Celtic Cross Cheese Platter (Printable Version)

An elegant cheese selection arranged in quadrants around a creamy central dip for sophisticated entertaining.

# Ingredient List:

→ 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

# Steps:

01 - Combine sour cream or Greek yogurt with chopped chives, lemon juice, salt, and black pepper. Transfer to a small round bowl.
02 - Position the dip bowl at the center of a large round serving platter.
03 - Visually divide the platter into four quadrants and arrange each cheese variety attractively in its own section around the dip.
04 - Fill gaps between cheese quadrants with grapes, dried apricots, and walnuts to provide diverse textures and colors.
05 - Lightly drizzle honey over the blue cheese quadrant.
06 - Arrange rustic crackers and sliced baguette around the platter's outer edge.
07 - Serve immediately, ensuring cheeses are at room temperature for optimal flavor.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It looks like you spent hours planning when it actually takes twenty minutes, which is the best kind of kitchen magic.
  • Four different cheeses mean everyone finds their favorite without you having to guess what they'll eat.
  • The central dip transforms it from a cheese board into something interactive and genuinely fun to share.
02 -
  • Room temperature is non-negotiable; cold cheese from the fridge tastes dull and ruins the whole point of buying good varieties.
  • Assemble this no more than an hour before serving, otherwise the bread starts drying out and the dip begins to weep.
03 -
  • If you want to make this a day ahead, prepare the dip and store it covered, but assemble the board itself no more than an hour before guests arrive.
  • The honey-on-blue-cheese detail is the thing people remember most; don't skip it, and don't be shy with it.
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