Celtic Cross Cheese Platter (Printable Version)

A visually striking platter featuring cheeses, a creamy dip, fruits, nuts, and crackers arranged in four sections.

# 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

# Preparation steps:

01 - Combine sour cream or Greek yogurt with chopped chives, lemon juice, salt, and black pepper. Transfer into 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 variety attractively in its designated section around the dip.
04 - Fill the spaces between cheese quadrants with seedless grapes, dried apricots, and walnuts to provide contrast in color and texture.
05 - Lightly drizzle honey over the blue cheese quadrant to enhance flavor.
06 - Arrange rustic crackers and baguette slices evenly around the outer edge of the platter.
07 - Serve immediately, ensuring all cheeses are at room temperature for optimal taste.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It looks impressive enough to make you feel like a hosting pro, but takes barely twenty minutes to pull together.
  • The four-quadrant layout means everyone gets a taste of contrast—creamy Brie next to tangy blue cheese next to nutty Manchego.
  • It's the kind of platter that invites people to linger and try combinations they'd never think to pair on their own.
02 -
  • Room temperature is non-negotiable with cheese; even fifteen minutes out of the fridge transforms brie from dense to silky and cheddar from chalky to complex.
  • If you're assembling this more than thirty minutes before serving, keep the cheeses covered loosely with plastic wrap and unwrap just before guests arrive—nothing kills a platter's impact like dried-out edges.
03 -
  • Make the dip ahead and let it chill; the flavors deepen and it stays at the perfect consistency all evening.
  • If you're nervous about the cross pattern being too formal, use lines of toasted nuts or strategically placed fruit to suggest the shape without forcing it—subtlety often looks more sophisticated anyway.
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