The perfect vegan cheese board
So, lets talk vegan cheese boards! Perfect for any occasion from parties, pot lucks, holiday dinners, to an at home date night!
I can not think of a time I would not want a vegan cheese board set out before me!! I like to make a mix of vegan quick set hard cheeses, and vegan cheese balls when I create a cheese board. I also like to add in some sliced vegan meats, like vegan pepperoni or even thinly sliced vegan pastrami to serve with the cheese, crackers, and often homemade bread.
Pickles, fresh cut veggies, fruit, olives, and fruit spreads are all welcome, too.
I don’t want to make you read a novel here, but variety is the key to any good vegan cheese board and I have plenty of recipes on the site to help you create a pretty amazing and impressive vegan cheese board that even the non vegan in your life will swoon over!!
Please don’t let vegan cheese making intimidate you! I am not lying when I say vegan quick set cheeses are about one of the easiest things to make, and pretty hard to mess up.
The same can be said for a vegan cheese balls and vegan cheese sauces and dips. Vegan cheese making is also super affordable, you often can make 3xs the amount of cheese you could get in the store for the same price.
Coconut milk based cheeses are super affordable and do not require a super blender like some nut based cheeses. I have nut, seed, and coconut base cheeses on my site so you can decide your favorite base. Also making vegan cheese at home gives you creative license to play with flavors and textures, creating cheeses that suit your taste.
Here are a few of our favorite vegan cheeses, meats, and even my favorite easy vegan artisan bread to get you started, and help you create the perfect vegan cheese board for any occasion!!!
1. I like to start basic and this vegan smoked gouda is just the cheese to get you started. It is a coconut milk and agar cheese that gets its smokey flavor from a little liquid smoke. It will slice, shred and melt, making it perfect for a cheese board or just about any dish that calls for shredded cheese!
Vegan colby jack cheese
2. Before we went vegan, Colby Jack cheese was among my favorites! Making your own might look tricky, but its not!! It’s so easy, super delicious, and looks beautiful on a cheese board! It is as easy as adding a few spices to your basic vegan agar cheese recipe and swirling them together!
Vegan lox cheese ball
3.Cheese balls are great because they don’t even require agar. You can find everything you need for a vegan cheese ball at a regular grocery store. This vegan lox cheese ball is one of my favorites because of the easy and delicious carrot lox we added in and to the top along with some everything bagel seasoning. If you ever loved a lox bagel, you will love this cheese ball!
Soft vegan mozzarella cheese
4. Who doesn’t love a nice soft mozzarella paired with tomatoes, balsamic, and basil in the summer. Soft mozzarella will add nice light addition to your cheese board, makes a beautiful, light, caprasee salad, or even even slices well for topping pizza. This cheese is actually just as simple to make as an easy quick set hard cheese. The method may seem a little overwhelming but it’s simple, and I think actually kind of fun to make. The agar will solidify once cold, so you get to drop this cheese into ice cold water for it to set into mozzarella balls quickly. Like a little bit of mad science in the kitchen, but isn’t that true with so many vegan recipes!
Smoky garlic cashew cheese
5. You can add any number of flavor to your quick set, hard vegan cheese. Dill Havarti, Smoky Chile Cheddar, Pimento Cheddar are just a few of my faves to make. If you are more a fan of cashew based cheeses vs coconut milk or sunflower seeds, then this cashew based Smoky garlic is typically an easy crowd pleasing choice for a sharing cheese board. Don’t be afraid though to try some of the different flavors mentioned above. The dill havarti with coconut milk is always one of the first to go when I set it out at a gathering!
vegan white stilton with peaches
6. Before going vegan I impatiently waited every year for Trader Joe’s to put out their seasonal peach white stilton. Probably my all time favorite snacking cheese. The sweet peaches mixed with the salty cheese is just perfect, even if seems odd at first. So when I was gifted some homemade spiced peaches I knew exactly what I was going to make! If you have never had a fruit stilton you just have to trust me here. It might be your new fave too!
Easy all purpose vegan cheese sauce
7. Cheese dips are alway a crowd pleaser. You can set one out fondu style with an assortment of breads and veggies for dipping. I have many vegan queso recipes, from meaty cheddar, to classic cashew queso, and even a spicy, allergy friendly dip with rotel. But, our basic easy vegan cheese sauce can be flavored any way you like, my personal favorite add in is extra garlic. Veggies and bread are beyond delicious dipped in this perfect vegan cheese sauce. And just an FYI this cheese IS all purpose just like the name says. Use leftovers (if you have any) for pizza, lasagna, enchiladas, grilled cheese and more!!!
Easy vegan cream cheese
8. I love cream cheese, and I love it all by itself on a cracker. That said, you can mix in just about anything you can think of. Fresh chopped herbs, garlic, caramelize onions, vegan bacon, any seasoning you like, diced fresh fruit, vanilla, some sugar..whatever you want! I Iike to always add a little bowl of jazzed up vegan cream cheese to a cheese board for spreading on grilled breads and crackers.
Easy Vegan Pepperoni
9. What is a perfect cheese board without a selection of vegan meats. I love to slice up some super easy vegan pepperoni and add it to the plate. What is better than a vegan cheese, crackers, and some spicy vegan pepperoni. No much, not much! And really, its way easier than you probably think!
10. If you are not a fan of pepperoni then how about some super easy, thinly slice vegan roast beef added to your board. When I say homemade vegan deli sliced meat is as easy if not easier than vegan cheese making, I am not lying. I have recipe for deli turkey, pastrami, and brisket as well. All would be a great choice on your next cheese board or sandwich for that matter!
11. Crackers are an obvious choice for a cheese board, but I also like to put out some soft bread for spreading cheese balls and and cream cheese. This vegan artisan bread is more than easy and actually makes three loaves. I like to pop two in the freezer for a later cheese board. Just slice the bread thinly and into small pieces and your cheese board and everyone eating it will thank you. It does not get much better than fresh bread. You are feeling extra, you can brush the bread with some olive oil and give it a little grill first …yum!
