Fireside Comfort & Cocoa (Printable)

A cozy platter combining aged cheeses, dark chocolate delights, and warm cocoa for sharing by the fire.

# What You'll Need:

→ Cheeses

01 - 7 oz aged cheddar, cut into large, irregular chunks
02 - 5.3 oz aged gouda, broken into wedges
03 - 5.3 oz blue cheese, crumbled or chunked

→ Chocolate & Sweets

04 - 4.2 oz dark chocolate (70% cocoa or higher), broken into pieces
05 - 3.5 oz chocolate-covered almonds
06 - 2.8 oz chocolate-dipped dried figs
07 - 2.1 oz chocolate truffles

→ Accompaniments

08 - 1 small baguette, sliced
09 - 2.8 oz roasted walnuts or pecans
10 - 1 pear, sliced
11 - 1 apple, sliced
12 - 2 tbsp honey

→ Hot Cocoa

13 - 2 cups whole milk
14 - 3.5 oz dark chocolate, chopped
15 - 1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
16 - 1 tbsp sugar (adjust to taste)
17 - Pinch of salt
18 - 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
19 - Whipped cream, for serving (optional)
20 - Shaved chocolate, for garnish (optional)

# How to make it:

01 - Arrange the aged cheddar, gouda, and blue cheese on a large wooden board with rustic, irregular pieces for a hearty presentation.
02 - Cluster the dark chocolate pieces, chocolate-covered almonds, chocolate-dipped figs, and truffles around the cheeses for visual contrast.
03 - Place sliced baguette, roasted nuts, pear, and apple slices around the board. Drizzle honey into a small bowl for dipping.
04 - Heat whole milk in a saucepan over medium heat until steaming but not boiling. Add chopped dark chocolate, cocoa powder, sugar, and salt, whisking until melted and smooth. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract.
05 - Pour the hot cocoa into mugs and optionally top with whipped cream and shaved chocolate. Serve alongside the platter for a comforting fireside experience.

# Recipe Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It's deceptively simple but feels luxurious, like you've mastered something sophisticated without actually trying too hard.
  • The mix of salty cheeses and sweet chocolate creates this perfect tension that keeps you coming back for one more bite.
  • Hot cocoa and a shared platter is the kind of thing that turns an ordinary evening into something memorable.
02 -
  • The milk must never boil—if it does, the cocoa will break and taste thin. Medium heat, patience, and watching for steam is the whole secret.
  • Slice your fruit right before serving, not hours ahead. Pears and apples brown quickly, and you want them looking fresh when your guests arrive.
  • The blue cheese is a tiny voice in a big conversation—a little goes a long way, and it should surprise people, not overwhelm them.
03 -
  • Buy your cheeses and chocolate a day or two before serving, then let them sit at room temperature for an hour before your guests arrive—they'll taste infinitely better than cold from the fridge.
  • If your cocoa breaks or gets grainy, pour it through a fine mesh strainer into fresh mugs and no one will ever know what almost happened.
  • The secret to a beautiful board is to vary heights and depths—use small bowls or ramekins to elevate honey and nuts, lean things at angles, let some items overlap slightly, and leave some negative space for the eye to rest.
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