Christmas Morning Cheese Tray

Photo by Michael Piazza / Styled by Catrine Kelty

Once gifts are opened, Christmas mornings are often spent casually basking in the glow of the tree while sipping hot tea or cocoa. This is the perfect time for a casual cheese tray before the big Christmas Dinner.

For a crowd-pleasing cheese plate, I recommend:

  • A creamy, bloomy rind like High Lawn Farm’s Queen.

  • A robust cheddar, such as Shelburne Farms’ award-winning 1-Year Cheddar.

  • A generous wedge of my favorite winter cheese, Invierno from Vermont Shepherd.

  • Complete the board with a box of Effie’s Homemade Oat Cakes and a jar of Giardiniera from Kitchen Garden Farms.

This recipe appeared in the Winter 2026 issue as part of a larger story: The Winter Cheese Cycle.

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