and bright), don’t fret—we’ve broken it all down for you so you can create the perfect holiday cheese board and check one more thing off the to-do list that seems to always grow longer this time of year.

Don’t have time to read through this whole guide right now? Bookmark it for later and go apply these tips now:

1. Stock up with fresh ingredients.
2. Use as many colors of the rainbow as possible.
3. Feature your cheese as the stars of the board.
4. Fill in the gaps with all the food groups.
5. Grab our cheat sheet to make it even easier.

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How to Create a Festive Holiday Cheese Board

Step 1: Shop for your ingredients

No cheese board exists without the cheese, so selecting the perfect cheese is your first and most important step. Since the cheese is the main attraction, you’ll want a variety of textures and tastes. We recommend Copper Kettle Parmesan, Smoky Pepper Rubbed Fontina and a wedge of classic aged Cello Parmesan to build your holiday cheese board. These three offer the nice balance of sweet, smokey, and savory that your guests will love.

It’s also a great idea to pick up several cheese flights to take the guesswork out of the cheese selection process and be prepared to party in an instant!

What else do you put on a festive cheese board?

So you’ve got your cheese. Now you might be asking yourself how to get from a tasty few wedges to one of those extravagant and Pinterest perfect cheese boards you see on Instagram. Get your shopping list out and make sure to pick up one or two items for each of the following categories:

• Fresh Fruits
  Fresh fruit on your cheese board will not only add pops of color, it works to infuse some acid and delicate sweetness to the spread. Look for seasonal fruits like seedless grapes, juicy orange slices, crisp apples and pears. You can also go the gourmet route and incorporate pomegranate or figs. For something really unique, thinly slice and stack starfruit to add an extra special and festive touch.
• Something Sweet
  You may not think of decadent dark chocolate, gingerbread, or carmels for your display, but the sweetness will nicely balance the rest of the choices on your savory holiday cheese board and add some indulgence. Candied nuts are also a traditional Christmas treat!
• A Touch of Salt
  Your cheese board is better when it’s balanced, so pick a salty element like pretzels, castelvetrano or kalamata olives that will enhance the saltiness within the cheeses and temper those sweeter elements above. Don’t be shy when it comes to inviting carbs to the board when you’re adding your salt. There are lots of options here, like breadsticks, hearty grain crackers, and buttery thin crisps. Also, consider some gluten-free options to be inclusive of your guests.
• Bring the Heat
  Spiced nuts, like cracked pepper peanuts, habanero pistachios, or the classic smokehouse almonds all earn a spot for the bit of spice they bring to your holiday cheese board. We’re also fans of hot mustard, which leads us to the last element.
• Finish the “Spread”
  Flavored mustard, spiced honey, and Christmas fig spread all make ideal additions to a holiday cheese board. Seasonal jelly flavors are endless, you have lots of choices here. Garnish with sprigs of rosemary for that extra holiday flair.

Pro tip: For a truly festive touch, use a red and green theme for your ingredients—like fresh herbs, green grapes, red and green apples, and red berries.

Making a charcuterie board? You can scale back on the saltiness from crackers and pretzels when you have meats like salami and pepperoni to balance that out. Use our charcuterie board guide here to help you.

Step 2: Assemble the pieces

Now that you have all the ingredients for your holiday cheese board, it’s time to have some fun creating your own unique display.

A traditional wooden cheese board (or two) is naturally a go-to for your surface foundation, but there are other fun options you can experiment with! Have a chalkboard base? Use a chalk marker to trace the outline of a Christmas tree, holiday wreath, or star. Then scatter the greens and place your ingredients you shopped for above. Now, take your smaller elements like berries and place them like little ornaments around the assortment. If you’re using the starfruit, you can add that as your tree topper.

Another simple option is to take a cookie sheet and flip it upside down. Cover it with a holiday parchment or wax paper and voila—you have an instantly festive canvas for your creation.

Step 3: Add some festive accents

Your holiday cheese board is supposed to be fun, so get creative. If you have any large metal cookie cutters, use them as bases to hold the nuts or candies. If you have any small ornamental dishes in holiday shapes or colors, they’ll make the perfect holders for olives, grapes and spreads.

