Autumn Ember Paprika Cheeses (Print Version)

Smoked paprika cheeses paired with red-fleshed apples create a colorful autumn appetizer with fresh thyme accents.

# What You'll Need:

→ Cheeses

01 - 5.3 oz Manchego cheese, cut into 1-inch cubes
02 - 5.3 oz aged cheddar cheese, cut into 1-inch cubes

→ Spices & Seasonings

03 - 2 teaspoons smoked paprika (sweet or hot, as desired)
04 - 1/2 teaspoon flaky sea salt

→ Fruits

05 - 2 medium red-fleshed apples (such as Hidden Rose or Pink Pearl), cored and cut into wedges

→ Garnish

06 - 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves (optional)

→ Accompaniments

07 - Artisan crackers or rustic bread (optional, for serving)

# How to Make It:

01 - Place the Manchego and aged cheddar cubes in a shallow serving dish or on a platter.
02 - Sprinkle smoked paprika evenly over the cheese cubes and toss gently to coat all sides.
03 - Lightly dust the cheese with flaky sea salt.
04 - Fan out the red-fleshed apple wedges around and between the cheese cubes to create an ember-like effect.
05 - Optional: Scatter fresh thyme leaves over the arrangement for herbal aroma and color.
06 - Serve immediately with artisan crackers or rustic bread, if desired.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • Zero cooking required, so you can pull it together while your guests are arriving.
  • The visual drama does half the work—everyone assumes you've spent hours when it took twenty minutes.
  • Those red-fleshed apples create a genuinely stunning color contrast that feels intentional, not accidental.
02 -
  • If your apples are sitting longer than five minutes before serving, toss them with a squeeze of lemon juice—the citric acid stops them from browning and actually brightens their flavor against the cheese.
  • Don't use room-temperature cheese; it should be cool enough to feel solid when you pick it up, or the paprika coating will look muddy instead of vibrant.
03 -
  • Prep your cheese and apples earlier in the day, but don't arrange them together until just before serving—this way everything stays fresh and the apples won't brown.
  • If you're serving a crowd, make two smaller platters instead of one large one; they look more abundant and people can gather around without reaching across each other.
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