Melt away at these cheese starters for Christmas

Why cheese works perfectly as a starter

Cheese is ideal as a starter because it:

• Is flavorful without being too heavy
• Is easy to combine with vegetables, bread, fruit, and warm elements
• Is quick to prepare, ideal during busy holiday weeks
• Always looks festive thanks to its beautiful colors and textures

This allows you to serve a starter that feels like a Christmas classic with minimal effort

How do you choose the perfect cheese as a starter for Christmas?

Cheese is versatile, but for a starter you want to start light, flavorful, and elegant. A few easy rules of thumb:

• Choose light cheeses such as goat cheese or young cow cheese for fresh starters.
• Work with texture: something creamy with something crunchy always works well.
• Keep it festive, but not too heavy: after all, it's the start of your dinner.
• Use color: Christmas is all about experience, so think red, green, and gold (cheese!).

Our favourite cheese appetizers for Christmas

We have listed our top cheese appetizers for Christmas for you. They are all easy to prepare and guaranteed to be a hit with your guests. You can find all the recipes in detail on our website, so you can get started right away

1. Cheese fondue with a twist

Want to surprise your guests with a classic, but with a twist? Then try our cheese fondue with goat's cheese. This unique variant with extra old goat's cheese and goat's cheese with herbs & garlic provides a rich, deep flavour. It is not only delicious, but also looks great on your Christmas table.

What you need.

• 200g Henri Willig Goat's cheese Extra Old
• 200g Henri Willig Goat's cheese Herbs &Garlic
• 1 clove of garlic
• 300 ml dry white wine
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• Fresh bread and assorted vegetables for dipping

How to make it:

1. Rub the inside of your fondue pan with the garlic clove for extra flavour. 
2. Heat the white wine over medium-high heat and slowly add the grated goat cheese.
3. Keep stirring until the cheese is completely melted and you have a smooth mixture.
4. Mix the cornstarch with a little water into a paste and add it to thicken the fondue slightly.
5. Serve the fondue with pieces of fresh bread, cherry tomatoes, pieces of peppers and mushrooms. [photo recipe]

2. Bruschettas with portobello truffle cheese

Looking for a savoury snack or starter? Then try our bruschettas with portobello and truffle cheese. These bruschettas are simple to make and the combination of the savoury truffle cheese with the soft portobello is sure to impress your guests.

What you need.

• 150g Henri Willig truffle cheese
• 4 portobello mushrooms
• 1 ciabatta or baguette 
• 1 clove of garlic
• Olive oil
• Fresh thyme or basil
• Pepper and salt

How to make it:

1. Preheat the oven to 200°C.
2. Brush the portobello mushrooms with olive oil, season with salt and pepper and roast them in the oven for about 10-15 minutes.
3. Slice the bread and lightly toast them.
4. Rub the warm rolls with the garlic clove.
5. Top the rolls with truffle cheese slices and place the warm portobello mushrooms on top.
6. Garnish with fresh thyme or basil.

3. Extra festive luxury cheese board

Want to keep it simple yet chic? Then our extra festive luxury cheese board is just what you are looking for. Combine different types of Henri Willig cheeses, such as young cheese with green pesto and mature goat's cheese, with fresh fruit and raw vegetables. An unforgettable start to your Christmas dinner guaranteed!

Tips for your cheese board:

• Green pesto cheese: Delicious with sundried tomatoes and olives.
• Aged goat's cheese: Delicious with figs and nut bread.
• Fenugreek cheese: Pairs well with dates and honey.
• Add crackers, fresh bread and chutneys for extra variety.

4. Christmas cheese sticks

Bring some playfulness to your appetiser with our Christmas cheese sticks. These crunchy stems are perfect as a light starter or as part of a drinks board. They are quick and easy to make and are sure to please young and old alike.

What do you need?