Not feeling so creative, or maybe short on time? No worries, check out our step by step guide to building the perfect cheese board. Combine that with the cheat sheet above, and it’s practically done for you.

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Step 4: Finish off with refreshments

The drinks you offer up alongside your holiday cheese board can make or break the tasting experience for your guests. If you’re sticking with non-alcoholic options, you’re safe with something neutral like tap or sparkling water. If you want to add beer and wine into the mix, we’ve got a few resources to help you:

• 7 White Wine and Cheese Pairings for Your Next Gathering
• 10 Red Wine and Cheese Pairings for Your Next Gathering
• Our Top Tips for Pairing Beer and Cheese
• How to Pair Your Cheese and Drink
• How to Host the Best Holiday Wine and Cheese Party

However you decide to celebrate, go all out this season and treat your guests to a delicious and uniquely creative holiday cheese board. Everyone will be raving about your mad skills, and you’ll be set to cheese confidently all the way into the new year.

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Like a champagne cork popping on New Year’s Eve, we’re all set to bust out and celebrate the 2021 holiday season like never before. It’s been a while since many of us have truly celebrated together without Zoom, so you’re not alone if you feel overwhelmed by the idea of planning and party prep. Simple and cheesy holiday appetizers are the key to showing up, showing off, and impressing your friends and family with more than just your Santa hat and holiday playlist this year. Let’s start with the basics and end with a few original Cello cheese creations to get you inspired.

What is the Best Appetizer to Serve During the Holidays?

The answer: lean into your unique entertaining style and choose accordingly.

Having great recipes for festive holiday appetizers at your fingertips will make your time celebrating even more merry and bright, but how do you even begin to decide what to make? While many recipes can fit the theme of a holiday celebration, finding ones that best express your unique entertaining style will make your parties more fun (and your friends and family more in awe).

When you understand and embrace your specific party style, you will always be ready to entertain—whether it’s an impromptu get-together or a fancy festive holiday appetizer soiree. Not sure which party hat you wear as an entertainer? Keep reading for a few examples and recipe inspiration to get the creativity flowing.

The Traditionalist

If you can’t stop listening to Frank Sinatra Christmas tunes, are overjoyed to decorate your tree with ornaments from your childhood, and have a strong stance on white versus multi-colored lights—chances are you are a holiday traditionalist. You may want to consider keeping the tradition going with your holiday entertaining, too. Holiday appetizers and parties that appeal most to you are the ones that remind you of the good ole’ days.

Buttery biscuits and rolls are a traditional staple on holiday table spreads. Put a spin on your family’s homemade biscuit recipe by trying Cello’s Parmesan drop biscuits. One batch serves 12 and takes less than 30 minutes to prepare, so you can spend more time greeting your guests and less time in the kitchen.

For many families, there is no family celebration without homemade meatballs. Update the classic meatball recipe you have (you know, the one with fingerprint smudges all over it from being passed down) and try Cello’s Romano meatballs with three different kinds of meat.

The Modernist

If your playlist is full of Michael Bublé and Pentatonix renditions and you like to impress your guests with everything from upscale holiday decor to your sleek wrapping paper collection, you are a holiday modernist. Sophisticated and trendy are your style, and that should translate to your holiday appetizer spread too. Our perfectly seasoned garlic Cello roasted shrimp is sprinkled with Parmesan for a snow-like appearance to create a classy, yet understated starter for your guests.

Arancini presents like it took hours to prepare, but if you use leftover risotto, you can make our Fontal Arancini appetizers in just 30 minutes. Creamy Fontal cheese is the secret weapon in this Sicilian staple. Be sure to double the recipe, because everyone will want seconds.

The Enthusiast

If your favorite thing about the holidays is decorating your tree (you have four of them in your home), plus you start playing that Mariah Carey song the day after Halloween, then look no further. You are an enthusiast who lives for this time of year. You probably have an ugly Christmas sweater or two, too.

Cello’s savory Parmesan cookies require some attention to detail to make but can be arranged on display in any shape you want! Our chef recommends drizzling honey or jam over the top to add some sweetness, so you can offer up little bowls and spoons of each for your guests to choose.

