Cheese Board Accompaniments

Artisan Crackers, Charcuterie & More

Our cheese board accompaniments collection answers the question every cheese lover eventually asks: what belongs on the board alongside the cheese? The answer spans from artisan crackers and flatbreads to charcuterie, jams, honey, and more!

51 Products
51 Products
Caramelized Onion Savory Jam

Blake Hill Preserves

Caramelized Onion Savory Jam

French Crispy Crackers with Rosemary

Tresors Gourmands

French Crispy Waffle Crackers with Rosemary

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Tart Cherry Jam with Port Wine and Cardamom

Blake Hill Preserves

Tart Cherry Jam with Port Wine and Cardamom

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French Crispy Sea Salt Crackers

Tresors Gourmands

French Crispy Sea Salt Waffle Crackers

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French Crispy Waffle Crackers with Poppy and Pepper

Tresors Gourmands

French Crispy Waffle Crackers with Poppy and Pepper

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Kiwi and Pear Mustard

Tealdi

Kiwi and Pear Mustard

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Plum Mustard (Mostarda)

Casa Forcello

Plum Mustard (Mostarda)

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Why Accompaniments Matter as Much as the Cheese

The most experienced cheesemongers will tell you that the right accompaniment does not compete with the cheese — it completes it. A drizzle of raw honey softens the sharpness of an aged Pecorino and draws out its floral undertones. A tart fruit jam cuts through the fat of a creamy triple crème and refreshes the palate between bites. A well-made artisan cracker provides enough structure to carry the cheese without overwhelming its flavor. Charcuterie adds salt and savory depth that makes the cheese taste rounder and more expressive. igourmet curates its accompaniments with the same standard applied to every product in the catalog — every item in this collection is chosen because it genuinely makes the cheese on your board taste better, not because it simply fills space.

What to Serve with Cheese: A Guide to the Collection

The collection is organized into eight categories, each serving a distinct role on the board. Crackers and crisps form the foundation — from Mitica's paper-thin Sardinian flatbreads and Rustic Bakery's organic sourdough crisps to Fine Cheese Co.'s British bath crackers and Sheridans' Irish seed varieties, spanning 47 options from producers across Italy, France, Ireland, the Netherlands, and the US. Jams and fruit spreads bring sweetness and acidity that unlock flavor in aged cheddars, blue cheeses, and sharp mountain styles. Honey and mustards are among the most versatile accompaniments on any board — raw varietal honeys in particular draw out flavors in aged and semi-hard cheeses that nothing else can. Charcuterie adds savory depth and gives the board range beyond dairy. Pickles, olives, and antipasti provide acidity and brine that cut richness and reset the palate between bites. Nuts and dried fruits contribute texture and natural sweetness. Cookies and chocolate close the board on a sweeter note. And for those ready to go further, adventurous pairings offer unexpected combinations that open up entirely new dimensions in the right cheese.

How to Build a Complete Cheese Board

The most satisfying cheese boards move through a logical arc — from mild and creamy at one end to sharp, aged, and pungent at the other, with the accompaniments arranged to complement each style along the way. Start with the cheese selection from igourmet's artisan cheese counter, choose three to five styles that contrast in milk type, texture, and intensity, then build the accompaniments outward. A soft chèvre or fresh goat cheese pairs beautifully with honey and a mild flatbread. A firm aged cheddar or alpine-style opens up alongside fruit jam or dried fruit. A bold blue cheese wants something sweet — a floral honey, a dark fruit jam, or a piece of dark chocolate — to balance its salt and intensity. Any leftover cheese after the board is best wrapped in cheese storage bags, which preserve flavor and moisture far more effectively than plastic wrap and keep artisan cuts in peak condition for days.

Cheese Board Accompaniments: Frequently Asked Questions

A complete cheese board needs five things: the cheese itself, a cracker or flatbread to carry it, a sweet element to contrast the savory, a savory or acidic element to cut through richness, and a textural element to add variety. In practice that means choosing three to five cheeses from igourmet's artisan cheese counter, pairing them with selections from crackers and crisps, adding a jam or fruit spread and a honey or mustard, rounding out with charcuterie or pickles and olives, and finishing with nuts or dried fruit. That formula works for a board of any size and adapts easily to different cheese styles and occasions.

The best crackers for artisan cheese are ones that provide structure without competing with the cheese's flavor. Neutral options — plain water crackers, unflavored flatbreads, or lightly salted crisps — work across almost every cheese style and are a safe foundation for any board. From there, flavored options can be matched to specific cheeses: rosemary flatbreads alongside aged sheep's milk styles, seeded crackers with firm cheddars, and thin artisan toasts with soft ripened cheeses. igourmet carries 47 crackers and crisps from producers including Mitica, Rustic Bakery, Fine Cheese Co., Sheridans, La Panzanella, and i Bibanesi — explore the full crackers and crisps collection to find the right match for your board.

Blue cheese responds dramatically to sweet and acidic accompaniments because its saltiness and intensity are balanced so effectively by contrasting flavors. Raw honey — particularly floral varietals like lavender or acacia — is one of the most elegant pairings, softening the blue's sharpness and drawing out its creamier notes. Dark fruit jams made with fig, plum, or sour cherry work similarly. Walnuts add texture, and dark chocolate with high cacao content creates a striking sweet-and-savory combination. For crackers, choose something with character rather than a mild neutral — a seeded cracker or a robust flatbread holds its own alongside an assertive blue. Browse igourmet's honey and mustards and jams and spreads for the best options.

Soft and creamy cheeses are delicate and rich, so they pair best with accompaniments that provide contrast without overwhelming them. A light floral honey or fresh honeycomb is one of the most elegant pairings for a ripe Brie or bloomy rind. A bright berry jam or tart cranberry preserve cuts through the fat and refreshes the palate. For crackers, choose something light and neutral — a thin flatbread or plain toast rather than anything heavily seasoned. Mild walnuts or sliced almonds add texture without competing with subtle flavors. Browse igourmet's honey and mustards and crackers and crisps for the best options for soft styles.

For a board with three to five cheeses, three to five accompaniments is the ideal range — enough variety to give guests options without overwhelming the board or diluting the focus on the cheese. A reliable formula is one cracker or flatbread, one sweet element such as honey or jam, one savory element such as charcuterie or pickles, and one textural element such as nuts or dried fruit. A fifth accompaniment — chocolate, an adventurous pairing, or a second cracker variety — can add depth without crowding the board. The goal is for every element to earn its place by making at least one cheese taste noticeably better alongside it.

Once cut, artisan cheese should be refrigerated promptly and wrapped to allow a small amount of airflow while preventing it from drying out. Cheese storage bags are the most effective solution — designed specifically for cut cheese, they maintain the right balance of humidity and breathability to preserve flavor and texture for one to three weeks after opening. Plastic wrap and foil both trap moisture and can cause the rind to deteriorate or the paste to develop off-flavors. Store each cheese variety separately and bring back to room temperature for 30–60 minutes before serving again.

igourmet's artisan cheese counter offers 550+ cheeses available to order by the piece — French, Italian, Spanish, British, Irish, American, and more, spanning every style from fresh chèvre to aged alpine wheels. For a curated selection already assembled and ready to serve together, the cheese assortments collection brings together hand-selected combinations of three to eight cheeses. And for a complete board experience that includes both the cheese and the accompaniments in a single purchase, explore igourmet's cheese gift baskets and boxes.