A cheese plate is without a doubt the easiest appetizer going. It’s assembling – not cooking, and that right there is why it always shows up when I have people over for dinner. I buy some great cheese, and then 9 times out of 10, I shop my pantry to fill it out. I rarely make the same one twice. I like my cheese plates to have variety. Sharp cheese, mellow, spicy, soft, hard. And then I like to add a few kinds of crackers, nuts, olives, meats, fruits, and a jam or chutney to round it out. Sweet, salty, bitter, crunchy, and soft. They are always interesting and everyone is happy.
Ingredients //
- Assorted crackers and breadsticks
- apples
- grapes
- olives
- Peppadew peppers
- Caramel Apple Butter (recipe below)
- nuts
- salami
- Medium Asiago
- Aged Wisconsin Cheddar
- Aged Vermont White Cheddar
- Fiesta Pepper Jack
- Parmentino
I always have a few cheeses in the fridge, and made this cheese plate one evening when I didn’t feel like making dinner. A glass of wine, and I was perfectly content calling this a meal.
I like to keep a few jams, jellies, and butters around to go with my cheese. I love the sweet/savory combination more than anything. I made this caramel apple butter that I found in Better Homes and Gardens. It is very simple, and while it takes awhile to cook, it is zero effort. I think that this goes so well with the cheddars, a lot like apple pie. So good. I made a half recipe, I wasn’t going to can it, and I only needed a jar or two. We ate one, and I gave the other away. It also makes a great gift.
Caramel Apple Butter Ingredients //
- 4 1/2 pounds tart apples (I used Golden Delicious, not tart, but what I like)
- 3 cups apple juice
- 1 vanilla bean, split and seeded (optional)
- 1 1/2 cups brown sugar
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 2 Tablespoons lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
Steps // Instructions
Step 1: Peel and chop apples. Add to a large Dutch oven or 8 quart pot with apple juice.
Step 2: Add the vanilla seeds and pod to the pot. Bring to a boil, and reduce heat.
Step 3: Simmer, covered, for 30 to 35 minutes or until very tender.
Step 4: Take the vanilla bean out, but save it. Run the apples through a food mill, blender, or food processor.
Step 5: Measure 7 1/2 cups and put it back into the pot. (You may have some leftover.)
Step 6: Add the vanilla bean back to the pot and add brown sugar, sugar. lemon juice and cinnamon.
Step 7: Bring to a boil, and reduce heat.
Step 8: Cook, uncovered for 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 hours, or until the mixture is very thick and the liquid has been cooked out.
Step 9: Take the vanilla pod out. Transfer into 6 half pint jars. You can can this recipe but adding the butter to hot sterilized canning jars, leaving 1/4 inch headspace. Process in boiling water canner for 5 minutes.

The Perfect Cheese Plate and Caramel Apple Butter
Ingredients
- 4 1/2 pounds tart apples I used Golden Delicious, not tart but what I like
- 3 cups apple juice
- 1 vanilla bean split and seeded (optional)
- 1 1/2 cups brown sugar
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 2 Tablespoons lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
- Peel and chop apples. Add to a large Dutch oven or 8 quart pot with apple juice. Add the vanilla seeds and pod to the pot.
- Bring to a boil, and reduce heat.
- Simmer, covered, for 30 to 35 minutes or until very tender.
- Take the vanilla bean out, but save it. Run the apples through a food mill, blender, or food processor.
- Measure 7 1/2 cups and put it back into the pot. (You may have some leftover.)
- Add brown sugar, sugar. lemon juice, lemon juice, and cinnamon.
- Bring to a boil, and reduce heat. Cook, uncovered for 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 hours, or until the mixture is very thick and the liquid has been cooked out.
- Transfer into 6 half pint jars. You can can this recipe but adding the butter to hot sterilized canning jars, leaving 1/4 inch headspace. Process in boiling water canner for 5 minutes.
Vita Lynne
Saturday 9th of April 2016
What are the names of those crackers - and where did you buy them. I see the photo but can't seem to make out the names. Thanks.
bakedbree
Monday 11th of April 2016
They are the Everything cracker, water crackers and breadsticks from Trader Joe's.
Pamela
Monday 8th of September 2014
For canning you say add butter to jars? But don't specify how much? I've been looking for a recipe that uses a vanilla bean.Nothing beats the flavor or aroma of a real Vanilla bean..
bakedbree
Monday 8th of September 2014
the apple butter to the jars, not actual butter.
Millie l Add A Little
Tuesday 17th of June 2014
This looks like a perfect plate! And the caramel apple butter sounds amazing! https://youtube.com/addalittlefood
bakedbree
Tuesday 17th of June 2014
Thank you Millie! (I LOVE your name.)
Rebecca jennings
Tuesday 17th of June 2014
How much and when would I substitute vanilla extract for the pod? Thanks
bakedbree
Tuesday 17th of June 2014
2 teaspoons? At the end after it has cooked down.