Cheese Basket

The ultimate gift idea? Try a cheese basket

The cheese basket just may be the perfect gift. Full of crackers, nuts, cured meats, jams, and lots and lots of cheese, a cheese basket has a little something for everyone. Your aunt who says she needs nothing will never say no to aged gouda. Your impossible-to-impress friends will go gaga over gruyère. Even relatives who seem to have everything will suddenly realize they can't live a second longer without limburger.

In Wisconsin, a cheese basket is the ultimate way to show affection and appreciation. That's because, when you get a basket full of Wisconsin Cheese, you'll be enjoying the tastiest, highest-quality, most award-winning cheese on the planet. And because everyone knows how hard it is for Wisconsinites to part with their cheese, it just makes a Wisconsin cheese basket all the more special.

Take a cruise through our website to meet some great candidates for your holiday gift basket. Search our recipes for ideas for holiday feasts or just dinner on Tuesday night. Or scroll down for some tips on building the perfect cheese basket with chunks of Wisconsin cheese.

What goes well in a cheese basket?

To create the perfect cheese basket, consider adding these ingredients to your shopping list.

Cheese, naturally. A great cheese basket will offer the recipient 4 to 6 cheeses that represent a mix of tastes and textures. Here are some of our favorites:

  • A hard cheese like parmesan, aged white cheddar, or romano
  • A semi-firm cheese like gouda, swiss cheese or gruyere, or provolone
  • A semi-soft cheese like havarti, brick, or Monterey Jack
  • A soft cheese like feta, mozzarella, or stracchino
  • A blue cheese like gorgonzola, marbled blue jack, or cheddar blue

Cured meats. Cured sausages like salami and pepperoni along with whole-muscle cuts like prosciutto and bresaola will pair nicely with your selection of cheeses. You can also include a paté, terrine, or chicken liver mousse.

Flavor accents. A selection of hearty crackers, marcona almonds, dried fruits, pickled vegetables, honey, mustard, and fig preserves are a nice way to add flavor and texture to your cheese basket.

Videos: Discover Your Next Favorite Cheese

FAQs: What is a cheese basket?

What is a cheese basket?

A cheese basket is a gift that includes a selection of cheeses. Cheese baskets may also include cured meats, crackers, nuts, dried fruits, preserves, dips, and pickled vegetables.

How much cheese should I choose for cheese basket?

Generally, 4 to 6 cheeses are ideal for a cheese basket. You can include fresh cheese if you're planning to deliver the cheese basket in person. But when shipping meat and cheese gifts, it's best to use cured meats and aged cheeses that don't require as much refrigeration.

The wonder of a Wisconsin cheese basket

When you want to see awe and wonder in its purest form, just give someone a basket filled with Wisconsin Cheese. Watch the eyes sparkle. Listen for that little gasp of sweet surprise. Then wait for the two little words every gift-giver wants to hear: "You rock!"

See, Wisconsin Cheese is simply the best cheese on earth. Our cheesemakers have been perfecting old-world recipes and innovating new cheeses for 180 years – since before we were even a state. Today, they are the most awarded group of makers in the world, winning more awards than cheesemakers in Italy, France, Switzerland, or any other famous cheese country. It just goes to show what you can do when a whole state is dedicated to doing one thing better than anyone else.

So, next time you're preparing a cheese basket, buying artisan cheese gifts, or ordering gourmet cheese delivery, just make sure you're loaded up with Wisconsin Cheese. Then sit back and wait for the awe-and-wonder show to begin.

Craving award-winning aged cheddar, pining for parmesan, or searching for a new cheese to try? The world’s best cheese is just a click away! Explore our directory of Wisconsin cheesemakers and retailers who offer online cheese shopping and get cheese shipped right to your door. What are you waiting for?

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