The Best Soft Cheeses for Christmas:5 Delicious Cheeses to Try This Festive Season

1. Baron Bigod – The British Brie Worth Celebrating

Creamy, buttery and beautifully luxurious.

Baron Bigod is an award-winning British Brie-style cheese made at Fen Farm Dairy in Suffolk. With its delicate white rind and soft, creamy centre, it offers a wonderful balance of fresh, buttery flavours and deeper, mushroomy notes as it ripens.

It’s an excellent choice for a Christmas cheeseboard because it feels special without being overpowering. Leave it out of the fridge for around 30–60 minutes before serving to allow its texture and flavour to shine.

Try it with: Apple slices and honey

Crisp apple brings a refreshing sweetness that cuts through the richness of the cheese, while a little drizzle of honey adds a lovely festive touch. If you have walnuts in the cupboard, add a few for crunch.

For something a little different, try Baron Bigod with a spoonful of onion marmalade or caramelised onion chutney. The sweet, savoury flavours work beautifully with its creamy character.

2. Délice de Bourgogne – An Indulgent Triple-Cream Treat

Rich, silky and wonderfully decadent.

If Christmas is the time to treat yourself, Délice de Bourgogne is a cheese to put on your list. This French triple-cream cheese is enriched with cream, giving it an exceptionally smooth, buttery texture and a rich, gently tangy flavour.

It's deliciously indulgent and ideal for those who love a soft cheese that feels almost melt-in-the-mouth. A little goes a long way, making it a lovely centrepiece for a festive cheeseboard.

Try it with: Gingerbread or a spoonful of marmalade

The gentle spice of gingerbread offers a lovely contrast to the cheese's rich creaminess. Alternatively, try a small spoonful of orange marmalade alongside it. The bright citrus notes cut through the richness and bring a lovely festive flavour.

If you prefer something savoury, a plain oatcake or crisp cracker is a simple way to let the cheese take centre stage.

3. Vacherousse d'Argental – Soft, Creamy and Moreish

A delicate French cheese with a wonderfully smooth texture.

Vacherousse d'Argental is a soft, white-rinded French cheese with a creamy, yielding centre. Its flavour is typically mild, buttery and gently earthy, making it a great option for anyone who enjoys a delicate cheese that doesn't overpower the rest of the board.

Its luxurious texture makes it feel right at home among the festive favourites, and its gentle flavour means you can have fun experimenting with sweet and savoury accompaniments.

Try it with: Pear and a little black pepper

Thin slices of ripe pear bring a gentle sweetness and juicy freshness that complement the cheese beautifully. Finish with a tiny twist of freshly ground black pepper to add a subtle warmth.

You could also try it with a spoonful of pear chutney or a little quince jelly if you have some tucked away in the cupboard. Both bring a fruity sweetness that works wonderfully with its creamy texture.

4. Stinking Bishop – A Bold British Christmas Favourite

Pungent, distinctive and full of character.

For those who like their cheese with a bit of attitude, Stinking Bishop is a brilliant choice. This famous British washed-rind cheese is known for its powerful aroma, orange-pink rind and soft, creamy interior.

Despite its famously strong smell, its flavour is often more mellow and savoury than you might expect, with rich, earthy notes and a satisfying depth. It's a great conversation starter and a lovely addition to a cheeseboard for adventurous cheese lovers.

Try it with: Digestive biscuits or apple chutney

A sweet, gently spiced ginger biscuit creates a wonderful contrast with the cheese's savoury, earthy flavour. If biscuits aren't your thing, try a spoonful of apple chutney or a slice of fresh apple.

The sweetness and fruitiness help balance the cheese's bold character, making each bite a little moreish.

A word of advice: keep Stinking Bishop wrapped separately in the fridge, as its aroma can travel to other foods!

5. Smoked Brie – A Festive Twist on a Classic

Creamy, smoky and full of comforting flavour.

If you enjoy traditional Brie but fancy something a little different this Christmas, smoked Brie is well worth trying. The familiar creamy texture of Brie meets a distinctive smoky flavour, creating a cheese that feels both comforting and a little more adventurous.

It's delicious on a cheeseboard, but it can also be wonderful gently warmed and served with crusty bread. The smoky notes make it particularly good with ingredients that bring sweetness, spice or a little sharpness.

Try it with: Ginger nut biscuits

This is a pairing worth trying! Ginger nut biscuits have a lovely crunchy texture and a warming, spicy sweetness that works beautifully against the creamy, smoky cheese. The ginger adds a little festive kick, while the biscuit's sweetness balances the savoury smoke.

You could also try smoked Brie with a little orange marmalade, apple chutney or a slice of pear. These everyday ingredients bring a sweet-fruity contrast that makes the smoky flavour really shine.

How to Build the Perfect Christmas Soft Cheese Board

You don't need a huge selection of cheese to create something memorable. Choose two or three soft cheeses with contrasting flavours and textures, then add a few simple accompaniments.

Here are a few easy ideas:

• Something sweet: honey, orange marmalade, fig jam or quince jelly.
• Something fruity: fresh pears, crisp apples, grapes or dried apricots.
• Something crunchy: crackers, oatcakes, ginger nuts or crusty bread.
• Something savoury: onion chutney, apple chutney, olives or a handful of walnuts.

Try to offer a mixture of sweet, savoury, crunchy and fresh ingredients. You can use what you already have at home rather than buying lots of extras.

For the best flavour and texture, take your cheeses out of the fridge around 30–60 minutes before serving, depending on the room temperature and the size of the pieces. Keep them refrigerated until then, and don't leave perishable cheeses out for more than two hours.

Make Soft Cheese Part of Your Christmas Tradition

Whether you prefer the buttery elegance of Baron Bigod, the indulgence of Délice de Bourgogne, the delicacy of Vacherousse d'Argental, the bold character of Stinking Bishop or the smoky twist of smoked Brie, there's a soft cheese for every kind of Christmas cheeseboard.

And remember, the best pairings don't have to be complicated. A little marmalade, a crisp apple, a ginger biscuit or a spoonful of chutney can transform a simple slice of cheese into something really special.

At The Cheese Society, we believe great cheese is made for sharing. This Christmas, try something new, discover a favourite pairing and make a little room for cheese around the table.

Explore our range of soft cheeses at The Cheese Society and find something delicious for your festive cheeseboard.

Happy cheesing!