Abstract: A composite cheese product having a first colored outer form and an inner plug having a desired decorative shape of a second, variegated color extending continuously through the outer form. The composite cheese product is manufactured by cutting first and second cheese products of variegated colors to a desired thickness so as to create preforms having the exterior contour of the outer form. A plug cutter having the shape of the inner plug is inserted into the preforms and plugs are withdrawn from the preforms with the plug cutter. The plugs are then removed from the plug cutter, interchanged and reinserted into the preforms of variegated color.