Celtic Cross Cheese Platter (Print)

Four cheese varieties with grapes, apricots, walnuts, and honey around a central chive dip on a round platter.

# What You Need:

→ 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 the mixture to a small round bowl.
02 - Place the prepared dip bowl at the center of a large, round serving platter.
03 - Visually divide the platter into four quadrants. Arrange each type of cheese in its respective quadrant, fanning or grouping pieces attractively around the central dip.
04 - Fill the spaces between cheese quadrants with seedless red grapes, dried apricots, and walnuts to ensure color and texture variety.
05 - Drizzle honey lightly over the blue cheese quadrant to add a touch of sweetness.
06 - Arrange rustic crackers and sliced baguette around the outer edge of the platter.
07 - Present immediately, ensuring cheeses are at room temperature to maximize flavor.

# Top Tips:

01 -
  • Four different cheeses mean there's something for everyone, so nobody's stuck eating the one thing they tolerate.
  • It looks like you spent hours planning it, but honestly takes about twenty minutes and makes you look like a hosting genius.
  • The whole arrangement is sturdy enough to survive a crowded party but pretty enough that people photograph it before diving in.
02 -
  • Cold cheese tastes like almost nothing—room temperature is non-negotiable if you want people to actually taste what makes each one special.
  • The dip needs acid (lemon) or it disappears into richness; one squeeze feels small but it's the thing that wakes the whole board up.
03 -
  • Use a round platter if you can find one—the geometry feels more natural and the circular frame makes the cross actually sing visually.
  • Slice everything the night before and keep it covered in the fridge, but pull it out early enough that it's not cold when people eat it—that's where most people lose the flavor.
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