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The Best Jams for Charcuterie

The Best Jams for Charcuterie are the perfect cheese pairings and will make your cheese board stacked with the best flavor combinations!

best jams for charcuterie

Knowing what jam to pair with what cheese is half the battle with a cheese plate, the other half is knowing how to arrange it all.

You will love this recipe if you love creating charcuterie boards and cheese platter ideas!

This post is excellent for entertaining at home and knowing what jams and preserves to keep in your pantry, ready to go anytime.

You’ll learn how to pair the jams with a variety of cheeses and then you’ll learn the easiest ways to add these to your charcuterie plate.

The Best Jams for Charcuterie

The perfect charcuterie board has a few different types of cheese with jam pairings to enhance their flavor and create an unforgettable pairing!

the best jams for a cheeseboard

In America, we love using the french term for cured meats (charcuterie) and making it into a cheeseboard, grazing board, snack board, you name it!

First, let’s chat about a list of jams that pair well with cheese.

Fig Jam – this one is an absolute must-use, and for good reason! It spreads well with goat cheese, baked brie, and even hard cheeses.

Apricot Jam – most notably known in the south for slathering over baked brie and crescent dough. It’s a winner, every single time!

Peach Jam – Georgia peaches are lovely in the summer, fresh off the vine. But, in the middle of winter, there is nothing better than a good dollop of peach jam on top of an aged cheddar.

Hot Pepper Jelly – the iconic topper for cream cheese! This is an appetizer in itself!

Now, let’s break down each type of cheese and the different types of jam to pair it with!

Sweeter Jams for Soft Cheeses

With sweeter jams, like apricot, peach, raspberry jam, and strawberry jam you’ll want a tangy cheese such as goat cheese, brie cheese, or a piece of blue cheese.

Creamy cheese loves the sweet flavors of orange jam or cherry jam! It’s a great way to tone down the distinct flavor of soft cheeses if you need to too!

If I were making a big cheese plate with soft cheese I’d do this:

Take fresh goat cheese and lay it out on the board. Spread it out a bit, so it creates divets. Fill these divets with either peach jam or fig jam. Perfect with these Toast for Cheese crackers!

Spicy Baked Brie with Apricot Jam

Next, I’d take a wheel of brie and heat it in the oven for a few minutes so it’s nice and soft. Spoon over apricot preserves and a sprinkle of red pepper flakes, paired with toasty bruschetta.

Then, take a nod from our southern grandmothers and take the easy way: a block of cream cheese drizzled with hot red pepper jelly! Triscuits or Wheat-Thins are a must!

Wine pairings that work well with the softer cheeses are a crispy white wine like sauvignon blanc, or a prosecco or champagne option.

Savory Jams for Hard Cheeses

Savory jams, like Onion Jam, tomato jam, or bacon jam pair wonderfully with a sharp cheese like aged white cheddar, aged gouda, or even Mimolette or pecorino.

Next time you make a grilled cheese, spread a thin layer of onion jam on your bread before adding your cheese. It’s a little bit sweet, has a lot of flavors, and is a whole new experience you won’t want to miss!

Onion jam pairs well with gruyere or white cheddar.

Tomato jam enhances pecorino romano or parmigiano reggiano.

And, bacon jam goes with pretty much everything! It’s one of my favorite jams to put on the ultimate charcuterie board. You can make a delicious “sandwich” with a good cracker, bacon jam, white cheddar, and a slice of genoa salami.

Red wine pairs well with the aged cheeses and bold flavors of small-batch jams.

That would make a good option for a host gift! A bottle of red wine, a couple of jars of jam, and a spreader of some sort.

Serving Your Board

When you’re ready to put the cheeses and jams on a big board, let’s chat about the best way to execute it.

condiments for a cheeseboard

First, start with a clean board that’s been oiled within a couple of days of use. I love this board oil from John Boos!

Before you add anything to your board, cut the cheese. That way people eat the cheese and don’t just look at it!

Then, starting with your different types of cheeses, place them around the board either in the four corners if you’re using a square or rectangular board, or creating a box if you’re using a round board.

small ramekins for a cheeseboard

Next, you’ll add small ramekins to the board. You can fill these with sweet jams, or any kind of jam you’d like!

Now, you can add in your various meat ideas such as salami, capicola, or mortadella.

Fill in the board with fresh fruit, dried fruit, nuts, and various crackers.

The concept of a charcuterie board should be FULL! No space left unfilled.

Frequently Asked Questions:

What kind of jam goes on a charcuterie board?

Any jam you love! Apricot and fig jam are popular but don’t forget about cherry, bacon, and onion jam!

Can you make a charcuterie board the day before?

Yes! You sure can! If you’re pre-slicing your fruit, wait until an hour before you serve. Otherwise, arrange your board, then cover it, and set it in the fridge. An hour before serving remove the board from the fridge, uncover it, allow the chill off, and let the cheese breathe.

Other Charcuterie Posts You Should Read:

Best Cheese for Charcuterie

How Much Does a Charcuterie Board Cost?

Charcuterie Books

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The Best Jams for Charcuterie

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