Sometimes the simple foods are the best . . . and there is nothing better on so many occasions than fresh fruit and cheese. It makes a party better, it makes a great mid-afternoon snack, it’s a wonderful appetizer, and it goes well in a packed lunch. But there are so many cheeses to choose from. We’ll help. Here are our favorite cheeses to serve with fruit—apples, grapes, pears, and more.
- Havarti
Havarti is smooth and buttery. It is a very mild cheese with a soft texture and a creamy near-white in color. It works especially well with sweet fruits like a honey crisp apple or a pear since the mild flavor of the cheese complements rather than overpowers the delicate flavor of the sweet fruit.
- Edam
Edam is another mild, buttery cheese. It is a close cousin to Gouda but with a little firmer texture and nuttier flavor and slightly sweet. It is a universal cheese going well with sweet or a tart fruit though we think it balances very well with red grapes.
- Jarlsberg
Jarlsberg often has holes in like Swiss though it is a harder cheese with more flavor and a nuttier flavor than Swiss. We like it with tart apples and plums.
- Munster
Munster has a mild flavor that mellows with age. It is a near-white cheese with an orange, edible rind. It is often used in Mexican dishes. We like it with grapes and sweet apples.
- Gruyere
We absolutely love gruyere. It is nutty and rich without being pungent. It has a medium firm texture and often creamy colored, sometimes with eyes. There is quite a difference in flavor from brand to brand. We think it is a perfect cheese to go with apples.
- Asiago
Asiago is hard and pungent. It is a strong flavored cheese that is used often in cooking. The flavor is almost a cross between a sharp cheddar and parmesan. We like it paired with tart, hard apples like a Granny Smith. It also goes well with plums and tart grapes.
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