Years ago, cheese was just one of the many courses I served up at long luxurious dinner parties. Now I seem to have less time for long evenings of fine food and drink, or maybe I’m trying to eat a little simpler these days. In any case, I’m not likely to sandwich a rich cheese course between dinner and dessert.
Instead, I’ve started serving cheese for dessert.
It’s perfect for me, since I am not the family baker (Sharon is). I’d rather sleuth around for cheese than make a cake or tart. In my enthusiasm, however, I used to overbuy. It makes for a beautiful platter, but then I’m stuck for weeks trying to figure out what to do with all those specialty cheeses.
It may sound like a happy problem, but I hate opening the cheese drawer and finding mold pocking my pricy purchases. So I’ve taken to buying three small wedges of cheeses and creating a little tasting plate for everyone.
This is dessert, after all, so it needs to be special. I make saucer-size flatbreads, which double as both cracker and plate, and top the “plates” with two-bite portions of each cheese. You never know what I might serve, but there’s usually a little goat, a little blue, and something a little creamy. The rest of the ingredients on the plate change with the season. As you can see in this photo, I opted for dried figs, a little cranberry-orange marmalade, and toasted pistachios. In the fall it might be thin-sliced apples and toasted walnuts. A summer cheese plate might feature apricots or fresh berries and marcona almonds.
I love just cheese for dessert and am a huge fan of the cheese “cakes” popping up at weddings and parties! Your flatbread is a perfect companion!
My favourite addition to a cheese plate is a chunk of fresh honeycomb. Its so delicious to drizzle a bit of honey over the cheeses and fruit. Thank you for your lovely blog, I discovered it after reading “The Perfect Recipe for Losing Weight”
is this the same flatbread recipe that you use for your pizzas in perfect recipe for losing weight?
It is, Mary. Isn’t it a versatile little recipe?
I think this is so clever, mom! And attractive. And whether serving it or eating it, I too almost always prefer a cheese course at the end of a meal.
I love serving cheese at the end of the meal. So much more satisfying then a sweet treat, for me anyways. And the presentation here is great!
We looooove cheese anytime of day!
Amen cheese for dessert Dolce for special days
Cheese is my favourite one .. I love to give it’s flavour in various dish.. Using it for dessert is really very creative idea.. rally appreciating..
So happy to read this and share my recent cheese experience. Not sure how this fits with dessert, but with St. Patrick’s Day around the corner – I tried KerryGold Dubliner w/ Irish Stout. Never would have put it in the shopping cart(I’m not a beer drinker) My daughter was intrigued by it, displayed in a case next to the Irish soda bread. It was soooo good I ran back to buy more and also tried it made with whiskey. I prefer it made w/ Stout. Thought if you are venturing in to a bit of beer tasing you might enjoy this cheese and perhaps create something even more wonderful with it. But it is incredible just by itself. I was glad I tried something new. And, thanks to you, I am going to serve a cheese dessert plate this weekend.
Would love to try this cheese, Patty. I’ll be on the lookout for it, but I wondering if it’s a cheese they feature around St. Patrick’s Day and then it disappears. Hope not.