Housewarming Open House Spread (Printer-Friendly)

An abundant board of cheeses, fruits, nuts, and crackers arranged for elegant, effortless entertaining.

# What You Need:

→ Cheeses

01 - 9 oz sharp Cheddar, cut into blocks
02 - 9 oz creamy Brie, cut into wedges
03 - 7 oz Manchego, sliced
04 - 7 oz blue cheese, crumbled or in blocks
05 - 7 oz smoked Gouda, cubed

→ Crackers & Breads

06 - 12 oz assorted crackers
07 - 1 baguette, thinly sliced
08 - 5 oz breadsticks

→ Fresh & Dried Fruit

09 - 1 cup red grapes, washed and separated into small clusters
10 - 1 cup green grapes, washed and separated
11 - 2 apples, sliced and tossed with lemon juice to prevent browning
12 - ½ cup dried apricots
13 - ½ cup dried figs

→ Nuts & Condiments

14 - 1 cup roasted almonds
15 - 1 cup walnuts
16 - ½ cup honey
17 - ½ cup fig or apricot jam
18 - ⅓ cup whole grain mustard

→ Vegetables & Garnishes

19 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes
20 - 1 cup baby carrots
21 - Fresh rosemary and thyme sprigs for garnish

# Directions:

01 - Place cheese blocks and wedges evenly on a large board or platter to allow easy access.
02 - Fill spaces between cheeses with piles of assorted crackers and sliced baguette.
03 - Nestle clusters of grapes, apple slices, and dried fruit around the board to add variety.
04 - Arrange small bowls or piles of roasted almonds, walnuts, honey, jam, and mustard on the board.
05 - Fill remaining gaps with cherry tomatoes and baby carrots for freshness and color.
06 - Decorate with sprigs of fresh rosemary and thyme for visual appeal and aroma.
07 - Supply cheese knives, spreaders, toothpicks, or cocktail forks for easy self-service by guests.
08 - Ensure items are topped up regularly throughout the event for continuous enjoyment.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It looks like you spent hours in the kitchen when really you spent thirty minutes arranging beautiful things—nobody needs to know your secret
  • Every guest finds something they love because variety means everyone belongs at your table
  • You can actually enjoy your party instead of being stuck cooking, which is the whole point of having people over
02 -
  • Lemon juice on apple slices is non-negotiable. I learned this the hard way when half my beautiful board turned into a brown mess within an hour. Now I know better, and I'm telling you so you don't have to learn it yourself.
  • Cheese needs to come out about thirty minutes before guests arrive. Cold cheese doesn't taste like cheese—it tastes like a block of nothing. Room temperature cheese is where the flavor lives, where the creaminess shows up, where magic happens.
  • The board doesn't have to be symmetrical, but it does have to look intentional. Random doesn't read as 'rustic and charming'—it reads as 'I didn't think about this.' Group similar colors and shapes, leave breathing room, let the eye have a journey.
03 -
  • If you're worried about food safety with cheese sitting out, remember the two-hour rule—cheese is fine at room temperature for up to two hours. If your party is longer, set up your board in stages, bringing out a fresh one halfway through. Nobody needs to know you have a backup board waiting in the kitchen.
  • The secret nobody talks about: a beautiful board creates its own momentum. When people see abundance and care and thoughtfulness, they relax. They stay longer. They talk more. They feel welcomed. That's the real magic, and it has nothing to do with whether your apricots are perfectly positioned.
Go Back