Winter Solstice Cheese Fruit (Printable)

A seasonal board combining rich olives, figs, and dark chocolate with bright Brie, pears, and honey.

# What You'll Need:

→ Dark Side

01 - 3.5 oz Kalamata olives, pitted
02 - 3.5 oz oil-cured black olives
03 - 4.2 oz dried mission figs, halved
04 - 2 tbsp fig jam
05 - 1.4 oz dark chocolate, broken into pieces
06 - 2.1 oz roasted almonds
07 - 1 sprig fresh rosemary (for garnish)

→ Light Side

08 - 7 oz ripe Brie cheese, wheel or wedge
09 - 2 ripe pears, thinly sliced
10 - 2 tbsp honeycomb or honey
11 - 1.4 oz toasted walnuts
12 - 2.1 oz seedless green grapes
13 - 1 small bunch fresh thyme (for garnish)

→ Accompaniments

14 - 1 small baguette, sliced
15 - 3.5 oz assorted crackers

# Directions:

01 - Using a line of rosemary sprigs or a row of crackers, divide a large rectangular or round serving board precisely in half.
02 - Place Kalamata olives, oil-cured black olives, dried figs, fig jam, dark chocolate pieces, and roasted almonds on one half of the board. Garnish with fresh rosemary.
03 - On the opposite half, arrange Brie cheese, thinly sliced pears, honeycomb or honey drizzle, toasted walnuts, and seedless green grapes. Garnish with fresh thyme.
04 - Position sliced baguette and assorted crackers along the center divide or on separate plates for easy access.
05 - Present immediately at room temperature for optimal flavor and texture contrast.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It looks impossibly elegant but requires zero cooking skills—just thoughtful arranging.
  • The visual drama of light and dark flavors side by side makes people actually pause before eating.
  • Everyone finds something they love, from the creamy Brie crowd to the olive devotees.
02 -
  • Slice your pears right before people arrive—they brown faster than you'd think, and brown pears lose their whole appeal on a light-themed board.
  • The Brie will soften the longer it sits; if it starts looking like it might melt into chaos, pop it back in a cool corner of your kitchen for five minutes.
03 -
  • If you're making this for a crowd that includes someone with a nut allergy, skip the almonds and walnuts entirely and add roasted chickpeas and seeds instead—the crunch and salt remain, the story stays intact.
  • Serve this on a board you actually love looking at; it's going to be the centerpiece of the table, and a beautiful vessel makes the whole gesture feel intentional rather than casual.
Go back