Apple butter is a sweet and delicious spread that is often enjoyed in the fall when apples are in season. With its rich, deep flavor and smooth texture, apple butter makes a wonderful accompaniment to a variety of cheeses. But with so many cheese options available, it can be tricky to know which ones pair best with apple butter’s unique taste profile. In this article, we will explore the cheeses that go particularly well with apple butter so you can enjoy the perfect apple butter and cheese duos.
Mild Cheeses That Pair Well with Apple Butter
Because apple butter has such a robust, sweet flavor, it tends to go best with milder cheeses that won’t overpower its taste. Here are some mild yet flavorful cheeses that complement apple butter beautifully:
Brie
Buttery, rich Brie is a classic pairing for apple butter. Brie has a mild, slightly nutty flavor that allows the apple butter’s flavor to shine. The creaminess of the Brie also balances out the apple butter’s sweetness. Try spreading apple butter on crackers topped with Brie for a simple but elegant snack.
Camembert
Camembert has a soft, creamy texture similar to Brie but with a slightly tangier, earthier taste. This mellow flavor blends nicely with the sweetness of apple butter. For a delightful apple butter Camembert combo, try stuffing baked or grilled Camembert with apple butter and serving it with bread or apple slices.
Havarti
Smooth and buttery Havarti cheese has a mild tang that complements the rich apple flavor of apple butter. It also tends to melt very well, making it a great choice for melted apple butter and cheese dishes. Havarti goes nicely in an apple butter grilled cheese sandwich or paired with apple butter on a cheese plate.
Mozzarella
Fresh mozzarella has a mild, milky flavor and soft, moist texture that works perfectly with apple butter’s sweet, saucy consistency. Try using apple butter and mozzarella as a pizza topping combination. Or for an easy appetizer, layer mozzarella, apple butter and crackers together on a plate.
fontina
Nutty, buttery fontina is another mild cheese that makes an excellent match for apple butter. Fontina tends to have excellent melting properties, so it’s a great choice for baked apple butter dishes like mac and cheese or fondue. The sweet and salty combo of fontina and apple butter makes for a very balanced, enjoyable flavor profile.
Gouda
Gouda, especially the younger varieties, has a mild, lightly sweet flavor profile that partners seamlessly with apple butter’s sweet-tart taste. Try spreading apple butter over gouda in a grilled cheese sandwich. The cheese’s subtle sweetness highlights the flavor of the apple butter. Aged gouda can work as well, lending its crystalline texture and caramel notes to the mix.
Monterey Jack
Monterey Jack’s creamy, buttery flavor adds richness that complements apple butter’s sweetness. Its melting abilities also help marry the flavors when baked together in dishes like macaroni and cheese or cheese dip. Go for a classic pairing of apple butter and Monterey Jack by stuffing a burger or grilled cheese sandwich with both ingredients.
Queso Fresco
With its fresh, milky flavor and creamy/crumbly texture, queso fresco is a nice foil for the thick apple butter texture. Crumble queso fresco on top of apple butter-slathered crackers or cornbread for an easy appetizer. You can also dollop apple butter into queso fresco-topped tacos or empanadas.
Semi-Soft Cheeses That Go Well with Apple Butter
The bolder, fuller flavors of semi-soft cheeses can also complement apple butter’s sweetness. Some great options include:
Havarti
Smooth and buttery Havarti cheese has a mild tang that complements the rich apple flavor of apple butter. It also tends to melt very well, making it a great choice for melted apple butter and cheese dishes. Havarti goes nicely in an apple butter grilled cheese sandwich or paired with apple butter on a cheese plate.
Gouda
Gouda, especially the younger varieties, has a mild, lightly sweet flavor profile that partners seamlessly with apple butter’s sweet-tart taste. Try spreading apple butter over gouda in a grilled cheese sandwich. The cheese’s subtle sweetness highlights the flavor of the apple butter. Aged gouda can work as well, lending its crystalline texture and caramel notes to the mix.
Fontina
Nutty, buttery fontina is another mild cheese that makes an excellent match for apple butter. Fontina tends to have excellent melting properties, so it’s a great choice for baked apple butter dishes like mac and cheese or fondue. The sweet and salty combo of fontina and apple butter makes for a very balanced, enjoyable flavor profile.
Gruyere
Known for its complex, robust nutty and salty flavors, Gruyere stands up well to apple butter’s sweetness. It also melts beautifully, making it a tasty addition to dishes like apple butter grilled cheese. The crunchy crystallized bits in aged Gruyere provide texture contrast to the apple butter’s smoothness.
Provolone
Smoky, salty provolone balances and cuts through the sweetness of apple butter. Nutty, aged provolone works particularly well. Try provolone slices baked with apple butter as an appetizer. For more texture contrast, bread and fry the provolone before topping with apple butter.
Asiago
Sharp, robust asiago has a slightly sweet, nutty flavor that makes it a nice foil for apple butter. The crumbly texture of aged asiago also contrasts nicely with the apple butter’s smooth consistency. An apple butter and asiago panini showcases this tasty flavor pairing.
Cheddar
Aged cheddar’s salty, nutty, sometimes sharp flavor stands up well to sweet apple butter. The buttery texture also complements apple butter’s richness. A classic baked mac and cheese made with apple butter and sharp cheddar makes for a comforting, flavorful dish.
Pepper Jack
Pepper jack’s spicy bite cuts through and highlights apple butter’s sweetness. The cheese’s creaminess, especially when melted, also pairs nicely with apple butter’s texture. Grilled apple butter and pepper jack sandwiches or cheese dip are very satisfying combo options.
Soft Ripened and Washed Rind Cheeses
For adventurous apple butter and cheese pairings, try some oozier soft ripened or washed rind cheeses. Their potent flavors and creamy textures make exciting partners for apple’s sweet-tart profile.
