Crescent Moon Stars Cheese (Printer-Friendly)

An elegant cheese board featuring a crescent of black crackers, assorted cheeses, gouda stars, and fruit.

# What You'll Need:

→ Cheeses

01 - 5.3 oz aged cheddar
02 - 3.5 oz creamy blue cheese
03 - 4.2 oz brie or camembert
04 - 2.8 oz gouda (for cutting stars)

→ Crackers & Bread

05 - 3.5 oz charcoal or black sesame crackers
06 - 3.5 oz pumpernickel bread, sliced
07 - 1.75 oz seeded flatbread

→ Fruit & Nuts

08 - 1 bunch black grapes
09 - Small handful dried figs, halved
10 - Small handful Marcona almonds

→ Garnish

11 - Fresh rosemary sprigs
12 - Honey or fig preserves (optional)

# Method:

01 - Using a small star-shaped cutter, cut 8 to 12 stars from the gouda cheese and set them aside.
02 - Place black crackers and pumpernickel slices in a crescent shape along one side of a large serving board or platter.
03 - Arrange chunks or slices of aged cheddar, blue cheese, and brie along the inside of the crescent, alternating colors and textures.
04 - Distribute the gouda stars opposite the crescent, creating a floating star effect on the board.
05 - Fill remaining spaces with black grapes, dried figs, and Marcona almonds for contrast and flavor complexity.
06 - Decorate with fresh rosemary sprigs and offer honey or fig preserves on the side, if desired.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It looks like you spent hours in the kitchen when it actually takes just 20 minutes, which means you get to be both impressive and stress-free.
  • The combination of sharp aged cheddar, creamy blue cheese, and buttery brie means there's something for every cheese lover at your table.
  • Those whimsical gouda stars transform a cheese board from ordinary to memorable, giving your guests something to smile about.
  • It's completely vegetarian and requires zero cooking, making it perfect for when you want to entertain without being trapped in the kitchen.
02 -
  • Bring your cheeses out of the refrigerator 20 to 30 minutes before serving. Cold cheese tastes like nothing—room temperature cheese tastes like everything. This single move changes the entire experience.
  • Your star cutter needs to be truly sharp, and you need to press down firmly without twisting. A dull cutter creates crumbly, tragic stars instead of clean, beautiful ones.
  • The arrangement matters more than perfection. Your goal is to create visual interest and tell a story with the placement, not to create a symmetrical pattern. Asymmetry is what makes it feel intentional and interesting.
03 -
  • Use activated charcoal crackers specifically designed for food—they create the darkest, most dramatic crescent and make the whole board feel intentional and sophisticated rather than accidental.
  • If your star cutter sticks, run it under warm water and dry it quickly between cuts. This prevents cheese from building up inside the cutter and ruining your star shapes.
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