Best Crackers for Cheese: Pairings and Tips for the Perfect Cheese Board

The Best Crackers to Eat with Cheese

Crackers and cheese are the perfect pair. The right cracker can enhance the flavor of cheese and vice versa. With so many cracker varieties available, how do you choose the best ones for cheese?

The ideal cheese cracker has a crisp, non-greasy texture and a flavor profile that complements, but doesn't overpower the cheese. The cracker should be sturdy enough to support cheese slices or spreads without crumbling.

When selecting crackers for cheese boards or pairings, consider the cheese type and characteristics. Delicate fresh cheeses pair better with simple crackers while aged cheeses stand up to heartier, flavored crackers.

Cheese Crackers for Soft Cheese

Fresh mozzarella, burrata, ricotta, cottage cheese, cream cheese, goat cheese, and brie all have a soft, creamy texture. Their subtle flavor is easily overwhelmed by strong crackers.

For soft cheeses, choose plain crackers like:

• Water crackers
• Simple salty crackers
• Buttery crackers
• Soda crackers
• Round toasted bread crackers

Avoid crackers with assertive seasonings, seeds, or whole grains that detract from the mild cheese flavor.

Recommended Pairings

• Fresh mozzarella + plain croccantini
• Ricotta + soda crackers
• Goat cheese + unsalted butter crackers
• Brie + water crackers

Cheese Crackers for Hard Cheese

Hard cheeses like aged cheddar, Parmesan, Asiago, and Manchego have a firmer texture and more pronounced flavor. They can stand up to heartier crackers with more flavor and crunch.

Good cracker choices for hard cheeses include:

• Multi-grain crackers
• Seeded crackers
• Olive oil crackers
• Whole wheat crackers
• Rosemary or herb crackers
• Crispbread

The texture and touch of bitterness complements aged, salty cheese. Just avoid anything too spicy or sweet.

Recommended Pairings

• Aged cheddar + whole wheat crackers
• Parmesan + olive oil crackers
• Asiago + rosemary crispbread
• Manchego + multi-grain crackers

Cheese Crackers for Blue Cheese

Crumbly, pungent blue cheeses like Gorgonzola, Stilton, and Roquefort work well with a sweet contrast to balance their strong flavor. Try these crackers with blue cheese:

• Fig crackers
• Crackers with honey or jam
• Oatmeal crackers
• Walnut crackers
• Raisin crispbread

The sweet dried fruit flavors complement the sharpness of blue cheese. Avoid plain or salty crackers that reinforce the pungency.

Recommended Pairings

• Gorgonzola + fig and walnut crackers
• Stilton + oatmeal crackers with raisins
• Roquefort + crackers with honey

Cheese Crackers for Semi-Soft Cheese

Semi-soft cheeses like Gouda, Monterey Jack, Havarti, and Gruyre have a pliable, sliceable texture. Their flavor is more developed than soft cheese but still milder than hard varieties.

For these cheeses, moderate crackers work well:

• Sesame crackers
• Crisp breadsticks
• Garlic crackers
• Classic round crackers
• Crackers with black pepper

The extra flavor gives a boost without overwhelming the cheese. Avoid bland as well as very hearty crackers.

Recommended Pairings

• Gouda + garlic crackers
• Monterey Jack + classic round crackers
• Havarti + sesame crackers
• Gruyre + cracked black pepper crispbread

Flavor and Texture Combinations

When assembling a cheese board, pair cheeses and crackers with complementary flavors and textures:

• Contrast creamy and crumbly textures
• Combine sweet and savory flavors
• Mix mild and assertive strengths
• Vary crispy and tender mouthfeels

This creates an appealing balance and allows the nuances in both the cheese and crackers to shine through.

Cheese Board Ideas

• Soft cheese + fruit jam crispbread + hard cheese + multi-grain crackers
• Blue cheese + fig and walnut crackers + creamy brie + water crackers
• Semi-soft cheese + herb crackers + fresh mozzarella + plain croccantini

Gluten-Free Cheese Crackers

For those avoiding gluten, look for GF-labeled crackers made from:

• Rice flour
• Nut flours
• Legume flours
• Potato starch
• Buckwheat flour
• Seeds like quinoa

Some specific gluten-free crackers to try with cheese include:

• Rice cakes
• Flaxseed crackers
• Quinoa crackers
• Chickpea flour crackers
• Nut crackers

Check labels since some GF crackers are made in facilities with wheat. Pair them with cheese using the same guidelines.

Healthier Cheese Crackers

For a more nutritious snack, look for crackers made from:

• Whole grains
• Seeds like flax or chia
• Vegetable flours
• Minimal added oils
• Low sodium and sugar
• No artificial flavors/colors

Some healthier cracker options include:

• Whole wheat crackers
• Vegan seeded crackers
• Flax crispbreads
• Multigrain flatbreads
• Beet or carrot crackers
• Edamame crackers

Pair them with your favorite cheeses for a more nutritious snack. But don't be afraid to indulge in a classic buttery cracker occasionally too!

The Bottom Line

The best crackers to eat with cheese are ones that complement, rather than overpower, the cheese flavors and textures. Consider the cheese characteristics when selecting plain, sweet, savory, crispy, or gluten-free crackers.

Pairing complementary crackers and cheeses leads to an appetizing cheese board or snack. With so many varieties, there's a perfect cracker match for any cheese.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.