6 Best Cheeses for Christmas 2024 by a Cheese Connoisseur
Lucie Nock’s Must-Have Christmas Cheeses: Expert Picks for the Holiday Season
Lucie Nock, owner of The Cheese Society and top Cheesemonger, suggests these must-have cheeses to enjoy over the Christmas holidays with friends and family.
Start with Vacherin Mont D’Or
Vacherin Mont D’Or is an all-time favourite. Perfect for Christmas Eve when you’ve already got enough going on in the kitchen—no fuss required. Serve it simply: fresh fruits, crunchy biscuits, or warm it in the oven (180°C, 15-20 mins) in its box. Pair with good bread or crudités for easy dipping. It's indulgent, rich, and oh-so-easy.
No Cheeseboard is Complete Without Isle of Mull Cheddar
No cheeseboard is complete without a full-flavoured, punchy, rounded Cheddar – and this artisan-made Cheddar certainly fits the bill. Handmade on the delightful Isle of Mull. During the winter months, in a bid to find an alternative feed for the cows, the makers started feeding the cows the leftover mashed whiskey grains from a nearby Tobermory Whisky distillery. This process hugely helped the distillery which was struggling to dispose of the leftovers; this system was so successful, a real win-win situation, the cows loved it, the distillery loved it, and you will love it - the practice still continues to this day.
d.
Colston Bassett Stilton: The King of British Blues
Colston Bassett Stiltons come into their own at this time of year, the heavens align to produce a stunning seasonal showstopper. I would say that this is the quintessential cheese, try it with a fruity mince pie, the lovely sharp flavours of the cheese are really balanced out by the sweetness of the fruits. Maybe lift the pastry lid and pop a cube of stilton inside, replace the lid and warm through in the oven for a few minutes.
This cheese is regarded as one of the country's best traditionally made naturally crusted Stilton’s, known as the King of British Blues. This cheese is mature with good blueing and rich, deep, creamy, herbaceous flavours that linger on the palate.
Swaledale with Christmas Cake – The Perfect Pairing
Swaledale is a proper, handmade, light textured cow’s milk Yorkshire cheese, and is my go-to choice to enjoy with a generous slice of Christmas cake, the crumbly sharpness of the cheese nicely offsets the richness of the fruit cake. Swaledale Traditional is based on an ancient recipe developed hundreds of years ago and has similar characteristics to a farmhouse Wensleydale, a brilliant alternative, but with slightly softer, creamier notes and a more delicate fresh flavour.
Delice de Bourgogne – Decadent, Smooth, and Irresistible
Delice de Bourgogne is a top customer favourite and surprisingly difficult to resist! A decadent triple-cream cheese, rich and full-flavoured with a smooth, velvety, melt-in-the-mouth texture.
Delice de Bourgogne is made by adding crème fraiche to full-fat cow’s milk. It has a white, bloomy rind which has a mushroomy aroma that contrasts nicely with the buttery, tangy notes of this melt-in-the-mouth cheese.
Petit Langres AOC – A Celebration in Cheese Form
This is no ordinary cheese. Petit Langres AOC is a Champagne de Marc washed rind cheese with a unique “fontaine” top, where brine pools and seeps into the cheese, creating a rich, dense texture. Traditionally, pour a little champagne or white wine into the well 30 minutes before eating. The result? A punchy, fruity flavour that’s simply unforgettable.
Always Keep the Versatile Essentials on Hand
No matter what time of the year, I always make sure I am well stocked up on a versatile Parmesan Reggiano, an aged Comte or Gruyere and a light tangy Ferme Chevre. If unexpected guests drop by a quick dish can be whipped up. Maybe grilled goat cheese drizzled with Truffle or Thyme honey on a crunchy baguette, grilled or topped with leftover cranberry sauce or maybe a luxury macaroni cheese with turkey and maybe cauliflower or greens stirred through, topped with freshly grated cheese.
These cheeses each bring something unique to the table, creating a Christmas spread that’s memorable, delicious, and effortless.
All 6 cheeses shown here are available online, just click an image or the blue underlined name of a cheese to order one. That said these won't last long and as we get near to Christmas some may be sold out so order now.
To see more here are the details of The Cheese Society:
Website: https://www.thecheesesociety.co.uk
Telephone: 01522 511 003