This beautiful Trader Joe's cheese disappears almost as quickly as I can set out the crackers.
Trader Joe’s was much easier to love when I lived near one. I could stop in whenever I wanted and wander the aisles until several things I had no intention of buying found their way into my cart. I’d leave with everything from deliciously affordable wine to frozen langostino tails to an armful of fresh flowers that would somehow still look beautiful weeks later. These days, the nearest location is two hours away.
Being in a long-distance relationship with Trader Joe’s has made things considerably more complicated. Instead of casually popping in on a whim, my visits are now carefully planned events. Whenever I know I’ll be in a town that has one, I bring an empty cooler (or two) and treat the trip less like a grocery run and more like an expedition. I’ll stock up on old favorites like peanut butter cups and hummus and buy anything new that looks interesting, but there is one item I will never leave without: Trader Joe’s Wild Blueberry Vanilla Chevre. It’s sweet, tangy, beautiful enough for a cheese board and so versatile I find myself using it in everything from breakfast to cocktail hour.
My Favorite Trader Joe’s Cheese Is Wild Blueberry Vanilla Chevre
Chevre is the French word for goat, as well as a common name for cheese made from goat’s milk. Its creamy texture and distinctive tangy flavor make it a natural match for fruit, honey and other sweet ingredients, but the balance can be tricky. Too much added sugar, and it starts tasting less like cheese and more like an unfinished dessert.
Trader Joe’s gets that balance exactly right. The chevre is flavored with vanilla and rolled in sweetened dried wild blueberries, but neither addition overwhelms the pleasantly tart cheese underneath. The vanilla rounds out some of its sharper edges, while the blueberries add a concentrated pop of sweetness and a slight chewiness against the creamy center. It tastes indulgent without crossing fully into dessert territory.
It also looks lovely on a cheese board. The outside is completely covered in dark blueberries, which form a jewel-toned border around the bright white chevre once the log is sliced. I appreciate any party food that appears to have required more effort than simply opening a package and finding a clean plate.
Trader Joe’s isn’t the only brand that makes a blueberry vanilla chevre, but what keeps this version on my permanent cooler list is the combination of flavor, appearance and price. An eight-ounce log costs only $5.99 and serves roughly eight people. (Though with a fresh baguette and a good glass of champagne, I’ve been known to call it dinner for one.)
How to Use Blueberry Vanilla Chevre
For parties, I let the cheese do most of the work. I set the whole log on a small board with plain crackers or toasted baguette slices. Since the chevre already has plenty of sweetness and flavor, it doesn’t need much embellishment, though I like to add fresh berries, sliced pears and a handful of toasted nuts to round out the board. If you like honey on your cheese board, use it sparingly here; the cheese brings plenty of sweetness to the spread.
If I’m not entertaining, one of my favorite ways to eat it is spread generously on a toasted bagel, where the tanginess makes it much more interesting than cream cheese. I also like it tucked into a warm crepe with fresh berries or spooned onto crostini with a little lemon curd when I want something that feels vaguely elegant without requiring a complicated dessert recipe.
I also love that this cheese can lean savory too. I’ll dot it over a green salad with toasted nuts and a sharp vinaigrette, or pair it with roasted beets, where the earthy sweetness pairs beautifully with the blueberries. The vanilla is subtle enough that the cheese never tastes misplaced; it simply softens the sharper flavors and makes an ordinary dish considerably more interesting.
Ultimately, though, it doesn’t need a recipe or elaborate presentation. I set it out with crackers, pour the champagne and try to claim a slice before everyone else discovers why I drove five logs home in a cooler.
What cheese always finds a spot on your cheese board? Let us know in the comments below!
