Housewarming Open House Spread (Printable)

A welcoming assortment of cheeses, crackers, fruits, nuts, and fresh garnishes ideal for elegant gatherings.

# What Goes In:

→ 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, large box
07 - 1 baguette, thinly sliced
08 - 5 oz breadsticks, 1 packet

→ 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
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 for garnish

# How to Make It:

01 - Place cheese blocks and wedges evenly on a large serving board for easy access.
02 - Fill spaces between cheeses with assorted crackers and baguette slices.
03 - Nestle red and green grapes, apple slices, and dried fruits around the board.
04 - Add small bowls or piles of roasted almonds, walnuts, honey, jam, and mustard.
05 - Fill remaining gaps with cherry tomatoes and baby carrots for color and freshness.
06 - Decorate with sprigs of fresh rosemary and thyme.
07 - Provide cheese knives, spreaders, toothpicks, and cocktail forks for guests to serve themselves.
08 - Monitor and top up items as necessary throughout the gathering.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • You get to skip the cooking and focus entirely on enjoying your guests—no stress, no timing worries, just pure hosting joy
  • A beautiful board becomes the centerpiece of conversation, with everyone grazing at their own pace and discovering flavor combinations they'll remember
  • The variety ensures there's something for every palate, from adventurous blue cheese lovers to those who prefer mild cheddar and apples
02 -
  • Cheese blocks must sit at room temperature before serving—cold cheese tastes flat and one-dimensional. Those 30 minutes make a difference you can actually taste
  • Lemon juice on apples isn't just about preventing brown oxidation; it actually brightens their flavor and makes them taste fresher longer, which matters more than most people realize
  • The jam and honey aren't side players—they're crucial discoveries waiting to happen. When someone tries honey with blue cheese for the first time, it's often a revelation moment that changes how they think about food combinations
03 -
  • Buy your cheese from a proper cheesemonger if you can, not just the supermarket dairy section. They'll slice it properly and often have varieties you won't find anywhere else, which elevates your entire spread
  • The spread that stays on the board longest is usually the one with the most variety—guests keep discovering new combinations, so resist the urge to simplify. Abundance breeds curiosity
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