Tannenbaum Cheese Board Border (Printable Version)

Stylish cheese and grape border creates a festive, tree-inspired design perfect for holiday gatherings.

# Ingredient List:

→ Cheese

01 - 8.8 oz semi-firm cheese (such as Gouda, Edam, or Emmental), well chilled

→ Fruit

02 - 5.3 oz small green seedless grapes, washed and thoroughly dried

# Directions:

01 - Cut the cheese into thin, triangular slices approximately 2 to 2.4 inches long and 0.4 inches wide at the base, resembling stylized pine trees.
02 - Place the cheese triangles along all four edges of the serving board or platter with the pointed ends facing outward to mimic pine trees.
03 - Position the small green grapes between and around the cheese pieces to fill gaps and enhance the pine tree effect.
04 - Continue arranging cheese triangles and grapes until the entire perimeter is decorated with the festive border.
05 - Add a selection of cheeses, charcuterie, crackers, or other desired items to the center of the board.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • You'll spend just 15 minutes creating something that looks like you've been in the kitchen for hours—the kind of magic that makes you feel like a culinary artist.
  • It's completely do-ahead friendly; arrange it in the morning and it stays picture-perfect until your guests arrive.
  • The combination of soft cheese and juicy grapes creates little pockets of flavor that keep people reaching for more between conversations.
02 -
  • Wet grapes are the silent saboteur of this presentation. I learned to pat them completely dry with paper towels after washing—they'll stay in place and the presentation stays pristine throughout your gathering.
  • Cheese temperature changes everything. Room-temperature cheese crumbles; ice-cold cheese slices like a dream. The 30-minute chill before slicing is worth the wait.
03 -
  • The sharper your knife and the colder your cheese, the more professional your triangles will look. This is the secret that transforms a good board into one people actually photograph.
  • If a slice breaks as you're cutting, don't discard it—gather those pieces for the center of the board. They taste just as good and nothing goes to waste.
Go Back