The Exact Cheeses I Love To Use For My Cheese Boards.
Here it is! The best cheese board cheese varieties – my all-time favorite cheeses to plate on a cheese plate! The exact kinds of cheese I use and love – ones that are hits every single time.
It’s summer cheese board season! Oh yes it is.
I’ve shared a ridiculous amount of cheese board blog posts, methods and favorites over the last decade. But I’ve found that my favorite cheeses change depending on what’s available, the season and what people around me love. You guys are always asking me in comments and DMs exactly what cheeses to buy, so I wanted to put it here in one space!
These below cheeses are ALWAYS my go-to choice. Of course, I don’t always need ALL of these cheeses on a cheese board, so I may grab one or two of these, or mix and match, etc. Some are very specific, some can be found throughout a few different brands. I know that way back when – when I would search for the exact kind of cheese I should buy for a cheese plate, I wanted clear instructions too! Like, tell me EXACTLY what cheese to buy to build a good cheese plate. And some of my favorite places (like ALDI) also have amazing limited edition cheeses (like I just bought a strawberry champagne one) that I will throw on depending on the season.
These below though? They are my classics, my ALWAYS go-tos. Never fails. The ones I crave! Okay I think you get it.
So here we are.
My Favorite Cheeses to Use on a Cheeseboard
Sartori Merlot BellaVitano
This is always one of the quickest cheeses to go on any plate I make. The rind is soaked in merlot but you don’t need to love red wine in order to enjoy this. It’s just SO good. We’ve bought it for years and years and it’s absolutely delicious.
Bonus – this is actually sold at costco now too, in a huge chunk. And the Syrah Soaked Toscano cheese from Trader Joe’s is very similar.
Sartori Montemore Cheddar
Next up, this may be my favorite on the list. I find it to be so versatile. It’s a hard cheese; a delicious combo of cheddar and parm. It’s probably the next most popular to go on a cheese plate and you can’t beat it. The Trader Joe’s Unexpected Cheddar is basically the same thing, so that’s a great swap.
Sartori Gold BellaVitano
Can you tell I’m a huge fan of sartori, haha?! The gold version here is super nutty and buttery – it’s almost like there are these delicious flavor crystals inside the cheese. We love this one and if you have someone who refuses to eat the merlot-soaked version, this is a great option.
As a side note, I also ADORE Sartori Rum Runner BellaVitano. It’s very similar to gold, but the rind is soaked in rum and has those flavor crystals. I’m pretty sure it’s only sold at Whole Foods exclusively though.
Double Gloucester with Chives
Easily one of my top favorite cheeses, the double gloucester doesn’t look like anything special but it tastes like HEAVEN. Double gloucester is so creamy and does taste like a cheddar – it’s not as hard as the sartori cheeses above. And the chives add SO much. Seriously, it doesn’t seem like it, but anytime I’ve taken this cheese somewhere, people can’t get over it. Absolutely delicious! You can find this at most cheese counters, but Trader Joe’s carries it too – same name.
Cypress Grove Humboldt Fog
This is nothing new here as I’ve been swearing it’s my favorite cheese since at least 2013. I couldn’t leave it off the list. If I making a very small cheese plate, or making an indulgent snack for Eddie and I, I’m buying a chunk of Humboldt Fog, a baguette, some honey and marcona almonds. DEAD. It is so fabulous. This is a goat milk cheese which is mold ripened, but it’s not as “severe” as blue cheese, if that makes sense. Many people in my life who won’t eat blue cheese love Humboldt Fog. This is probably the priciest cheese on the list, so I rarely put it on a big board because I don’t want to go to waste. Most “nicer” cheese counters will have this, Whole Foods does too.
Saint André Triple Creme
I love Saint André so much and it tends to be my choice over a brie or camembert. It is so creamy and spreadable. It’s super rich and decadent. I find that it’s much more “spreadable” at room temperature than brie is. I prefer to bake brie or warm it so it’s melty, you know? The Saint André is so soft and spreadable without having to do that. It’s incredible slathered on a baguette.
Hard Aged Gouda
This is where I don’t get too specific on brands. There are many aged goudas that I love (Trader Joe’s, ALDI, Beemster, Old Amsterdam are all delicious) – they are so sharp and pair well with fruit or veggies or even honey on a cheese board. I usually include one because it’s always a hit!
A few other cheese board loves right now:
These disposable bamboo cheese plates. Amazing! Perfect for transporting cheese plates, picnics, wineries, delivering a cheese plate to a friend, etc. They are perfect.
Mini honey jars. I always always always include honey (and often honeycomb) on my cheese boards, and these mini ones are perfect. You end up with much less waste and they are great for mini/single cheese plates, or delivering ones to friends.
Garlic confit. I’m obsessed with my garlic confit recipe and love setting it out on a cheeseboard. It’s like caramel garlic cloves that you can pile on a cracker and cheese. The recipe is in my new book Everyday Dinners.