Brie
Buttery, rich Brie is a classic pairing for apple butter. Brie has a mild, slightly nutty flavor that allows the apple butter’s flavor to shine. The creaminess of the Brie also balances out the apple butter’s sweetness. Try spreading apple butter on crackers topped with Brie for a simple but elegant snack.
Camembert
Camembert has a soft, creamy texture similar to Brie but with a slightly tangier, earthier taste. This mellow flavor blends nicely with the sweetness of apple butter. For a delightful apple butter Camembert combo, try stuffing baked or grilled Camembert with apple butter and serving it with bread or apple slices.
Taleggio
Taleggio has a melt-in-your-mouth texture and a tangy, mushroomy flavor that pairs interestingly with sweet apple butter. For a fun twist, stuff baked apples with apple butter and taleggio. The cheese’s creaminess fills the apples beautifully.
Epoisses
Intense, earthy Epoisses has a bold washed rind flavor that can stand up to apple butter’s sweet richness. Try served on toasted bread or crostini spread with apple butter to balance the cheese’s robust taste.
Pont L’eveque
Pont L’eveque’s soft, creamy texture and tangy, earthy flavor work nicely when spread on bread or crackers topped with apple butter. The sweet and savory combination is very satisfying.
Blue Cheeses
Surprisingly, the sharp, salty tang of blue cheeses pairs wonderfully with the sweetness of apple butter. Here are some apple butter-friendly blue cheese options:
Gorgonzola
Crumbly, pungent gorgonzola nicely offsets the sweetness of apple butter. Try apple butter dolloped over a gorgonzola, walnut and pear salad for a flavorful dish. A gorgonzola, apple and bacon sandwich with apple butter also highlights this tasty pairing.
Stilton
English Stilton’s potent blue cheese flavors stand up well to sweet apple butter. Pair the two spread on crackers for an appetizer, or layer apple butter between slices of Stilton for a composed cheese plate.
Roquefort
Roquefort’s tangy saltiness forms the perfect contrasting component to rich, sweet apple butter. The two pair particularly nicely spread on a sandwich or drizzled over a salad.
Cabrales
Spanish Cabrales has a bold blue cheese flavor that’s offset beautifully when paired with apple butter. Try crumbling Cabrales over apple butter-topped nachos or flatbread pizza for an invigorating flavor and texture combo.
Cheeses to Avoid with Apple Butter
While most cheeses pair nicely with apple butter, some may clash with or overpower apple butter’s delicate flavor. Cheeses you’re better off avoiding include:
Fresh Mozzarella
The mild, milky taste of fresh mozzarella can get lost when paired with robust apple butter. Aged mozzarella works better if you’re looking for a mozz pairing.
Cottage Cheese
The dry, clumpy texture and bland flavor of cottage cheese conflicts with the smooth sweetness of apple butter. Other fresher cheese varieties complement apple butter better.
Swiss
Although nutty Swiss can work with apple butter in baked dishes, on its own the cheese’s low flavor profile tends to compete unsuccessfully with apple butter’s bold taste.
Parmesan
Hard, salty parmesan overwhelms apple butter instead of balancing it. Other nutty, hard cheeses like aged gouda are better pairings.
Serving Suggestions for Apple Butter and Cheese
Once you’ve selected your cheeses, there are many delicious ways to serve them with apple butter. Here are some serving suggestions to enjoy this flavor pairing:
Cheese Plates
Feature apple butter as one of the accompaniments on a composed cheese plate. Pair it with cheese varieties that complement its flavor like Brie, blue cheese, gouda, or aged cheddar.
Sandwiches
Spread apple butter inside grilled cheese, panini and other toasted sandwiches featuring cheese fillings that work well with apple butter.
Flatbreads
Bake apple butter and cheese combinations like brie and apple butter or gorgonzola and apple butter atop flatbread or pizza crusts.
Salads
Drizzle apple butter over cheese-topped salads featuring pairings like blue cheese and apple salads. The apple butter will melt deliciously over the hot salad.
Baked Dishes
Incorporate apple butter into baked cheese dishes like macaroni and cheese, au gratin potatoes, cheese bread, or stuffed baked apples.
Fondue
Swirl apple butter into cheese-based fondue for a sweet flavor twist. Havarti, gruyere, and fontina all work well in apple butter fondue.
Appetizers
Serve apple butter with cheeses like brie or gouda on crackers, bread slices, or apple wedges as an easy appetizer.
Making Your Own Apple Butter
To enjoy the freshest, most flavorful apple butter and cheese combinations, try making your own homemade apple butter. Here is a simple recipe:
Ingredients
- 5 lbs apples, peeled, cored, chopped (combination of sweet and tart)
- 1 cup apple cider
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp cloves
Instructions
- Combine apples and cider in a slow cooker.
- Cook on high for 4 hours, stirring occasionally, until apples are very soft.
- Mash apples to desired consistency using a potato masher or immersion blender.
- Add brown sugar and spices and cook on high, uncovered, for 2 more hours, stirring frequently, until thickened.
- Let apple butter cool, then transfer to jars. Refrigerate for up to 3 weeks.
You can adapt this recipe by using different apple varieties, spices, sweeteners or cooking methods. Once your homemade apple butter is ready, try it out with your favorite cheeses for a tasty fall treat!
Conclusion
Apple butter’s unique sweet-tart flavor profile pairs delightfully with a wide variety of cheeses. By selecting cheeses with complementary textures and flavors, you can create all sorts of delectable apple butter and cheese combinations. Whether baked into dishes, served as an appetizer, or spread onto sandwiches, this classic fall flavor pairing is sure to be a crowd-pleaser. With so many tasty options, it’s easy to enjoy apple butter and cheese all autumn long.