Also, this fun and delicious Cheese and Crackers Christmas Tree from Food Network could be a centerpiece of your holiday spread. Your guests will be in for a real treat when the cheddar is substituted with Asiago cheese giving this adorably festive holiday appetizer a signature flavor.

Add Some Color and Ease with a Cheese Board

No matter your entertaining style, a well-made, eye popping cheese board is guaranteed to be a crowd pleaser. Put your own spin on the arrangement, but this list of recommended ingredients will get you started and ensure your board is as colorful as possible.

Cheese board must-haves:

• Wide variety of cheeses
• Green vegetables: spinach, broccoli, asparagus
• Red vegetables: cherry tomatoes, red peppers, pimentos
• Variety of fresh herbs: dill, parsley, basil
• Assortment of crackers
• Dried and fresh fruits
• Variety of spreads (seasonal jellies, sauces, mustards)

Adding some cured meats to your board? Check out our guide to putting together a simple and delicious charcuterie board here. Want more comprehensive instructions on superior cheese board creation? Grab our eBook below.

Be a Cheese Board Pro

If you want the done-for-you approach to your cheese board that screams “I’m a cheese connoisseur” (we’re looking at you, modernists), our cheese flights make it impossibly easy to impress. Unique cheese rubbed with flavors like roasted red bell pepper, blueberry lemon, and even red wine, will add a showstopping element to your everyday board.

From holiday appetizers to cheese spreads, you’re sure to cheese confidently with the help of Cello. We’ve got even more holiday entertaining tips heading your way this season, so be sure to sign up to get our newsletter and get them straight to your inbox.

More Holiday Help

Whether you’re an aspiring gourmet, a novice cheese connoisseur, or someone who is just obsessed with eating cheese and throwing parties— chances are you might be overlooking one of the most versatile and tasty cheeses around. When you discover what you can do with Fontina cheese (or Fontal, but we’ll get to that later), you’ll want to add it to your weekly grocery list for entertaining, cooking, and even daily snacking.

And with that, let’s get into all things you can do with this cheese. (Spoiler alert if you want the highlight reel: Fontina and Fontal are nearly interchangeable when it comes to taste and texture, and they’re both perfect for melting, sauce making, easy entertaining, egg scrambling, and can be substituted in for most other cheeses.)

What is Fontina cheese?

Fontina cheese enjoys a rich history in Italian culinary culture. This cheese dates back to the 12th century where it was first produced from the milk of cows who grazed in the rich pastures of the Valle d’Aosta mountains of northwestern Italy. Fontina was then aged in nearby caves for three to five months, as the caves were found to provide the ideal environment of low temperatures and humidity levels for aging.

What’s the difference between Fontina and Fontal?

We’ve talked about PDO status several times around here before. The Protected Designation of Origin comes from legislation handed down in 1992 to protect regional foods, and Fontina has PDO status for that area in Italy we mentioned above. So, Fontal is the domestic version of Fontina cheese (just like Parmigiano-Reggiano versus Parmesan). Our Fontal is produced from pasteurized cow’s milk, and is a bit milder than the original Fontina. The result is a unique taste that is modern, sweet yet still buttery, and perfect for being enhanced with spices, sauces, and rubs. Everything you can do with Fontina cheese applies to Fontal, so since Fontal is what you’ll see most often in the United States, from here on out that’s what we’ll use in this article.

At Cello we use that mild taste to our advantage by rubbing our Fontal with different seasonings—eight to be exact. The result is a cheese that enhances everything, from a cheese board to your favorite homemade pizza. Using one of the rubbed Fontal cheeses in a simple recipe can take an ordinary dish to the next level. This way, you can fool your friends into thinking you’ve spent hours in the kitchen instead of slicing up a wedge and adding it to an easy recipe. We call that a win.

Its versatility makes this cheese an ideal choice for most dishes, so have fun discovering new ways you can work it into your everyday repertoire.

What can you do with Fontal cheese?

1. Melt it

Any member of the Fontal cheese family is well-suited for melting. A basic grilled cheese is next-level good when you substitute your usual cheese choice with a spice rubbed Fontal. If you prefer something truly different and want to be transported to an Italian pub, add our Tuscan Fontal to this grilled cheese recipe.

