Frosted Pine Cheese Board (Printable)

Winter-themed white cheddar cheese board with sugared rosemary and almond pinecone accents.

# What you need:

→ 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)

# How to make it:

01 - Lightly moisten rosemary sprigs with water, roll them in granulated sugar until fully coated, and place on parchment paper to dry for 10 minutes.
02 - Arrange white cheddar cheese in soft mounds on a serving platter to resemble snowdrifts.
03 - Insert sugared rosemary sprigs upright among the cheese mounds to imitate frosted pine trees.
04 - Nestle whole almonds in small clusters near the cheese to mimic pinecones.
05 - Arrange gluten-free crackers around the platter or drizzle honey if desired.
06 - Present immediately and enjoy the festive arrangement.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It looks stunning on the table but takes barely twenty minutes from start to serve.
  • No cooking required means you can prep it while handling other appetizers without stress.
  • The combination of creamy cheese, crunchy almonds, and aromatic sugared rosemary creates three completely different textures in every bite.
02 -
  • Don't over-dampen the rosemary or the sugar won't stick properly; a light mist is genuinely enough.
  • Room temperature cheese spreads and mounds more easily than cold cheese straight from the fridge, so let it sit out for five minutes first.
03 -
  • If your platter is going to travel, build it on a board with edges rather than a flat plate, and transport it in a large, shallow container to keep everything stable.
  • The sugared rosemary is technically edible, but most people treat it as an ornament and just eat the cheese and almonds around it—though adventurous eaters love the subtle piney-sweet flavor.
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