Thanksgiving cheese: the perfect cheeses for your festive cheeseboard

In this blog, we share our favourite Thanksgiving cheese choices and give tips for putting together a cheese board that impresses in both taste and presentation. Whether you're a beginner in putting together a cheese board, or a true cheese lover looking for something special, you're in the right place here.

The best cheeses for Thanksgiving

A well-constructed cheese board has a combination of different textures and flavours. Here are some of our most popular cheeses that go great with the traditional flavours of Thanksgiving:

1. Henri Willig Goat Cheese Fenugreek

The fresh, slightly tangy flavour of this fenugreek goat cheese is a great addition to richer Thanksgiving dishes. The fenugreek seeds add a nutty twist that goes well with grilled vegetables, roasted nuts and figs. This cheese is a nice counterpart to the heavier dishes on the table.

Serve with: Fresh fruit, honey and crusty bread.

2. Henri Willig Koekaas Truffle

Truffle cheese is rich and aromatic, a perfect choice for those who love intense flavours. The creaminess of biscuit cheese combined with the earthy notes of truffle adds a luxurious touch to your cheeseboard. It goes perfectly with crusty breads and autumnal dips, such as fig jam or cranberry compote.

Serve with: Toasted rolls, cranberries, and truffle oil.

3. Henri Willig Komijnekaas

This Gouda cheese with cumin is a real taste experience. The subtle herbs add a warm, spicy flavour perfect for autumn. This cheese does well on a rustic cheeseboard with hearty crackers and a glass of red wine.

Serve with: Wholemeal toast and toasted almonds.

4. Henri Willig Smoked Cheese

A cheese that should not be missing from your Thanksgiving cheeseboard is a smoked cheese. The deep smoky flavour of this cheese instantly evokes the feeling of autumn. Perfect to pair with a glass of whisky or an autumn beer.

Serve with: Dried fruit, such as apricots or figs, and a glass of dark ale.

5. Henri Willig Oude Koekaas

Old cheeses are loved for their intense, distinct flavour. This aged cow cheese has a tangy, crumbly texture that pairs fantastically with chutneys or a sweet honey. It is the perfect ending to your cheeseboard and pairs well with Thanksgiving's rich flavours.

Serve with: A fig chutney or nut honey and bread.

How do you put together a perfect Thanksgiving cheeseboard?

A good cheeseboard is not just about the cheeses, but also the presentation and accompanying appetisers. Here are some tips to make your Thanksgiving cheese platter a success:

• Choose 4-5 different cheeses: Make sure you have a good mix of hard and soft cheeses, and combine mild with strong flavours. This will offer enough variety for everyone and ensure that everyone likes something.
• Think about presentation: Use a wooden board or a marble plate to present the cheeses nicely. Leave some space between the cheeses so they are easy to grab and lay them out playfully.
• Add fruit and nuts: Thanksgiving is the season of figs, grapes and pecans. These pair perfectly with the cheeses on the board and add an extra autumnal twist to your cheese board.
• Bread and crackers: Provide a variety of breads and crackers, such as crusty baguettes, walnut bread or rustic seed crackers. These provide a delicious and crunchy base for the cheeses.
• Dips and chutneys: For an extra explosion of flavour, add dips and chutneys, such as cranberry sauce, honey or mustard. These add both sweetness and a fresh element to the cheese.

Photo inspiration for your Thanksgiving cheeseboard

When putting together a cheese board, of course, it's not just about the flavour, but also how it looks. Below we have some photo inspiration for you so that your cheeseboard becomes a true work of art:

Thanksgiving is about enjoying the best cheeses together

Thanksgiving is all about coming together and enjoying, and what better way to do this than with a carefully crafted cheeseboard? At Henri Willig, we have a suitable cheese gift for every occasion that perfectly matches the rich flavours of the season.

Want even more cheese board inspiration or looking for the perfect Thanksgiving cheese gift? Then check out our full collection of cheese gifts and discover the possibilities to make your festive meal something special.