Housewarming Open House Spread (Printable)

An abundant selection of cheeses, crackers, fruits, nuts, and garnishes for effortless, stylish gatherings.

# Ingredient List:

→ Cheeses

01 - 9 oz sharp Cheddar, cut into blocks
02 - 9 oz creamy Brie, cut into wedges
03 - 7 oz Manchego, sliced
04 - 7 oz blue cheese, crumbled or in blocks
05 - 7 oz smoked Gouda, cubed

→ Crackers & Breads

06 - 12 oz assorted crackers
07 - 1 baguette, thinly sliced
08 - 5 oz breadsticks

→ Fresh & Dried Fruit

09 - 1 cup red grapes, washed and separated into small clusters
10 - 1 cup green grapes, washed and separated
11 - 2 apples, sliced and tossed with lemon juice
12 - ½ cup dried apricots
13 - ½ cup dried figs

→ Nuts & Condiments

14 - 1 cup roasted almonds
15 - 1 cup walnuts
16 - ½ cup honey
17 - ½ cup fig or apricot jam
18 - ⅓ cup whole grain mustard

→ Vegetables & Garnishes

19 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes
20 - 1 cup baby carrots
21 - Fresh rosemary and thyme sprigs

# Directions:

01 - Place cheese blocks and wedges evenly spaced on a large serving board or platter for easy access.
02 - Fill spaces between cheeses with assorted crackers and baguette slices.
03 - Position bunches of red and green grapes, apple slices, and dried fruits around the board.
04 - Add small bowls or piles of roasted almonds, walnuts, honey, fig or apricot jam, and whole grain mustard.
05 - Place cherry tomatoes and baby carrots in remaining gaps for color and freshness.
06 - Decorate with fresh rosemary and thyme sprigs to enhance presentation.
07 - Supply small cheese knives, spreaders, toothpicks, or cocktail forks for guest convenience.
08 - Replenish items as necessary throughout the event to keep the spread abundant.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It does the heavy lifting for you—no cooking required, just beautiful arrangement that looks like you spent hours in the kitchen
  • Everyone finds something they love, from the cheese lover to the fruit person to the crackers-and-honey enthusiast
  • It's the kind of spread that keeps your guests happy and fed while you're actually free to enjoy them
02 -
  • Remove your cheeses from the fridge 30 minutes before guests arrive—cold cheese tastes like nothing, and you've chosen too carefully to waste that flavor
  • The board doesn't need to be perfect; it needs to feel generous. A little asymmetry and overflow is more inviting than precious arrangement
  • Apples brown faster than you think, so slice them last or keep them in acidulated water until the final moment
03 -
  • Bring your cheese out 30 minutes before guests arrive—room temperature cheese reveals its true character and flavor
  • Invest in a good cheese knife; it makes slicing wedges look intentional rather than jagged, and people notice these small elegances
  • When arranging, think in odd numbers and asymmetrical clusters—three small piles of crackers feel more natural than two, and a grape cluster that tumbles slightly looks more inviting than a perfect arrangement
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