Some foods just go together; burgers and fries, ketchup and mustard, bread and butter, and honey and cheese.
The rich sweetness of World Honey Market Honey is the perfect contrast to the saltiness of the cheese. It's a popular combination often found on charcuterie boards and cheese boards, and it's also one of the easiest things you can pull together when you're entertaining.
There is no real trick or secret to pulling off this simple culinary feat; honey is there to enhance the flavor of cheese, not overtake it, so you don't even have to use a lot of it.
The easiest way to serve honey with cheese is to drizzle the honey over a wedge of cheese minutes before your guests arrive. Or have one of our 12oz squeeze bottles right there on the table.
If you want to really impress, try pieces of honeycomb. Leaving the honeycomb whole is visually stunning on a cheese plate. Guests can simply cut off parts of the honeycomb to eat with the cheese.
We recommend serving with thinly sliced bread or crackers. These give the cheese and honey a solid foundation to build on top of, making it all a little easier to eat.
Honey pairs well with almost any type of cheese. It is especially good with mild and creamy cheese, a spicy blue, an aged cheese, or a tangy, acidic cheese. Below are some of our favorite types of cheese that are just a little bit better with honey than others.
Brie is excellent with a drizzle of honey and a garnish of nuts or bacon.
Goat cheese and other tangy, acidic cheeses like feta are subdued with a drizzle of honey.
Ricotta drizzled with honey can be served for breakfast or dessert. This pairing is fantastic with fruit like figs, apricots, and berries. You can also add a salty element by serving prosciutto on the side.
Blue cheese is perfect with honey. If you usually shy away from strong blues, this is the time to be more adventurous. The sweet honey will mellow out the strong flavor.
While any of our honey varieties will work, we recommend honey that boasts a slightly more complex flavor profile. For example, the subtle flavor nuances in Florida Holly, Orange Blossom, or even our Datil Sting are lovely with cheese. Or take the fanciness up a level buy a whole piece of honeycomb with the honey inside.
Now that you know the inside drizzle on honey and cheese check out our recipe for Honey Baked Brie with Bacon.
Honey Baked Brie with Bacon Recipe
Ingredients
1 (8 ounce) round Brie cheese
¼ cup World Honey Market honey
Two tablespoons minced garlic
Two tablespoons olive oil
½ cup chopped, crispy bacon
For serving: sliced baguette or crackers
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
While the oven is preheating, cook your bacon in a medium frying pan (or pop it in the microwave on a microwave-safe plate and a layer of napkins for 3-4 minutes for the perfect and quick crunch).
Place Brie on a small baking sheet.
Top with garlic, olive oil, and honey
Bake between 10-12 minutes or until softened. Remove and let cool for about 5 minutes.
While the cheese cools, drizzle a little more and then serve.