If you love a gooey layer of cheese atop stuffed shells, baked ravioli, or as the final layer of lasagna, try Fontal as the finishing touch on your final pasta layer. Plus, we already mentioned it’s an ideal cheese to use for your next pizza party!

2. Make a sauce

If pasta is one of your mealtime staples, you’ll enjoy exploring different sauce recipes featuring Fontal. As a smooth melting cheese, the addition of Fontal to a tomato-based sauce can lend to a surprisingly smooth and buttery finish that balances the acidity of the tomatoes.

One of the best reasons to use Fontal in a cream based sauce is that it melts seamlessly and eliminates the need for a roux, which requires a precise temperature and amount of whisking to perfect. Using this cheese in your next alfredo dish will help the sauce instantly cling to the texture of all pasta. When you choose a tube-shaped pasta like a penne or a macaroni, the hollow vessel becomes a tasty trap for that smooth, creamy sauce.

Our smoky pepper Fontal is sure to add some zing to your next macaroni and cheese dish. Substitute some of the Parmesan in this hearty recipe with the rubbed Fontal to impress a crowd—one batch serves up to eight people!

3. Entertain with ease

If you’re a fan of appetizers or tapas, Fontal cheese is a must-have for your next small plate soiree. For a fun and traditional party food, get out the fondue pot and melt one of the rubbed Fontals for a surprisingly flavorful tasting experience. If it’s a fall football party, try the pumpkin spice Fontal paired with crusty bread or the best of the harvest’s apples and pears. For an Oktoberfest celebration, go for a fondue using the Fontal rubbed with dijon and herb and paired with pretzels for dipping and a rich, dark German beer for sipping.

It’s not a real party without a fried appetizer, and this Arancini recipe can be prepped in just 30 minutes if you have leftover risotto. Or if you’re in a hurry and just want a show stopping cheese board for your guests, a spice rubbed Fontal cheese is great with dried fruits like dark raisins, figs, and dried black or blueberries.

4. Add it to eggs

Fontal’s smooth texture and buttery finish pair well with eggs prepared almost any way. But if you’re looking to elevate your scrambled eggs, grate some over your next batch to make breakfast feel like it’s coming from your favorite diner.

If you have a tradition of preparing a make-ahead breakfast for overnight guests or special occasions like Christmas morning, a hearty winter breakfast strata is perfect to be made ahead of time and balances the crunch of crispy potatoes and crusty bread with the creaminess of airy eggs and gooey Fontal. Save some prep time by swapping out the fresh herbs and use a rubbed Fontal, like the smoky pepper wedge or the fragrant bergamot and hibiscus. Both cheese flavors also pair well with cured meats like ham and bacon. Slide on your fuzzy slippers and grab a mimosa for total cozy indulgence.

5. Substitute it

No matter what kind of food you prepare with cheeses like cheddar, mozzarella, provolone or Swiss, if you substitute with Fontal cheese, you’re in for a treat. That’s because the mild taste and smooth, slightly nutty finish make it a great choice for everything from pizza to sandwiches, to a quick and satisfying standalone snack.

And when you substitute with one of the eight available rubbed Fontal cheeses, you’ll elevate your next dip, dish, or snack and be cheesing confidently with ease.

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If you have enjoyed that unique, rustic Romano cheese taste grated on top of some of your favorite Italian dishes, you’re not alone. Grating is the most common use of this hard texture cheese. But if that’s all you’re doing with this well-known Italian specialty cheese, we’ll be the first to say you’re missing out. Allow us to help you discover the depth behind this ancient, traditional cheese so you can enjoy it as more than just a topping for some of your favorite foods and become a wealth of Romano knowledge at your next party..

What is Romano cheese?

You may think you already know everything you need to know about Romano cheese, or maybe you just think of it as a bit saltier or sharper alternative to Parmesan. The two are often confused, but these signature Italian cheeses do have some main differences. Romano is the bolder and drier cheese, and Parmesan is the slightly sweeter and more mild of the two. But, there’s much more to know about Romano and to appreciate about one of the world’s oldest cheeses.

