All-in-one spread complete with thoughtful pairings and a tasting guide.
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A cheesemonger's inside look at the Holiday Brunch Box, a limited-release spread for holiday hosting and gifting.
By
AppyHour's Cheesemonger | Updated this week
Holiday brunch, but make it cheese. Maybe it's a full house on Christmas morning, everyone still in pajamas, mimosas flowing and the coffee pot working overtime. Maybe it's a slow start with nowhere to be, just you, a second cup and a little grazing until noon. Either way, the Holiday Brunch Box has your order up: sweet maple, rich espresso, everything bagel and savory bacon, all piled onto one board that'll keep your taste buds buzzing like that third cup of coffee. Think bottomless brunch, minus the wait for a table. It's a one-time release with no subscription, made for hosting or gifting. Grab a mimosa and let me walk you through the menu.
Barista, Belgium · Bacon Marmalade
Start with the two smells that mean breakfast. Barista is a rich, creamy washed-rind cheese from Belgium with a layer of coffee grounds running right through the middle, a playful nod to the classic Morbier. It's soft and savory with mocha and café-latte notes, like the cheese course and the coffee course showed up together.
Next to it, the Bacon Marmalade: real bacon slow-cooked with caramelized onions, brown sugar, balsamic and a hint of spice until it's sticky, sweet and savory all at once.
Fenugreek Gouda, Wisconsin · Hot Honey Prosciutto
Here's a cheesemonger secret: fenugreek seeds naturally taste like maple syrup. Woven through a creamy farmstead gouda, they make a cheese that tastes like a stack of pancakes: sweet, nutty and warm, with a little toasted spice on the finish.
Now drape it in Hot Honey Prosciutto. Silky, salty prosciutto drizzled with honey and a gentle spark of heat. The sweet maple calms the spice, the heat wakes up the sweetness, and suddenly you can't stop.
Everything Bagel Goat Cheese · Tart Cherries · Maple Glazed Cashews
Every brunch needs a bagel with a schmear, so we built one into the board. This Everything Bagel Goat Cheese is fresh, creamy chèvre rolled in that savory, garlicky everything seasoning you love on a Sunday-morning bagel.
Then I paired it with two sweet surprises: bright, chewy Dried Tart Cherries that pop like a spoonful of jam, and buttery Organic Maple Glazed Cashews with a crisp, toasty crunch. Savory meets tart meets sweet, and it all lands at once.
Which brings me to the one bite I want everyone to try:
Shadow Blossom · Alpine
With all that maple and honey on the board, you need something bold to keep things interesting. Shadow Blossom is an incredible alpine cheese wrapped in a peppercorn blend. Firm and nutty underneath, with a warm, gently spicy finish that cuts right through the sweetness. It's the slice everyone goes back for between bites of everything else.
Jamón Serrano from Spain brings silky, delicately salty slices with a nutty finish. Toscano Salami adds a rustic, peppery snap. And crisp Rosemary & Olive Oil Crackers give every bite a fragrant, sturdy base.
Hosting brunch? Set it out while the coffee brews. Everyone has something to graze on, and nobody's crowding your stove.
Need a gift? Ship it straight to their door. It arrives chilled and ready to open, and it beats another candle by a mile.
Invited somewhere? Bring the board. It's the dish people gather around, with zero cooking.
Everything you just read about comes in a single box, no subscription and no commitment. Choose the Large to serve 4–6 or the X-Large to serve 6–8, pick a delivery window, and every pairing above is written out in the tasting guide inside. Once this curation is gone, it's gone until next year.