The 7 Best Havarti Cheese Substitutes

Some of the best cheeses you can stock up on are table cheeses. These types of cheese are so good because you can use them for almost anything and they are always reliable.

Havarti cheese is one of them. It is certainly a special cheese, but it is the perfect table cheese that allows you to melt, cut, gratin and much more.

Whether you’re preparing a charcuterie board or simply want a sweet, aromatic cheese to add to a dish, Havarti is a great option.

Unfortunately, Havarti cheese isn’t always easy to find, so you may want to be aware of some alternatives and other options to try when you’re in a pinch.

What is the best substitute for Havarti cheese? Havarti cheese is a Danish cheese, so when looking for a substitute, it is best to find other similar types of cheese. Among the best options are Tilsit, Saint Paulin, Monterey Jack and even Gouda.

In this guide, we will share the top 7 Havarti cheese substitutes. We’ll cover all the best options and what makes each one great. We’ll also give you some ideas on how you can use Havarti and what flavor sets it apart.

Havarti cheese

If you don’t know Havarti cheese, it is a semi-soft Danish cheese. It is very soft and buttery. It is incredibly unique in appearance, texture, and flavor. It has a slight sweetness that distinguishes it from other cheeses.

Havarti cheese is creamy and white in color. It was actually developed on an experimental farm called Havarthigaard, from which it gets its name. Havarti cheese can be used for cooking, but it is also the perfect cheese for snacking.

You can make a delicious charcuterie board, slice it to serve with wine and crackers, or even put it on the grill. You don’t even have to accompany it with anything, you can eat it on its own if you want.

Some people believe that Havarti is one of the best fondue cheeses because it is so creamy.

The havarti is unique, but also incredibly versatile. As for the taste, Havarti cheese is slightly spicy.

It has the aroma of a buttery cheese and the spiciness can sometimes be very direct. Its heat is comparable to something like Swiss cheese.

When you bite into it, it’s smooth and buttery, and often has a slight sweet touch to it.

Its sweet taste may depend on the variety of Havarti cheese and how it was made, but sweetness is always present. Havarti cheese is also slightly acidic.

This cheese ages for around 3 months and can be aged longer. As it ages, it takes on hints of salty and hazelnut flavors, so aging the cheese can adjust the overall flavors as well as the texture.

The 7 Best Havarti Cheese Substitutes

We are ready to get down to business! You know and understand what the Havarti is and what distinguishes it. What do you do in a pinch when you run out of Havarti or just can’t find it? It seems tragic that you ever run out, but there are solutions that can work quite well.

Below you’ll find the 7 best Havarti cheese substitutes, with descriptions and what makes them a viable alternative when you need it.

1.Tilsit

Our favorite substitute is Tilsit cheese, and we think most people agree that it’s the closest substitute you can find.

We found it to be comparable in both taste and looks, meaning you could easily strain it as a Havarti.

This type of cheese is very easy to find in European markets, but it is also usually available in many delicatessens that have special cheeses.

This means that when you can’t get your hands on a fresh block from Havarti, you have another suitable option that works very well and is easy to find.

The nice thing about the Tilsit is that you can use it for just about anything you can use the Havarti for.

These are near-universal substitutions across the board, so you can trust the Tilsit when you need a fix and don’t want to skimp on anything.

Tilsit cheese has a very pale yellow color and a semi-hard texture. It is a fairly soft cheese that only has a slight spicy touch. It is very buttery and creamy, just like traditional Havarti cheese.

It is the best substitute option that you will find.

2.Saint Paulin

Next, we recommend the Saint Paulin cheese. This is a French cheese and it might be a bit harder to find, but if you find it, you’ll love it. Saint Paulin cheese is slightly aged, but its texture is very similar to that of Havarti.

Saint Paulin is semi-soft. You can cut and melt it and it works just like the Havarti in every way that counts. Saint Paulin is lightly cured, which means it can have a deeper flavor overall.

It won’t be as spicy as the Havarti, but it will be pretty close. You’ll get the same creamy, buttery texture, but also a richer flavor, so your sweet and spicy flavor will change.

Saint Paulin is a very popular cheese for cheese boards and similar presentations, but it can be melted and does very well if you need it to.

The Saint Paulin is still creamy and above all soft. It will be buttery and cuts nicely. The biggest differences you’ll find are the missing hints of sweetness that Havarti cheese is known for.

3.Monterey Jack

If you are looking for a simple solution that you can find in almost any grocery or deli store, the Monterey Jack is the solution for you. Monterey Jack is a good substitute for Havarti, but the texture will be noticeably different.

The Monterey Jack tends to be denser and heavier, but it has that smooth, buttery flavor that people love about the Havarti. If you’re melting cheese, no one will notice if you use Monterey Jack instead of Havarti.

Monterey Jack is another pale yellow cheese, which is one of the most immediate differences from Havarti. This cheese is a semi-hard American cheese, so its texture tends to be harder than Havarti cheese.

However, the Monterey Jack is comparable in the flavor department. It has that hint of heat with a hint of sweetness and that’s really what makes it a great option if you need a Havarti substitute.

4. Esrom/Salut of Danish Porto

Esrom is a Danish cheese that you can use to replace Havarti. Since it’s a Danish cheese, its buttery, creamy texture is a reliable substitute. The Esrom is similar in color, texture, and style, making it a good substitute.

Esrom tends to be sweeter than Havarti cheese, so it’s something that may stand out slightly. It has a full and sweet flavor, and a constant and penetrating aroma. It usually has a very pale yellow color, almost white.

It’s semi-soft, giving it the buttery creaminess and sweet flavor you may be looking for. Another name for Esrom is Danish Porto Salut. These terms are interchangeable.

5. Young Cheddar

Here’s another good option that’s pretty easy to find on most sites. Young cheddar can be used because it has a similar flavor and texture.

However, you should be careful when selecting this option. Note that we specifically mentioned young cheddar. If you use aged cheddar, the flavor will be too strong to substitute for havarti.

The same goes for sharp cheddar. It’s too spicy and doesn’t have the sweetness of Havarti, so it won’t be a good substitute.

Aged and sharp cheddar are not buttery or creamy and are more of a semi-hard cheese, although they can be melted.

Keep in mind that even young cheddar will be slightly firmer than Havarti, but it can work as a good alternative when you need it.

6. Emmental cheese

Emmental cheese is quite unique. It’s yellow in color so it will stand out against the Havarti, but in most other terms it’s pretty similar.

Emmental is also slightly harder. However, it is medium hard, so it won’t be too noticeable, just slightly less creamy.

It’s a Swiss-style cheese, so it has holes in it like Swiss. This will also give you a different look. However, it does have that buttery texture and some slightly fruity notes that give it a certain sweet taste like Havarti.

7. Gouda

Finally, you can use Gouda as a reliable substitute for Havarti cheese. Gouda is sweeter than havarti, but you probably won’t notice a substantial difference. The good thing is that gouda is easy to find.

Gouda is a Dutch cheese and it is very common. It’s nice and smooth and has quite a creamy texture. In appearance, it has more or less the same color. When serving cold cheese, gouda is a great substitute.