Current favorite cracker loves: the pita crackers that you can find at ALDI, Trader Joe’s or Target and the mini everything bagel chips from Costco. They are both divine.
Would love to hear – what cheese is always on your list?!
21 Comments on “The Exact Cheeses I Love To Use For My Cheese Boards.”
My faves: Sartori Anejo. I found this at Costco a few years ago and it was amazing. I contacted them and they said it was regional. Look for it.
KAASAGGIO Robusto also at whole foods is reasonable yummy
My favorite hands down has to be Manchego. It’s perfect with any meat and stands up nicely to crackers. Old Vine Zinfandel and Manchego is a meal!
I’m so glad you did a cheeseboard post! I think I remember you saying at some point last year that you basically hadn’t made any because we couldn’t gather in person, so this feels like a sign that things are finally getting back to normal hahah
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Thank you for this! It’s super helpful as I LOVE making cheeseboards but never really know what to buy and keep it super basic. This will turn my boards up a few notches!
Thank you for this!
I always include Cowgirl Creamery Mt Tam triple cream – HUGE hit!
Any cheese from Winter Hill Farm here in Maine. Their Bradbury Mountain Blue is excellent.
Favorite crackers:
Rosemary Sea salt http://mediterraneancrackers.com/
Maine-made, hand-made, and addictive https://www.millcovebakingco.com/
The Sartori Bellavitano cheeses are always on my boards too! Love the raspberry and black pepper versions. I also love Midnight Moon from Cypress Grove – you have to try if you haven’t already! Also love Port Salut or fromage pave/pave d’affinois for a soft cheese! YUM
Since you love Sartori so much, have you tried the Tennessee Whiskey or the Balsamic BellaVitano? My bf’s SIL and I always make cheese plates when we get together and it was so good that we both bought extra to take home the last time we were in Erie just in case we couldn’t find them at our homes. I also usually make your smoked gouda pimento and it’s a huge hit. I make my own goat cheese so I normally also include that and will pick up the honey goat cheese from Aldi if I haven’t made it.
I remember reading a post similar to this about a year or so ago. I love all of these cheeses so much and find your recommendations so helpful. 🙌🏻
I need to try the Hombolt Fog because I’m not a blue cheese fan either.
Oh my gosh. This is exactly what I needed in my life. THANK YOU!
Roquefort is my fav and anything sheep milk based will get my attention. Also, Huntsman is a nice blend of a bleu and cheddar that looks super pretty and interesting on a cheese plate. And of course, Humboldt Fog is a no-fail “fancy” cheese. You’ve inspired me to sneak in a bit of fromage later for a snack :)
Just thought I’d mention that I use Huntsman in my potatoes au gratin! It’s fabulous!
My faaaaavs are Vermont Creamery Cremont (it’s kind of like a brie, it’s a cow and goat mix with a creamy center that’s divine) and a brebirousse or vacherousse d’argental. So delicious!!
My absolute favorite fave of all time is Fromager d’Affinois!! If Humboldt Fog is the blue cheese for non-blue cheese lovers, then this one is the brie for non-brie lovers! It is the absolute creamiest brie-like cheese I have ever tasted! Spreads like softened butter even right out of the fridge. I’ve tried the Saint Andre a few times but that one to me has a very strong flavor. The Fromager d’Affinois is extremely mild. I’ve found it at Whole Foods or most stores with a ‘fancy’ cheese counter. Seriously it’s the BEST!
IM. NEW
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This board is pefect when you have last minute guests at home, not so many time to cook but this is perfect adding a good glass of wine, veggy’s stick, believe me all your guest’ll be satisfied!!!
Love that you shared this!!
Just wanted to say, I am obsessed with Humboldt Fog (I went to undergrad at Humboldt State, so needless to say I ate a lot if it haha) and it’s actually not a blue cheese. It’s a soft ripened goat cheese, and the blue/gray layer in it is vegetable ash. SO good, and def one of my favorite cheeses.
Another fave…The Schloss cheese from Marin French Cheese Company is a stronger flavored triple cream cheese with a really pretty orange rind. It’s seasonal, and if you’re local to the Bay Area it’s definitely work the trek for, but they also ship. :)
Have you ever tried Port Salut? It’s a cheese I just tried recently on a cheese board made by a friend and it is absolutely incredible and so DIFFERENT than any other cheeses I’ve tried! I can’t describe it, it was so buttery and silky but with a punch of flavor. If you’re looking for a new semi-soft cheese to try to complement the hard and spreadable cheeses, highly recommend Port Salut!!
You really can’t go wrong with Sartori. Love their cheese so much!
A lot of talk here about Cypress Grove’s Humboldt Fog — so, thought I’d mention that their Truffle Tremor is nothing short of divine!!!