For the ultimate Thanksgiving cheese platter, consider featuring a range of artisanal American cheeses. This selection highlights some of the finest small-batch cheeses from across the U.S., perfect for elevating your holiday spread with locally crafted flavours.
SEE ALSO: Step-by-step guide to crafting the best cheese board for any occasion →
1. Selecting the best American cheeses
Choosing high-quality American cheeses brings unique textures and flavours that set your platter apart. Here’s a balanced selection that showcases some of the country’s best:
a. Soft cheese
- Mt Tam (Cowgirl Creamery, California): This triple-cream cheese is lush and buttery, with hints of mushroom and a smooth, spreadable texture. Its subtle, creamy profile makes it ideal for pairing with fruit or honey, and it appeals to a variety of palates.
- Rush Creek Reserve (Uplands Cheese, Wisconsin): This seasonal cheese is only available in fall, adding a special touch to your Thanksgiving platter. With its velvety, custard-like interior and savoury, earthy notes, Rush Creek Reserve is a fantastic conversation piece and pairs well with rustic bread or roasted nuts.
b. Semi-soft cheese
- Hudson Flower (Old Chatham Creamery, New York): This sheep and cow’s milk cheese is delicately coated with rosemary, lemon thyme and marjoram, offering a fragrant herbal twist. Hudson Flower’s balanced flavours harmonise with fresh apple slices, pears or cranberry chutney.
- Humboldt Fog (Cypress Grove, California): This semi-soft goat cheese has a creamy interior with a slightly tangy flavour and its signature ash line running through the middle. Its bright, citrusy notes pair beautifully with figs, honey and seasonal dried fruits.
c. Hard cheese
- Pleasant Ridge Reserve (Uplands Cheese, Wisconsin): Often compared to alpine cheeses, this cheese has a nutty, caramel-like flavour with a rich, savoury finish. It’s a crowd-pleaser with dried apricots, apple slices and cured meats, making it a perfect centrepiece for a fall cheese platter.
- Cabot Clothbound Cheddar (Jasper Hill Farm, Vermont): This aged Cheddar is complex, with a balance of nutty and savoury flavours. The texture is crumbly yet smooth, and it pairs well with roasted pecans, sliced apples and hearty crackers.
d. Blue cheese
- Bayley Hazen Blue (Jasper Hill Farm, Vermont): Known for its creamy texture and earthy, chocolatey notes, Bayley Hazen Blue is a beautiful, mild blue cheese that pairs excellently with honey, fresh figs or even thin slices of dark chocolate. It’s perfect for guests who enjoy bold but balanced flavours.
- Rogue River Blue (Rogue Creamery, Oregon): Wrapped in grape leaves soaked in pear brandy, this award-winning blue cheese is creamy and rich. It pairs beautifully with candied nuts, dark chocolate, or dried figs.
2. The perfect pairings for your cheese
The right accompaniments bring out the full spectrum of flavours in your cheeses, while adding seasonal notes and textures.
a. Seasonal fruits
- Fresh Options: Apples, pears, figs and grapes are Thanksgiving classics. Consider tart apples, like Honeycrisp or Granny Smith, and firm pears for a delightful crunch alongside creamy cheeses like Mt Tam or Rush Creek Reserve.
- Dried Fruits: Cranberries, apricots and dates add sweetness and texture, balancing the saltiness of aged cheeses like Pleasant Ridge Reserve and Cabot Clothbound Cheddar.
b. Nuts
- Roasted Pecans and Almonds: Lightly salted or candied pecans add crunch and complement the caramel flavours of aged cheeses, especially the nutty Pleasant Ridge Reserve and Cabot Clothbound Cheddar.
c. Savoury elements
- Cured Meats: Thin slices of prosciutto or peppery soppressata pair well with Bayley Hazen Blue and Pleasant Ridge Reserve, adding a savoury element that contrasts with the sweetness of fruits and jams.
