Frosted Pine Cheese Platter (Print Version)

Winter-themed cheese board with sugared rosemary, white cheddar snowdrifts, and almond pinecones.

# Components:

→ Cheeses

01 - 7 oz white cheddar cheese, cubed or shredded

→ Garnishes

02 - 12 fresh rosemary sprigs
03 - 2 tbsp water
04 - 2 tbsp granulated sugar, plus extra for dusting

→ Nuts

05 - 2 oz whole almonds, raw or lightly toasted

→ Crackers & Extras

06 - 12–16 assorted gluten-free crackers (optional)
07 - 1 tbsp honey (optional, for drizzling)

# Directions:

01 - Lightly dampen rosemary sprigs with water and roll in granulated sugar until coated. Allow to dry on parchment-lined tray for 10 minutes.
02 - Arrange cubed or shredded white cheddar cheese in gentle mounds on a serving platter.
03 - Place sugared rosemary sprigs upright among the cheese mounds to resemble frosted pine trees.
04 - Nestle whole almonds in small clusters near the cheese to mimic pinecones.
05 - Optionally arrange gluten-free crackers around the platter and drizzle honey if desired.
06 - Present immediately to enjoy the festive arrangement.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It looks like a tiny frosted forest but tastes like a proper cheese board, so your guests feel delighted before they even take a bite.
  • Everything comes together in twenty minutes with zero cooking, meaning you can pull this off on the busiest evening.
  • The sugared rosemary stays crispy and adds a subtle piney sweetness that nobody expects from a cheese platter.
02 -
  • Don't oversoak the rosemary when you dampen it, or the sugar will dissolve into syrup instead of staying frosted and crunchy.
  • Arrange everything as close to serving time as possible because the sugar will begin to weep if it sits in humid air for more than a few minutes.
03 -
  • Use a very light touch when dampening the rosemary; you're aiming for barely damp leaves, not dripping wet stems, so the sugar adheres without turning sticky.
  • Keep the cheese at cool room temperature so it holds its shape without being so cold it looks pale and uninviting; pull it out about fifteen minutes before serving.
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