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Impress your date with this elegant Easy Cheese Board for Two. Pile on all of your favorite cheeses, meats, and extras for a fun snack that’s guaranteed to make anyone feel special. Don’t forget the wine!
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A fancy snack with simple ingredients
Catch up with friends for a fun night in with this easy and decadent Easy Cheese Board for Two. It really makes an evening feel special, especially when it’s made with elegant ingredients and served with a glass of wine.
Small batch cheese boards make for a wonderful and adventurous snack, appetizer, or hors d'oeuvre. Pile on your favorite cheeses, charcuterie meats, crackers, bread, and spreads. It’s an opportunity to try new things, splurge a little, or use up some items you have laying around the kitchen.
Celebrate the season in style and check out my tips for creating a fall or winter cheese board as well.
Cheese boards vs. charcuterie: what’s the difference?
I’m a die-hard cheese lover. It’s the perfect food and it should be celebrated properly, which is why I make it the focus on these special snack platters. The main difference between cheese boards and charcuterie is that the cheese is the star of the show.
Charcuterie (pronounced shar-koo-tuh-ree) is a French word that describes a variety of cured meats, like salami, prosciutto, or bresaola. Both charcuterie and cheese boards have beautiful presentations of salty meats, spreads, a variety of cheeses, and a few extras like crackers, fruit, or olives.
Elements you need
Every cheese board needs a variety of elements. Make it your own and use all of your favorite ingredients:
The cheese
A small date night cheese board would benefit from 1 or 2 types of cheese. For this board, I chose an aged cheese (Cabot seriously sharp) and a bloomy cheese (Marin French Cheese Company Petite Creme). Feel free to use any type of cheese you like, whether it’s aged, bloomy, blue, or fresh, or check out Murray’s online cheese shop for unique and high-quality options!
Taste as you shop to make sure the flavors blend well with your other elements. Feel free to splurge a little or try something new! If your guests aren’t crazy about it, use the extras on nachos.
You should only need 4 to 6 ounces of cheese if you’re serving this board for dinner. Use less if it’s a pre-dinner snack.
The meat
Cured and salty meats are the best choice because they’re delicious, easy to eat, and go well with creamy cheeses. Use cured sausage (pepperoni or salami), salted cured meats (prosciutto or bresaola), or a spreadable pate (smoked salmon or chicken liver).
You should only need 1 charcuterie option and just a small portion, about 1 or 2 ounces total.
Crackers and bread
You need something to act as a plate for your meat and cheese, which is where the crackers and bread come in. Use a firm cracker, crostini, or a sliced baguette to support layers of cheese, meat, and spreads.
No need to get fancy when it comes to the crackers. Just use your favorites or finally open that week-old box in your cupboard.
Extras
You should have a bit of blank space to fill on the board once the elements are on, so fill it out using a few extras. Place a small bowl or jar on the board for briny olives or pickles, condiments like honey or mustard, or spreads like jam or hummus.
If you still have space to fill, add a small grapevine, roasted vine tomatoes, fresh herbs, or sliced apples or cucumber.
How to assemble an easy cheese board for two
You can put this board together in less than 20 minutes. Follow these steps to create the best presentation:
Step 1: Place the cheeses on either side or in the corners of the platter.
Step 2: Add some extras, like honey and olives, to small bowls.
Step 3: Place meat and crackers on the edges of the platter.
Step 4: To finish, fill empty spaces with more extras, such as nuts and fruit. These will fill out the platter and compliment the flavors.
Helpful tips
Ready to get started? Check out these tips before planning the board, shopping for ingredients, and assembling all of the elements:
Tools you need
You’re going to need something to hold this beautiful display of snacks. If you want to get fancy, place the elements on a marble slate or wood board. Alternatively, a large plate, baking sheet, or a cutting board will work just as well.
Place a small bowl or two on the board to hold any extras or spreads like olives, nuts, yogurt dip, or jam. Lastly, place a cheese knife in any soft cheeses and spoons in the spreads or dips for easy eating.
Keep it budget-friendly
You don’t have to go all out with this recipe. You can splurge if you want, but it’s so easy to keep it within your budget! Look in your cupboards or fridge for ingredients or leftovers to add, and use up any crackers and fruit you have laying around.
Assemble for easy eating
Assemble the board so the elements are easy to grab, eat, or slice. Pre-slice the cheese, chop it into cubes or leave the softer cheeses whole with the points out. Cut the meat into half-moons and roll up thin slices into rolls or rosettes.
Add color to the board for a beautiful presentation. Fresh or dried fruit and an herb garnish (think parsley or rosemary) are both great choices. Fresh garnishes will add fragrance and fill in empty pockets.
Make it ahead of time
Save time and assemble the board the night before (sans crackers and bread). Cover it with plastic wrap and keep it in the fridge overnight. Set it out and allow the cheese to come to room temperature for at least 30 minutes before serving, then add the crackers, bread, and garnishes.
It's time to put together your cheese board!
Okay, friend! Now it's your turn to make an awesome spread for your next party of two!
When you do put it together, make sure to leave a comment below letting me know how you liked it!
Recipe
Cheese Board for Two
Ingredients
Cheese
- 4 ounces brie
- 2 ounces sharp cheddar
Meat
- 2 ounces salami
Other
- 20 crackers or more as needed
- ½ cup olives
- ¼ cup honey
- ¼ cup marcona almonds
- 1 small apple, sliced
Instructions
- Cut the brie into wedges and the sharp cheddar into chunks (or cut up whatever other cheese you're using into appropriate sizes!). Place the cheese on the serving platter.
- Transfer any items you want, like olives and honey, into small bowls and place on the platter.
- Plae the meat and crackers next to the cheeses and items in bowls.
- Fill any empty spaces with sliced apples and marcona almonds.
Notes
- This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
- The ingredients listed are recommendations based on what I like to serve when assembling this two serving cheese board. Feel free to change up the suggested ingredients to anything else you enjoy!
Nutrition
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Ben Grounds says
Great article