- Olives and Pickled Vegetables: Castelvetrano olives and pickled vegetables like cornichons or pickled carrots add acidity, balancing the creamy texture of cheeses like Rush Creek Reserve.
d. Touch of sweetness
- Honey and Jams: Honey pairs exceptionally with Bayley Hazen Blue, while fig or cranberry jam complements Mt Tam and Hudson Flower. These spreads bring out the sweeter, nuanced flavours in your cheese selection.
e. Bread and crackers
- Rustic Breads: Fresh baguettes, sourdough, and seeded breads provide a hearty foundation for spreading soft cheeses.
- Assorted Crackers: Include whole-grain or multigrain crackers for texture, which are especially good with blue and aged cheeses. Having over a guest with coeliac disease? Choose one of these amazing gluten-free crackers.
3. Arranging your American artisanal showcase
An aesthetically pleasing platter not only draws guests in but also makes it easy for them to explore different flavours.
a. Start with the large cheeses
Place large pieces like Pleasant Ridge Reserve, Mt Tam and Bayley Hazen Blue around the board as anchor points. This allows guests to navigate easily from soft to hard cheeses.
b. Accompaniments by cheese
Position fruits, nuts, and crackers near their best cheese pairings. Dried figs and honey near Bayley Hazen Blue, for instance, and candied pecans near Pleasant Ridge Reserve. This encourages pairing exploration.
c. Use bowls for texture and height
Add height and variety with small bowls for honey, olives and pickles. This enhances the visual appeal and prevents juices from spilling onto the cheeses.
4. Holiday touches for a festive platter
Add seasonal elements to make your platter feel more festive and distinctly Thanksgiving-themed.
a. Edible herbs and garnishes
Add sprigs of rosemary, thyme or sage around the board. These herbs add earthy aromatics that echo holiday flavours, and they look beautiful beside aged cheeses like Cabot Clothbound Cheddar.
b. Small seasonal decorations
Decorate with mini pumpkins or decorative gourds around the platter, or place them in between bowls and cheese wedges for a festive autumn look.
c. Warming the cheeses
Warming certain cheeses like Rush Creek Reserve for a few minutes in the oven makes them gooier and richer, a cosy addition to your holiday spread.
5. Serving tips for a seamless holiday experience
To make the experience enjoyable and accessible, consider these serving tips:
a. Pre-slicing your cheese
Slice hard cheeses, like Pleasant Ridge Reserve, into bite-sized pieces so guests can easily sample. Leave soft cheeses like Mt Tam whole but slightly scored so they are easy to dig into.
b. Serve all cheeses at room temperature
Take cheeses out of the fridge about an hour before serving so they can reach room temperature, enhancing their flavours and textures.
c. Labels for easy identification
Use small labels for each cheese to guide guests. Adding pairing suggestions, such as “Pair with honey and pecans” for Bayley Hazen Blue, can help guests enjoy a curated tasting experience.
d. Dietary options
For guests with dietary restrictions, consider a few plant-based cheese alternatives. Look for nut-based artisanal options to keep with the artisanal theme of the platter.
6. Elevating the flavour experience with beverage pairings
Pairing the right drinks with your cheese platter can make each bite memorable. Here are some recommendations for Thanksgiving:
- Red Wine: Try a light Pinot Noir, which pairs beautifully with Mt Tam and Humboldt Fog, or a Merlot that works well with Pleasant Ridge Reserve.
- White Wine: Chardonnay complements Rush Creek Reserve’s rich, creamy flavour, while a slightly sweet Riesling balances Bayley Hazen Blue’s tanginess.
- Apple Cider: Sparkling or mulled cider adds a warm, seasonal touch and complements the nutty flavours in Pleasant Ridge Reserve.
- Craft Beer: Amber ales or brown ales pair well with aged and blue cheeses, enhancing the earthy and caramel notes of Cabot Clothbound Cheddar.
Conclusion
Creating the perfect cheese platter doesn’t need to be complicated. Try these artisanal selections and thoughtful pairings for a stunning and unforgettable Thanksgiving experience.
Ready to get started? Share your Thanksgiving cheese platter with family and friends, and let the flavours be the talk of the table!
Jonah is a a hipster, eco-warrior and slow food afficionado. Coming from a scientific background, Jonah has a particular interest in cheese science. And yes, he loves a good cheese pun!
