Fruit adds unique flavor and pairings to any cheese board.
A cheese plate is never a bad idea. Especially when you add something sweet. And healthy! Fruit, evidently, is the perfect addition to any cheese selection, especially for a vegetarian or dessert crowd. Fruit can compliment specific cheeses’ unique tasting notes, bringing out flavor and texture almost undetectable without the addition of paired fruits. Below, some fruit and cheese pairing suggestions from Liz Nerud, head cheesemonger at Kowalski’s, and resident cheesemonger expert for Cheeselandia, a community of Wisconsin cheese lovers.
Gouda + Pineapple
Pair pineapple and tropical fruits with gouda
Pineapple isn’t just a pizza topping. Tropical fruits like pineapple pair perfectly with a buttery, sometimes fruity cheese. “Marieke Gouda is a raw milk, farmstead gouda cheese that’s carefully cured for six to nine months on imported Dutch pine planks in aging cellars in Wisconsin,” explains Nerud. “This gouda is full of flavor, with a subtle bite and caramel notes.” The cheese also pairs well with mango’s sweet and tangy flavors.
Havarti + Honeydew
Honeydew and cheese make an elegant pairing.
Honeydew’s light, subtle flavor can be a refreshing palate cleanser that goes well with creamy Havarti. “Carr Valley Havarti is a mild and creamy cheese with a rich, buttery and slightly tangy taste, making it the perfect pairing with the sweet honeydew,” Nerud says. Try stacking Havarti and honeydew for an all-in-one bite.
Strawberries + Feta
Top a strawberry salad with feta
Fresh berries and fresh cheese, like a tart and salty feta, pair perfectly together. “Odyssey Feta Cheese is made by Klondike Cheese Co., which is home to six Master Cheesemakers, all who have achieved Wisconsin Master Cheesemaker status,” says Nerud of the award-winning feta. Sprinkle it on a salad with strawberries to make it healthy.
Apples + Cheddar Cheese
Apples and cheddar pair so well together
“Nothing tops a sweet, crisp apple with a salty cheddar bite,” says Nerud, noting that both young and aged cheddars make the cut with apple.
Raspberries + Mascarpone
Raspberry tiramisu is always a good idea.
Switch up berries and cream by adding a farm-fresh, creamy cheese, often found in desserts like tiramisu, to your fruit. “Crave Brothers’ Farmstead Mascarpone is crafted from fresh, sweet cream, [it’s] luxurious and velvety, perfect for sweet pairings with fruit such as raspberries,” Nerud says.
Cherries + Blue Cheese
Blue cheese and cherries go together perfectly on a summer day.
Earthy, tangy blue cheese is a perfect partner for tart and sweet cherries. Sour cherry preserves can also be added to any cheeseboard to spread on crackers and enjoy with blue cheeses. Nerud recommends Roth’s Buttermilk Blue with cherries, even for those who think they aren’t into the blue-veined blocks. “Roth has crafted an exclusive blue cheese recipe that will turn blue cheese skeptics into connoisseurs, leaving anyone who pairs this delicious cheese with sweet cherries wanting more,” Nerud says. “Bold yet restrained, it’s handcrafted in small batches with fresh milk from local Wisconsin farms, resulting in a beautifully balance blue cheese with a mellow, earthy flavor and soft, creamy finish.”
