Welcome to Friendsgiving headquarters 2017!
I’m excited to share this Friendsgiving spread over the next week. I’ve got turkey and gravy, potatoes, slow cooker stuffing, desserts and cocktails planned — but of course we had to begin with an over-the-top Thanksgiving cheese and crostini board. Lots of bread, lots of cheese, and plenty of snacks — that’s where it’s at.
The highlight here is a baked brie topped with apple butter and maple cream. It’s indulgent and perfect for Friendsgiving.
Funny story: I made this board a few weeks ago and still found myself nibbling sliced brie on crackers last night. I even considered baking a small wheel for myself at 9PM — pregnancy jitters and late-night hunger will do that to you.
I often wait until closer to Thanksgiving to post recipes, but since I leaned into a Friendsgiving theme this year, I wanted to give you time to plan. There are only a few weekends left before the holiday, so hopefully this helps you finalize your menu.
For me, Thanksgiving and Friendsgiving have different vibes. Thanksgiving dinner is classic and traditional — the familiar dishes I grew up with — while Friendsgiving is the place to experiment. If you want extra creativity, serve adventurous sides and appetizers at Friendsgiving that might not make it to the family table.
This celebration begins with a large cheese and crostini station. My approach is simple: gather cheeses, breads, crackers, jams, pickles, fruits, nuts and spreads, then arrange them on boards and trays. No strict rules — just variety and abundance.
I’ve shared several cheese board variations on the blog over the years — from a classic cheese board with multiple cheese balls to a seasonal butternut squash cheeseball, plus spring and summer versions. Each one highlights different flavors and pairings, depending on the season and your preferences.
Seasonal accents make a big difference. Add pomegranates, small pumpkins, fresh cranberries, greens and a few flowers for color and texture. You don’t need an elaborate setup — a kitchen table, a card table or a corner of the counter will work. Arrange the board where guests can graze and enjoy the display.
Below are some suggested elements and a simple baked brie recipe to anchor your crostini bar. Use what you have and scale the board to fit your gathering.
Maple Cream and Apple Butter Brie Cheese
Ingredients
maple cream and apple baked brie
- 1 16-ounce wheel of brie cheese (large size)
- 1/3 cup apple butter
- 2 tablespoons maple cream or whipped maple butterplus more for drizzling
- 1 apple thinly sliced
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
cheese board basics
- holiday decor: pomegranates, cranberries, satsumas or clementines, mini pumpkins
- aged cheeses: aged cheddar, aged gouda
- hard cheeses: asiago, parmigiano-reggiano
- goat cheeses: truffled goat, humboldt fog
- soft cheeses: brie, camembert
- blue cheeses: smoked blue, gorgonzola
- breads: sliced baguette, sesame breadsticks, crackers, flatbreads
- charcuterie: prosciutto, capocollo, salami
- spreads: fig preserves, quince paste, hot pepper jelly, honey, hummus
- fruits and nuts: grapes, fresh and dried figs, apricots, pistachios, marcona almonds
- tart and briny: cornichons, olive medleys, marinated artichokes, pickled green beans
Instructions
maple cream and apple baked brie
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Preheat the oven to 375°F. Spray a baking dish or pie plate with nonstick spray and place the wheel of brie in it.
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Spread the apple butter over the brie, then gently add the maple cream. Layer the apple slices on top, sprinkle with cinnamon and drizzle with maple syrup.
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Bake for 10 to 15 minutes, until the cheese is melty and nearly bursting. Drizzle additional maple cream or syrup before serving. Serve with crostini, crackers and breadsticks.
cheese board
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Place larger cheeses on the board first, add bowls for spreads and nuts, then fill gaps with fruits, crackers and charcuterie. Adjust quantities to suit your guest count and the overall menu.
Did you make this recipe?
Tag your photos with #howsweeteats on social media if you try this. I love seeing your versions!
Stay tuned for ten days of Friendsgiving ideas and recipes.