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A Very Merry Christmas Cheese Board will instantly bring the joy into your holiday gatherings, no matter what size they are. With a variety of textures and flavors, every part of this spread is the ideal centerpiece for all the quality time you want to spend with friends and family.

Some of my favorite memories in life are centered around a cheese board spread similar to this one.

I’ve always been known for grazing, especially during the holidays. There are so many sweets and special treats lurking around the house that grazing just becomes an inevitable part of my eating plan.

In fact, I almost prefer the grazing to those large multi-course meals because I can combine any flavors or textures that pop into my head. It’s the ultimate playground for anyone who loves food because experimentation isn’t just expected, it’s encouraged.

I remember last year around this time I put together a cheese board for a very dear friend and myself around the holidays.

We were both spending them a little more unconventionally than we had in the past, and we just wanted one of those girls’ nights in where we could eat, drink and be merry.

Just like when I was a child, I found myself in a haze of happiness as I plucked various cheese and cracker combinations from the board. So I’ve decided to make it tradition around the holidays – whether it’s just for a couple of friends or a giant family gathering.

This year’s cheese board is all about the joy that this season brings for me.

At the center are four Castello cheeses that I absolutely adore. From cheddar to Havarti, creamy to sharp, these four cheeses provide a wide variety to accompany all the little extras flooding the spread.

This year I went with three fairly unconventional Lesley Stowe crackers that boast both bold and subtle flavors that are perfect for the holiday season. My personal favorite is the pumpkin spice that blends perfectly with the fig jam and creamy Havarti…

Finally, you need a couple star wines to really set the mood. For me, only a red wine will do in the winter so the Folie à Deux Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir filled my top slots. They are both so smooth and rich without being completely overbearing.

Then I filled up the plate with dried fruits like apricots and hearty dates, nuts and different types of chocolates (I went for salted almond and candied ginger because HOLIDAYS!).

Not to mention the little pickles that remind me of finding the pickle ornament on my grandparents’ tree every year (please tell me you know about this German tradition?!).

This whole spread will be the center of attention that everyone will be gathered around. Much better than gathering around the TV, am I right?

Have a cook in your life you want to shop for? Here’s my kitchen favorites gift guide!

this recipe’s must-haves

When serving a cheese board, I adore using slate. This cheese platter set is super affordable and even comes with chalk so you can label all the different items on your board.

One of the things most people forget? Cheese knives! Normal knives are cumbersome and big on platters like this, so save the space for a set of these bad boys.

I personally find that red wine is the best pairing for this board so break out the red wine glasses. Stemless are my preference for parties – they tend to break less.