Crackers and cheese are a classic pairing that makes an easy and delicious snack or appetizer. Soft cheeses are especially tasty options to eat with crackers, as their creamy, spreadable texture pairs perfectly with the crunch of crackers. But with the wide variety of soft cheeses available, it can be difficult to know where to start. Here we will explore some of the best soft cheeses to enjoy with crackers and what makes each variety so well-suited to pair with crackers.
What are soft cheeses?
Soft cheeses are cheeses with high moisture content, which gives them a smooth, spreadable texture. Traditional soft cheeses achieve their soft texture from the high moisture content of the curds before pressing. More modern varieties often contain added cream to create a softer texture.
Some of the main categories of soft cheese include:
- Bloomy rind – Soft, creamy cheeses coated in white, fluffy rind like Brie and Camembert.
- Washed rind – Pungent, sticky cheeses washed in brine, beer or wine like Taleggio and Epoisses.
- Fresh – Unripened cheeses like cottage cheese, ricotta and mozzarella.
- Goat cheese – All varieties of spreadable goat’s milk cheese.
- Blue cheese – Blue-veined cheese that is creamy when young like Gorgonzola.
Let’s explore some of the best options from these soft cheese categories to enjoy with your favorite crackers.
Bloomy Rind Cheeses
Brie
Brie is likely the most recognizable bloomy rind cheese. Originally from the Brie region of France, it has a signature white, fuzzy rind and creamy interior paste. When served at room temperature, Brie becomes very soft and spreadable. It has a rich, buttery flavor that pairs wonderfully with plain crackers to allow its flavor to shine. The triple cream varieties with even higher fat content are especially delicious options for crackers.
Camembert
Camembert is another famous French bloomy rind cheese that is excellent with crackers. It is produced from cow’s milk and also develops a characteristic white, edible rind when ripened. The interior has a soft, creamy texture and tangy, earthy flavors. It spreads beautifully on crackers and offers the perfect balance of richness and bitterness. Try it with sturdy, whole grain crackers or toasted baguette slices.
Saint André
Saint André is a triple cream, bloomy rind cheese from France. Its high butterfat content gives it an ultra creamy, soft texture when ripe that is perfect for spreading. It has a rich, voluptuous flavor with hints of mushroom earthiness. The decadence of Saint André pairs wonderfully with crackers and can even stand up to heartier accompaniments like fruit chutneys or nuts.
Washed Rind Cheeses
Taleggio
Taleggio is an Italian washed rind cheese with a distinctive pink and orange rind and a semisoft, creamy interior. It has a pleasantly pungent aroma and tangy, meaty flavors. The smooth texture of Taleggio makes it very spreadable for crackers. Its bold flavor profile also stands up well to heartier crackers and accompaniments like fig jam or cured meat.
Epoisses
Epoisses is a pungent French washed rind cheese made from cow’s milk. It has a sticky, orange rind and smooth, creamy interior when ripe. Known for its intense and complex earthy, salty flavor, Epoisses makes a wonderfully stinky and delicious topping for crackers. Its assertive flavors pair well with plain crackers or something with some sweetness like fruit preserves.
Pont l’Evêque
Pont l’Evêque is another soft washed rind cheese originally from Normandy, France. It is uncooked and unpressed, giving it a rich, creamy texture. Pont l’Evêque has soft flavors of butter, mushroom and grass with light hints of barnyard funkiness. The smooth paste melts over crackers beautifully. Try pairing it with wheat crackers and apple slices for contrasting sweet and savory flavors.
Fresh Cheeses
Cottage Cheese
Cottage cheese is a fresh, unripened cheese curd product with a mild, milky flavor. Small curd or even large curd cottage cheese can make an excellent topping for sturdier crackers, crispbreads or breadsticks. The creaminess cools the spicy heat of crackers flavored with pepper and spices. Add fresh herbs, smoked paprika or hot sauce to cottage cheese for an easy flavored spread.
Ricotta
Fresh ricotta cheese has a sweet, milky flavor and pillowy soft texture. It is wonderful schmeared on crackers and topped with fresh herbs, olive oil and black pepper. Whipped ricotta also spreads beautifully on crackers and can be flavored either savory or sweet. Pair fresh ricotta with your favorite savory or seeded crackers for an easy snack.
