Halloween isn’t just about sweets and spooky costumes; it’s also the perfect opportunity to create a seasonal cheese platter that’s both eerie and delicious. By choosing cheeses in rich, autumnal colours, you can evoke the festive spirit while offering a luxurious spread. This guide focuses on crafting the ultimate Halloween cheese platter, featuring standout orange cheeses and spooky accompaniments.
SEE ALSO: How to create the perfect cheese platter for any occasion →
How to choose your cheeses
Choosing the right cheeses is key to a successful Halloween platter. For this holiday, we’re going all-in on cheeses that echo the season’s colours and spooky vibes, starting with Mimolette, Shropshire Blue and Époisses.
Mimolette
Mimolette is a natural choice for Halloween. Its round shape and bright orange colour make it look just like a pumpkin. This French cheese has a nutty, buttery flavour with a crumbly texture that becomes harder as it ages.
Aged Mimolette, in particular, has a deeply pocked rind that looks almost ghoulish, adding to its spooky appeal.
Why it works for Halloween: Its vibrant orange colour and resemblance to a pumpkin make it perfect for a Halloween-themed platter.
Shropshire Blue
Shropshire Blue brings a slightly creepy vibe to your platter, thanks to its striking blue veins running through the orange paste. It’s similar to Stilton but slightly milder, with a creamy texture and tangy flavour. The contrast between the orange and blue is eye-catching and adds a haunted look to your cheese board.
Why it works for Halloween: The eerie contrast of bright orange and dark blue makes it visually spooky and perfect for the season.
Époisses
Époisses is a French washed rind cheese known for its yeasty aroma and soft, creamy texture. Its rind is often a reddish-orange hue, thanks to being washed in brine and Marc de Bourgogne. Époisses has a strong, bold flavour that balances between salty and sweet, and its runny interior makes it an indulgent centrepiece for your platter.
Why it works for Halloween: Its gooey texture can add a slightly eerie touch, like a melted cauldron of cheese. Plus, its orange rind ties in beautifully with the other orange cheeses.
Other Halloween-friendly cheeses
- Red Leicester: Mild, creamy, and perfect for adding more orange to the board.
- Double Gloucester: A smooth and mellow cheese that’s also a deep golden-orange.
- Langres: This small wrinkly washed rind from Champagne has a rind that looks almost brainy.
You can discover my complete list of the best orange cheeses for Halloween here.
Spooky presentation: setting the scene
Once you’ve selected your cheeses, it’s time to think about how to present them in a way that matches the Halloween theme. The presentation will add that extra touch of fun and intrigue to your platter.
Step 1: Choose the right platter
For a Halloween cheese board, opt for a dark serving surface. Black slate or dark wood boards are ideal, as they allow the bright orange of the cheeses to stand out. If you’re feeling extra festive, a pumpkin-shaped board could add an extra Halloween touch.
Step 2: Prepare and arrange your cheeses
- Mimolette: Cut Mimolette into thick wedges to highlight its crumbly texture. You could even carve it into a pumpkin face for extra Halloween fun!
- Shropshire Blue: Break Shropshire Blue into chunks to showcase the contrast between the blue veins and the orange cheese.
- Époisses: Époisses should be served whole, in its wooden box or on a small plate, with a cheese knife so guests can scoop its creamy interior. Its gooey texture will add a deliciously sinister look to the board.
Scatter the cheeses across your board in an organic, slightly chaotic way. A neat, orderly presentation is less fitting for Halloween, so aim for something more rustic and wild.
Step 3: Add themed accompaniments
To bring the whole platter together, add Halloween-themed accompaniments:
- Charcoal Crackers: Their black colour adds an eerie touch and contrasts beautifully with the orange cheeses.
- Red Grapes: Arrange them around the board like little creepy eyes.
- Roasted Pumpkin Seeds: These add crunch and stay on theme with the autumn feel.
- Fig Jam: Its deep, blood-red colour and rich flavour work well with strong cheeses like Époisses and Shropshire Blue.
- Dried Apricots: Their bright orange hue complements the cheeses while adding a chewy texture.
- Honeycomb: A drizzle of honey or a chunk of honeycomb provides a sweet contrast to the salty cheeses, and its golden appearance is perfect for autumn.
Applying the finishing touches
Halloween is all about the details. Here are some ideas to decorate your platter and create a spooky atmosphere.
1. Mini pumpkins and gourds
Scatter mini pumpkins and gourds around your cheese platter for a festive feel. You could even hollow out a small pumpkin to serve nuts or dried fruit in.
2. Spider webs and plastic spiders
For a truly creepy touch, add some fake spider webs around the platter (just be sure they’re food-safe or kept clear of the cheese). Dot a few plastic spiders throughout the board to keep your guests on edge!
3. Halloween-themed cutlery
Consider using black or skull-shaped cheese knives to keep with the spooky theme. You could also opt for bone-shaped cutlery for an extra eerie touch.
4. Mood lighting
Create a haunting atmosphere by dimming the lights and adding some flickering candles around the table. You could even use orange or black candles to match the colour theme. Lanterns and LED lights in pumpkin shapes also add a cosy yet spooky vibe to your spread.
Best drink pairings for your Halloween cheese platter
Pairing your Halloween cheese board with the right drinks will take it to the next level. Here are a few suggestions to match the autumnal flavours of your cheese selections.
1. Red wine
A deep, rich red wine like a Merlot or a Shiraz works wonderfully with the strong flavours of Shropshire Blue and Mimolette. The boldness of the wine complements the tangy and nutty notes of the cheeses, while the red colour keeps with the Halloween theme.
2. Cider
A crisp cider is a great pairing for Époisses and Mimolette. The sweetness of the apples balances the saltiness of the cheeses, and cider’s autumnal feel is a perfect fit for Halloween.
3. Pumpkin ale
If you want to lean into the Halloween theme, a spiced pumpkin ale is an excellent match. The warm spices complement the buttery richness of Époisses, while the pumpkin flavours tie everything together.
4. Non-alcoholic options
For those who prefer non-alcoholic drinks, consider offering a sparkling apple juice or a festive spiced punch. You can make a Halloween punch by combining cranberry juice, apple cider and cinnamon sticks for a warming, spooky drink.
Serving tips
To make sure your Halloween cheese platter is as impressive as it is delicious, follow these serving tips:
- Serve at Room Temperature: Let the cheeses sit out for at least 30 minutes before serving, as this allows their flavours to develop fully.
- Label the Cheeses: You could have fun with this by giving the cheeses spooky names. For instance, label Mimolette as “Pumpkin Head” and Shropshire Blue as “Ghostly Veins.” Small chalkboards or parchment labels work well for this.
- Keep It Clean: Use a separate knife for each cheese to avoid mixing flavours and to make it easier for guests to serve themselves.
Conclusion
A Halloween cheese platter is all about embracing the spooky, autumnal feel of the season while offering your guests a rich and delicious experience. By highlighting vibrant orange cheeses like Mimolette, Shropshire Blue and Époisses, you can create a visually stunning and tasty spread that’s perfect for any Halloween gathering.
With the right decorations, accompaniments and drink pairings, your cheese board will become the centrepiece of your party. So get ready to impress your guests with a cheese board that’s equal parts creepy and delicious!
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!