• 1 roll of puff pastry
• 150g Henri Willig young mature cheese
• 1 egg yolk
• Sesame or poppy seeds
• Christmas-themed cutters (such as stars or Christmas trees)

How to make it:

1. Preheat the oven to 200°C and line a baking tray with baking paper.
2. Roll out the puff pastry and cut out Christmas figures using the shapes.
3. Place a slice of cheese on each mould and cover with a second puff pastry mould. Press the edges well.
4. Brush with egg yolk and sprinkle with the seeds.
5. Bake the cheese sticks for about 15-20 minutes until golden brown.

5. Spicy nachos as a hot appetiser

Nachos with cheese are always a hit, and with our spicy nach os you can put a delicious starter on the table in no time. Sprinkled with Henri Willig's Chili Cheese and served with crème fraîche, salsa and guacamole, these nachos are a guaranteed hit.

What you need.

• Tortilla chips
• 200g grated Henri Willig Chili Cheese
• 1 red onion, finely chopped 
• Jalapeños, in rings
• Salsa, guacamole and crème fraîche
• Fresh coriander

How to make it:

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C.
2. Spread the tortilla chips on an oven dish or baking tray.
3. Sprinkle the grated chilli cheese on top.
4. Divide the red onion and jalapeños over the cheese.
5. Bake in the oven until the cheese is melted (about 10 minutes).
6. Garnish with fresh coriander and serve with the dipping sauce.

6. Carpaccio Christmas wreath

Light, festive, and a beautiful appetizer for your Christmas dinner. This carpaccio Christmas wreath sets the right tone for your Christmas dinner!

Ingredients

• Carpaccio
• Handful of arugula
• Cherry tomatoes
• Henri Willig Koekaas Pure Perfection or Oude Kaas cheese, cubed
• Olive oil
• Balsamic dressing or pesto dressing
• Salt & pepper

Preparation

• Arrange the carpaccio in a nice round shape on a large plate or platter.
• Mix the arugula with a little oil and place it in the middle of the wreath.
• Spread the cherry tomatoes and cheese cubes over the arugula.
• Finish with some balsamic or pesto dressing.
• Season with salt and pepper.

A super light appetizer that looks festive and is ready in no time

7. Christmas Cheese Sticks

Christmas cheese sticks are a cheerful appetizer or amuse-bouche: crispy, light, and delicious with pesto cheese.

Ingredients

• Filo pastry
• 1 egg
• Grated Henri Willig Green Pesto Cheese, Red Pesto Cheese, or Truffle Cheese
• Optional: sesame seeds or dried herbs

Preparation

• Preheat the oven to 200°C.
• Cut the filo pastry into strips.
• Beat the egg and brush the strips thinly with egg.
• Sprinkle generously with grated cheese.
• Roll or fold the strips into sticks.
• Place them on a baking tray and bake for 10–12 minutes until golden brown and crispy.

Perfect as an amuse-bouche or small appetizer, everyone always wants another one.

8. Beef tenderloin appetizer with green pesto cheese

Looking for a small, refined appetizer to start your culinary journey? Then this beef tenderloin and green pesto appetizer is guaranteed to be a hit!

Ingredients

• Thin slices of beef tenderloin
• Henri Willig Green Pesto Cheese, cubed
• Olive oil
• Salt & pepper
• Optional: fresh herbs for garnish

Preparation

• Grill the thin slices of beef tenderloin very briefly in a hot pan.
• Place them on a nice serving plate or amuse-bouche spoon.
• Place a small cube of Green Pesto Cheese on top of the tenderloin.
• Finish with a drop of olive oil and a pinch of pepper.
• Serve immediately.

Tender, tasty, and just as luxurious as Christmas should be

Tips to make your cheese appetizer even more festive

• Work with small portions: more luxurious and refined for multiple courses.
• Use lots of color: arugula, parsley, pomegranate seeds, honey.
• Combine hot and cold for an exciting effect.
• Vary between creamy, fresh, and crunchy.

Also delicious as a side dish: a small cheese platter between courses

With pesto, fenugreek, or truffle cheese, you can whip up a small, warm platter in no time to make the breaks between courses just that little bit more chic.

Looking for more Christmas inspiration?

• Check out all our cheese recipes.
• Discover our Christmas gifts.

We wish you a warm, cozy, and tasty Christmas! Enjoy each other's company and our cheeses.