Mascarpone
Mascarpone is an Italian cream cheese well-suited for spreading. Its smooth, thick texture and mildly sweet flavor pairs wonderfully with crackers. Try spreading mascarpone on buttery crackers or digestive biscuits and topping with a drizzle of honey and chopped nuts. The sweet and savory combination is delicious. Mascarpone also helps tone down spicy crackers.
Goat Cheeses
Chèvre
Chèvre refers to any soft, spreadable goat cheese. It has a tangy, floral flavor that pairs beautifully with crackers. Chèvre easily spreads onto crackers and offers a nice contrast of texture. Try it with herbed crackers, fig jam or nuts and honey. The possibilities are endless.
Humboldt Fog
Humboldt Fog is an American goat cheese with a line of edible vegetable ash through the center. The creamy cheese has a slight citrusy tang that pairs wonderfully with the crunch of crackers. Humboldt Fog is easily spreadable at room temperature. Try it with crisp crackers flavored with black pepper, thyme or rosemary to complement its tanginess.
Bucheron
Bucheron is a French soft goat cheese log that ripens from the outside in, creating an edible white rind and soft interior. Its texture is smooth and spreadable, perfect for crackers. Bucheron has tart, lemony flavors that shine when paired with plain crackers or those with seeds and herbs. Its bright acidity cuts through the richness for a balanced bite.
Blue Cheeses
Gorgonzola
Gorgonzola is a famous Italian blue cheese. When young and soft, Gorgonzola has a creamy texture perfect for spreading on crackers. Its sharp, funky blue cheese flavor pairs wonderfully with sweet accompaniments like honey, pears or fig jam on crackers. The boldness of Gorgonzola can also stand up to heartier crackers flavored with nuts, seeds or spices.
Cambozola
Cambozola is a combination of soft-ripened triple cream cheese and Italian Gorgonzola, giving it a unique, milder blue cheese flavor. The buttery brie-like rind and creamy interior makes Cambozola spreadable and delicious when served with crackers. Its tangy, blue cheese notes pair well with sweet accents like honey, apple, pear and sweet crackers or crispbreads.
Blue Castello
Blue Castello is a Danish blue cheese that is creamy and spreadable when young, with sweet, tangy flavors. Its rich texture and mild blue cheese funkiness pairs wonderfully with plain crackers or those flavored with fruit, nuts or seeds. Blue Castello also stands up well to chutneys, jellies and cured meats as cracker toppings.
Tips for Serving Soft Cheeses with Crackers
Choose complementary crackers
Think about flavors that will highlight or contrast nicely with the cheese when selecting crackers. Delicate bloomy rind cheeses pair well with plain or lightly seasoned crackers. Pungent washed rinds can stand up to heartier, seeded crackers. And funky blues complement sweet crackers or those with fruit, nuts or spices.
Serve at room temperature
Letting cheeses come to room temperature before serving allows their full flavors to shine and achieves the proper smooth, spreadable texture. Remove soft cheeses from the refrigerator about 30 minutes before serving.
Consider accompaniments
Serve soft cheese with crackers alongside accoutrements like nuts, dried fruits, chutneys, jams, preserves or cured meats. These additions provide flavor and textural contrasts that enhance the cheese and cracker experience.
Provide a spreader
Supplying a spreader makes it easy for guests to schmear soft cheese onto crackers. Opt for a soft-edged knife or small offset spatula to avoid damaging crackers.
Play with layering and textures
Get creative with layering different cheeses or adding crunch with toasted nuts, crispy bacon or fresh apples on your cheese and cracker creations. Varying textures keeps each bite interesting.
6 Soft Cheese and Cracker Pairing Recommendations
Here are 6 suggested pairings of soft cheeses and crackers to enjoy together:
| Soft Cheese | Cracker Pairing |
| Fresh ricotta | Rosemary crispbread crackers |
| Saint André | Carr’s whole wheat crackers |
| Chèvre | Seeded flatbread crackers |
| Taleggio | Gluten-free seeded crackers |
| Cambozola | Crackers with honey |
| Brie | Everything bagel crackers |
Conclusion
Soft cheeses make fantastic toppings for crackers, thanks to their spreadable texture and creamy mouthfeel. Bloomy rind cheeses like Brie and Camembert offer decadence, while pungent washed rinds like Epoisses and Taleggio supply robust flavor. Fresh cheeses like ricotta and chèvre provide tanginess and lightness. And blue cheeses impress with their funky, bold character. Serving your favorite soft cheeses with complementary crackers makes for an easy, tasty snack or appetizer. So get creative mixing and matching for your perfect cheese and cracker pairings.