Housewarming Open House Spread (Printable)

A welcoming board featuring cheeses, crackers, fruits, nuts, and fresh herbs ready for elegant grazing.

# What You'll Need:

→ 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, sliced thinly
08 - 5 oz breadsticks

→ Fresh & Dried Fruit

09 - 1 cup red grapes, separated into small clusters
10 - 1 cup green grapes, 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 for garnish

# How to Make It:

01 - Place cheese blocks and wedges evenly on a large serving board for easy access.
02 - Fill spaces between cheeses with assorted crackers and thinly sliced baguette.
03 - Nestle red and green grape clusters, apple slices, and dried fruits around the board.
04 - Arrange small piles or bowls of roasted almonds, walnuts, honey, jam, and mustard around the display.
05 - Place cherry tomatoes and baby carrots in gaps for freshness and color.
06 - Decorate with fresh rosemary and thyme sprigs for aroma and visual appeal.
07 - Set out cheese knives, spreaders, toothpicks, and cocktail forks to facilitate self-service.
08 - Monitor and replenish items as needed throughout the event to keep the display inviting.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It looks absolutely stunning with minimal effort—seriously, arrange some cheese and suddenly you're a hosting genius.
  • Everyone finds something they love, whether they're a cheese person, a fruit person, or someone who just wants to load up on nuts and crackers.
  • You get to prep everything ahead, which means you can actually enjoy your guests instead of hiding in the kitchen.
02 -
  • Slice your apples just before people arrive. Even with lemon juice, they brown fastest, and fresh-looking fruit sets the tone for the entire board. I learned this the hard way at my second open house when half the apples looked tired by hour three.
  • Room temperature cheese tastes about a thousand times better than cold cheese. Take your cheeses out of the fridge at least an hour before guests arrive. Cold cheese is stingy. Room temperature cheese is generous.
03 -
  • Buy your cheese the day before if possible, so it has time to come to room temperature naturally overnight in a cool place. This saves you precious minutes on party day.
  • Use odd numbers of cheeses and fruits when possible—five cheeses feels more curated than four or six, and it's a trick that makes everything look more intentional without actually requiring more effort.
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