Fresh Summer Fruit and Cheese Grazing Board
A quick and easy fresh summer fruit and cheese grazing board perfect for crowd-pleasing summer gatherings. Combines sweet, salty, creamy, and crunchy textures for a vibrant and satisfying snack.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings
- Category: Appetizer
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- Strawberries, hulled and halved
- Seedless grapes, red or green
- Fresh figs, quartered
- Blueberries or blackberries
- Peaches or nectarines, sliced
- Goat cheese, creamy and spreadable
- Aged cheddar, sharp and crumbly
- Brie or camembert, soft with a buttery finish (optional)
- Manchego or gouda, sliced
- Marcona almonds or toasted walnuts
- Seedless crackers or thin baguette slices
- Honey or local wildflower honey
- Fresh herbs like thyme or rosemary
- Olives or cornichons (optional)
- Balsamic glaze
Instructions
- Wash and prep the fruits: rinse all fresh fruits under cool water and gently pat dry. Hull and halve the strawberries, slice the peaches or nectarines about 1/4 inch thick, quarter the figs, and remove stems from grapes. Place each fruit in separate bowls.
- Slice and arrange the cheeses: cut aged cheddar and manchego into bite-sized chunks or thin slices. Scoop goat cheese into small balls or dollops. Slice brie or camembert into wedges if using. Let soft cheeses sit at room temperature for 15 minutes before serving.
- Prepare nuts and extras: toast walnuts lightly in a dry skillet over medium heat for 3-4 minutes until fragrant, then cool. Arrange marcona almonds similarly. Place olives and cornichons in small bowls.
- Assemble the board: lay out cheeses evenly spaced on the board. Fill gaps with clusters of fruit, nuts, and crackers, balancing colors and textures. Garnish with fresh thyme or rosemary sprigs.
- Final touches: drizzle honey lightly over goat cheese and fruit clusters. Add thin lines or small pools of balsamic glaze for dipping.
Notes
Keep the board chilled until ready to serve but take it out about 15 minutes beforehand so cheeses soften and flavors open up. For gluten-free, use rice crackers or nut thins instead of baguette slices. Dairy-free cheeses can substitute for traditional cheeses. Toast nuts lightly for extra flavor. Let soft cheeses sit at room temperature before serving.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: Approximately 1/8th
- Calories: 275
- Sugar: 12
- Sodium: 250
- Fat: 19
- Saturated Fat: 8
- Carbohydrates: 18
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 11
Keywords: summer, fruit, cheese, grazing board, easy recipe, crowd-pleaser, appetizer, fresh, entertaining