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A cheese and cracker platter is a popular appetizer or after-dinner course consisting of crackers and a variety of cheeses, with other optional items like grapes and olives. The ideal platter has at least three types of cheese and should be carefully arranged for a beautiful presentation. Cheese should be removed from the fridge for at least an hour before serving, and plain crackers or baguette slices are the best options. A larger platter is best for serving at meetings, while smaller plates are suitable for after-dinner courses. Cheese markers can be used to identify different types of cheese.
A cheese and cracker platter consists of crackers and a variety of cheeses, along with other optional food items, that are placed together on one large platter or on separate smaller platters. They are displayed at a gathering as hors d’oeuvres or during an after-dinner cheese course. The ideal dish consists of three types of cheese, although there may be more depending on preference. Crackers are always included, but there may be some bread as well. Food placement must be carefully planned to create a beautiful and uncluttered presentation.
The standard platter contains only cheese and crackers, but there may be other food items as well, including grapes and olives. One option is to put everything on one large plate. Another is to place a few crackers and one type of cheese on each small individual plate and arrange them buffet style. While plates are usually round, some people may use oval, square, or rectangular ones.
Setting up a platter of cheese and crackers at a meeting is one way to serve appetizers that are appealing and easy to prepare. In this case, it’s best to serve a larger plate to satisfy hungry guests who probably haven’t eaten in a while; a smaller plate is acceptable for an after-dinner cheese course. For optimal taste, cheese should always be removed from the refrigerator for at least one hour before serving.
The cheese is the highlight of the dish. Ideally, there are three or more different types of cheese served; however less is generally considered too limited. Some prefer to use different types of cheeses with different flavors and textures, such as cheddar, mozzarella and blue, which are semi-hard, soft and hard, respectively. Others might prefer that the cheese and cracker platter consisted of cheeses chosen for a particular characteristic, such as all those made with sheep’s milk. Those who serve the dish at breakfast or brunch might consider serving chèvre, also known as goat cheese, as there are many varieties that are ideal for the morning, including those infused with coffee, cinnamon, or canned fruit.
Plain crackers and baguette slices are two of the best options considering they have a very light flavor that won’t clash with the flavor of the cheese. Another option is to choose a bread with a specific ingredient, such as nuts, which someone would also include in its natural state on their cheese and cracker platter. Those serving nut bread can pair it with a cheese like Gourmandise, which is a spreadable cheese made from cow’s milk.
A beautiful presentation is essential when preparing your cheese and cracker platter. Arrange the cheese and non-spread crackers so that they surround the cream cheese and any other foods, such as grapes or olives, that are directly in the center. For small individual plates, pair bread or crackers with only one type of cheese on each plate. For larger plates, some options for where to place the cheese and crackers include placing each type in a circle that goes around the plate, placing each in a separate section, and overlapping and alternating different colored cheeses in rows with crackers positioned around the edges. Using cheese markers is a decorative way to identify one type from another.
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