The Romano cheese taste and tradition

Romano cheese was created in the first century B.C. in the Roman countryside, hence the name. The Romans created this cheese to have a long storage life so it could feed the vast Roman troops, who relied on the Romano cheese to provide hearty sustenance while training and in battle. Soldiers ate a regular diet of Romano cheese and fava beans, a dish that many Roman families still eat today.

Pecorino Romano cheese did not change over time and continued to be produced only in this region of Italy for nearly 20 centuries. Today, it’s produced in Sardinia using the same recipe and is a DOP (Denominazione di Origine Protetta) cheese, a certification that provides assurance the cheese is produced in a specific region using traditional ingredients and processing methods.

After 2,000 years, Romano cheese remains popular in Italy and around the world. Pecorino Romano is the cheese commonly packed by Italians in their annual May Day holiday picnic baskets and is also a special ingredient in a number of traditional dishes Italians serve at important holidays like Christmas and Easter.

Romano cheese can be made from the milk of cows, sheep, or goats. The traditional Italian version of Romano is made with sheep’s milk and is called Pecorino Romano (translating to Roman cheese of the sheep), but in the U.S. it is most frequently made with cow’s milk and is also referred to simply as Romano cheese.

Cow’s milk and sheep’s milk produce different cheese tastes due to the fatty acids in these different types of milk (Cello’s Romano hails from the cow). Cow milk fatty acids are structured differently than other milks, thus delivering a smoother, milder, and more subtle taste. While it is aged a minimum of 6 months, Romano cheese is also aged less than some of its hard texture counterparts, like Parmesan.

Why choose Romano cheese?

Aside from its delicious, piquant taste, a great reason to incorporate Romano into your cheese rotation is its long shelf life. When stored properly, Romano can last up to six weeks in your refrigerator. This means you are always prepared to whip up a cheeseboard, top a favorite dish, or explore a new recipe using Romano.

Romano is a hard texture cheese, which means it has a lower moisture content than other cheeses. This lower moisture level means it will freeze and essentially thaw with little impact to the cheese’s texture or taste. If you choose to freeze Romano, it can last up to 6 months.

Another reason to stock up on Romano cheese is its ability to substitute for other cheeses in the hard texture category. If you have a recipe that calls for Parmesan, Asiago or Grana Padano, you can use Romano in its place. Expect a slightly different taste, but the end result is just as tasty.

What are the best uses for Romano cheese?

Romano has a hard and brittle texture that makes it excellent for grating, which is why this cheese is most frequently used as a topping over pasta, soups, and salads. But Romano cheese also crumbles well and has a slightly glossy appearance, making it the star of any cheeseboard. When paired with a dried fruit, sweet berry jam, or honey, the saltiness of the cheese is nicely balanced.

If you want to explore more ways to use Romano, consider incorporating it into a side dish, like in this roasted broccoli recipe. Or if you want to create something for a special occasion or holiday, try your hand at making the traditional Easter Bread – a savory bread that makes a delightful appetizer anytime.

If you are a cheese purist, you may want to try a common Roman dish, like the simple Cacio e Pepe. This traditional Roman pasta dish is as delicious as it is quick to prepare and consists of just four ingredients. This pasta recipe can be modified by adding summer ripe roasted tomatoes, crumbled pancetta, or fried capers for a delightful twist. Romano cheese is also the key ingredient in the always popular Fettucine Alfredo, which also can be modified to include chicken, shellfish, or mushrooms.

Another option to explore is using Romano as an ingredient, like in meatballs. That signature Romano taste gives it a ‘secret ingredient’ element unlike any other. Romano cheese melts nicely, which also makes it a great ingredient in any creamy sauce and tomato-based rosa sauces.

Romano cheese pairings

Because of its nutty tanginess, Romano cheese pairs best with fruity wines like Riesling and Prosecco. And if you love red wine, it can also be a nice match to fruity, softer red wines like Chianti and Red Zinfandel. Romano cheese also pairs well with beer. You’ll be pleased when you pair the cheese’s bold taste with a cider, beer infused with fruit, or a pale ale.

No matter how you choose to pair and enjoy Romano cheese, you’re sure to discover a cheese that is versatile, bold, hearty, and will have you cheesing confidently. Afterall, a cheese that Italians have revered for centuries deserves a chance to become one of your favorites, too.

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