Crescent Moon Stars Cheese (Printable Version)

A visually stunning cheese board with dark crackers, assorted cheeses, and decorative cheese stars for elegant entertaining.

# What You'll Need:

→ Cheeses

01 - 5.3 oz aged cheddar
02 - 3.5 oz creamy blue cheese
03 - 4.2 oz brie or camembert
04 - 2.8 oz gouda (for cutting stars)

→ Crackers & Bread

05 - 3.5 oz charcoal or black sesame crackers
06 - 3.5 oz pumpernickel bread, sliced
07 - 1.8 oz seeded flatbread

→ Fruit & Nuts

08 - 1 bunch black grapes
09 - 1 small handful dried figs, halved
10 - 1 small handful Marcona almonds

→ Garnish

11 - Fresh rosemary sprigs
12 - Honey or fig preserves (optional)

# Directions:

01 - Use a small star-shaped cutter to cut 8 to 12 stars from the gouda cheese. Set aside.
02 - Place charcoal crackers and pumpernickel slices in a crescent shape along one side of a large serving board or platter.
03 - Place chunks or slices of aged cheddar, blue cheese, and brie along the inside edge of the crescent, alternating colors and textures.
04 - Scatter the gouda stars on the opposite side of the board, creating the effect of floating away from the crescent.
05 - Fill the spaces with black grapes, dried figs, and Marcona almonds to enhance color and flavor.
06 - Garnish the board with fresh rosemary sprigs and serve with honey or fig preserves, if desired.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It looks like you spent hours creating art, but you'll have it ready in just 20 minutes—nobody needs to know how simple it really is
  • No cooking required means your kitchen stays cool and calm, leaving you time to actually enjoy your guests instead of being stuck at the stove
  • It's vegetarian-friendly and naturally accommodates most dietary preferences with just simple swaps
  • The dramatic dark and golden cheeses create such visual drama that people will talk about this board long after they've eaten it
02 -
  • Temperature matters more than you'd think—take your cheeses out of the fridge 30 minutes before serving so the brie softens to that perfect spreadable state, but not so long that the blue cheese starts looking sad and separated
  • Cut your gouda stars close to when you'll serve the board; they can get a bit sweaty if they sit around, and you want them pristine and perfect for their starring role
03 -
  • The star cutter doesn't have to be fancy—even a simple metal cookie cutter works beautifully, and you can find them at any kitchen shop or dollar store
  • Serve the board slightly cool but not ice-cold; cheese is meant to be tasted, and room-temperature cheese has so much more flavor and complexity than cold cheese
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