Winter Solstice Cheese Board (Print View)

A seasonal cheese and fruit board featuring contrasting savory and fresh elements for easy entertaining.

# Components:

→ Dark Side

01 - 3.5 oz Kalamata olives, pitted
02 - 3.5 oz oil-cured black olives
03 - 4.2 oz dried mission figs, halved
04 - 2 tbsp fig jam
05 - 1.4 oz dark chocolate, broken into pieces
06 - 2.1 oz roasted almonds
07 - 1 sprig fresh rosemary (for garnish)

→ Light Side

08 - 7 oz ripe Brie cheese, wheel or wedge
09 - 2 ripe pears, thinly sliced
10 - 2 tbsp honeycomb or honey
11 - 1.4 oz toasted walnuts
12 - 2.1 oz seedless green grapes
13 - 1 small bunch fresh thyme (for garnish)

→ Accompaniments

14 - 1 small baguette, sliced
15 - 3.5 oz assorted crackers

# Directions:

01 - On a large rectangular or round serving board, create a clear division down the center using a line of rosemary sprigs or a row of crackers.
02 - Place the olives, dried figs, fig jam, dark chocolate pieces, and roasted almonds thoughtfully on one half of the board. Garnish with the rosemary sprig.
03 - On the opposite half, lay out the Brie cheese, thinly sliced pears, honeycomb or drizzled honey, toasted walnuts, and seedless green grapes. Finish with a garnish of fresh thyme.
04 - Position sliced baguette and assorted crackers along the center divider or on separate serving plates for easy access.
05 - Present the board immediately at room temperature to ensure optimal flavors and texture.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It looks like you spent hours when it actually took fifteen minutes—the kind of effort that impresses without stress.
  • Everyone finds something they love, whether they're drawn to the dark, brooding olives and chocolate or the honeyed brightness of the light side.
  • It becomes a conversation starter; people actually pause to admire it before eating, which almost never happens with food.
02 -
  • Cold Brie is a missed opportunity—it won't have that creamy, melting quality that makes this board work, so always let it come to room temperature before serving.
  • The dark side's richness means smaller portions satisfy; the light side invites you to graze freely. Honor that natural balance when you're plating or the board becomes lopsided.
  • Pears brown quickly once sliced, so if you're making this more than thirty minutes ahead, hold off on slicing them until the last moment.
03 -
  • Prep your components the night before and store them in separate containers; assembly on the day is a five-minute joy rather than a stress.
  • If honeycomb is hard to find, run a drizzle of honey right before serving—the warm board will slightly warm the honey and make it flow beautifully across the cheese.
  • Substitute freely based on what's good at your market: apples for pears, Camembert for Brie, dried apricots for figs—the principle of dark and light balance matters more than the exact ingredients.
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