Holiday Entertaining Made Simple

How to Create a Stunning Dairy-Free Cheese Board 

Who have you invited to dinner this season: your early-bird aunt, who is ready to help in the kitchen? Your perfectly punctual parents? Your siblings with kids, showing up late after fights over putting on coats? Your in-laws, whose flight was delayed? 

Hosting the holidays is not without challenges, from managing logistical timelines to ensuring you have something to suit every taste and accommodate dietary needs.  A charcuterie-style cheese board is a hosting hack you don’t want to overlook. Shire’s Naturals, a line of fermented cashew-based dairy-free cheeses, is an easy, beautiful first step to build a board that works for everyone. 

Each guest, no matter how early or late they arrive, is greeted with something delicious to nibble on, buying you time to get everyone settled before the main course is served. Whether your guests are lactose intolerant, vegan or looking to eat more plant-based choices, offering options they can enjoy too shows care and takes some stress out of holidays. 

Here are some steps to consider when building a welcoming snack tray. 

STEP ONE: START WITH A DELICIOUS DAIRY-FREE FOUNDATION 

While Shire’s cheeses are delicious on their own as a spread for crackers or vegetable dip, the holidays are an opportunity to make extra effort for a dairy-free appetizer that’s a stunning centerpiece.  

Recipes like Shire’s Holiday Cheese Ball, Fig and Pistachio Cheese Log, and Strawberry Basil Cheese Log can serve as beautiful anchors to build your board around.  

The Holiday Cheese Ball is made with Shire’s pub cheese, whose spicy kick is amplified with the addition of cayenne and paprika, while chopped pecans add crunch.  

Rich, sweet and savory, the Fig and Pistachio Cheese Log is perfect for the December holidays. Seasonal pistachios add crunch while the sweet fig jam balances the tang of Shire’s cream cheese. 

Strawberry preserves add a festive punch of color to Shire’s cream cheese while providing contrast to winter flavors. 

Choose one or two recipes to make and then design the rest of your selection around them. Use ramekins for dimension and organization as you assemble the appetizers, and keep everything snack-sized. 

STEP TWO: ADD SEASONAL FRUITS AND VEGGIES  

Shire’s cheese is made from fermented cashews, which provides tang and a creamy texture. Fresh and dried fruits and sliced vegetables bring vibrancy to your board and help provide balance to the cheeses. 

Fresh fruits like grapes, pear slices, figs, pomegranate seeds feel festive and offer sweet flavors that pair well with the tangy cheeses. 

Dried fruits like apricots, dates, cranberries and cherries add some chewy choices to your selections hold up well over the course of a party. It is also easy to refresh with additional dried fruit throughout the party without breaking out a cutting board.  

Cucumber rounds, mini sweet peppers, cherry tomatoes and roasted squash cubes bring bright colors to the tray while also providing a vegetarian and gluten-free option to scoop up some of your cheese spreads.  

STEP THREE: CRUNCH, MUNCH AND CREATE INTEREST 

Crackers, nuts and seeds add the delightful crunch and sometimes salty components. 

Like vegetables, crackers have the dual purpose of being a vehicle for the cheese spreads. If keeping the board dairy-free and gluten-free is important to your guests, this will be an area where you’ll have to take care to read labels.  Seed-heavy crackers or grain-free crisps are good options if you have to avoid wheat, but if not, crostini and rosemary flatbreads are also excellent choices.  

Loose pistachios can complement those used in the Fig & Pistachio Cheese Log, but candied pecans, toasted walnuts or almonds are also great for snacking. Pay homage to the cashew base with lightly salted cashews. Pumpkin seeds or sesame seed clusters can add a similar snacking ability with a seasonal flair.  

STEP FOUR: ADD FESTIVE FLAIR 

Edible and natural elements can add more visual appeal to your board and customize it for different holidays.  
Try mini gourds or whole cranberries for Thanksgiving. Sprigs of rosemary, star anise and dried orange slices give a Christmas-y flair. Small jars of fig jam, maple drizzle or hot pepper jelly add pops of color and additional spread options.  

Food labels can also add seasonal motifs while providing dietary information for your guests.  

A cheese board with an array of snack-sized bites can showcase your hosting skills and make your guests feel warmly welcomed… no matter when they bustle in. Shire’s Naturals dairy-free cheeses deliver gourmet flavor, richness, and protein perfect for gatherings with a variety of palates and dietary needs. Whether you’re building a bountiful Thanksgiving grazing table or a chic New Year’s Eve spread, these plant-based ingredients make entertaining effortless and delicious. 

Tag @EatShires  on Instagram to show off your holiday board and inspire others this season.