Celtic Cross Cheese Platter (Printable)

A visually striking cheese board with four cheeses, a creamy dip, fruits, nuts, and crackers for gatherings.

# Components:

→ Cheeses

01 - 3.5 oz Irish cheddar, cubed
02 - 3.5 oz Brie, sliced
03 - 3.5 oz Blue cheese, crumbled
04 - 3.5 oz Manchego, sliced

→ Central Dip

05 - 5.3 oz sour cream or Greek yogurt
06 - 1 tbsp fresh chives, finely chopped
07 - 1 tsp lemon juice
08 - Salt and black pepper, to taste

→ Accompaniments

09 - 2.8 oz seedless red grapes
10 - 2.8 oz dried apricots
11 - 1.8 oz walnuts
12 - 1.8 oz honey

→ Crackers & Bread

13 - 3.5 oz rustic crackers
14 - 1 small baguette, sliced

# Method:

01 - Combine sour cream or Greek yogurt with chopped chives, lemon juice, salt, and black pepper. Transfer to a small round bowl.
02 - Place the dip bowl at the center of a large, round serving platter.
03 - Visually divide the platter into four quadrants and arrange each cheese type in its own section, fanning or grouping pieces attractively around the dip.
04 - Fill spaces between cheese quadrants with grapes, dried apricots, and walnuts to introduce varied colors and textures.
05 - Lightly drizzle honey over the blue cheese quadrant for a complementary sweetness.
06 - Arrange rustic crackers and baguette slices along the outer edge of the platter.
07 - Serve immediately, ensuring cheeses are at room temperature to enhance flavors.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It looks like you spent hours when it actually takes twenty minutes, which feels like cheating in the best way.
  • The four-quadrant design means every bite is different—creamy meets sharp, sweet meets salty, and your guests will taste them all.
  • It's the kind of platter that makes people linger at the table, naturally slowing everything down into conversation.
02 -
  • Cold cheese tastes like almost nothing, so pull it from the fridge thirty minutes before serving and your guests will actually taste what you're offering.
  • The blue cheese will get eaten first if you don't put the honey on it; that sweet touch makes it less intimidating and more irresistible.
03 -
  • Arrange everything an hour before guests arrive, cover it loosely with plastic wrap, and let it sit at room temperature so nothing is cold or stressed.
  • If blue cheese intimidates your guests, that honey drizzle becomes your secret weapon—it softens the funk into something welcoming and sweet.
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