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One of my favorite types of cheeses to include on my Holiday buffet is Port Cheese Spread. Port Cheese can be somewhat costly for the amount you get in a pre-packaged container so here is my homemade version, perfect for Holiday parties! Typically served as a spread or in a ball, this cheese also makes a wonderful hostess gift. I brought this to a family get-together and just sprinkled toasted walnuts, dried cranberries and fresh chopped parsley over the top and served it with a box of fancy crackers. At one point, my whole family was standing around the dish munching on this Port Cheese Spread.

Port Cheese is typically served as a spread or in a ball, this cheese also makes a wonderful hostess gift.

For gift giving, just fill a mason jar or crock with a tight-fitting lid with the cheese spread and adorn with some ribbon or butchers string and include a cheese knife and some crackers. Or if you prefer a cheese log or ball instead, form the spread into the appropriate shape, roll it in the nuts, cranberries, and fresh herbs and wrap it in wax or parchment paper. Tie it off with butchers twine, Holiday ribbons, and a gift tag. You will instantly bring a smile to someone’s face this holiday season.

Port Cheese

★★★★★

5 from 5 reviews

Author: Kitchen Dreaming
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Yield: serves 8 - 10
Category: Appetizer

Print Recipe

Ingredients

1 cup Port Wine (for reduction)
1 8oz package cream cheese, softened
3 cups sharp cheddar cheese
1 tbsp fresh chives, chopped & divided
salt and pepper to taste
3/4 cup chopped pecans, walnuts or hazelnuts, toasted

Instructions

In a small saucepan, boil 1 cup of port until it is reduced into a syrup of about 2 tablespoons.
In a mixing bowl, cream together the cream cheese and cheddar cheeses. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Then, by hand swirl in the port reduction. Do not fully combine.
Transfer into a crock for serving and top with a scattering of chopped walnuts and fresh herbs or roll into a 10 – 12 in log or ball and then roll into the nuts and fresh herbs

Notes

Port Wine is a fortified Portuguese wine and is not typically sold in grocery stores. In my area, Port Wine is only available in full-service liquor stores. If Port Wine is not available in your area, chose a sweet, red, Portuguese wine as a viable substitute.

Nutrition

Calories: 0
Sugar: 0 g
Sodium: 0 mg
Fat: 0 g
Saturated Fat: 0 g
Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
Trans Fat: 0 g
Carbohydrates: 0 g
Fiber: 0 g
Protein: 0 g
Cholesterol: 0 mg

If you like Port Cheese Spread, you may also like:

Baked Goat Cheese Spread

Salmon Rillettes Spread

Baked Spinach Puffs