Charcuterie boards are perfect for every occasion. In the last baby shower, I gave my daughter we made a whole variety of charcuterie boards. Since then, I have made them for ladies’ get-togethers, holidays, and birthday parties. They are really perfect for any occasion!
What is a Charcuterie Board?
The word charcuterie originated in France. It describes a shop that sells cured meats such as pork, salami, and ham. A charcuterie board is usually an appetizer that has meats, cheeses, olives, fruits, nuts, and other condiments and is arranged on a wooden cutting board but can be arranged on trays or other boards. As charcuterie boards are becoming more popular you are also seeing many other boards. For example dessert boards and breakfast boards and many others.
How to plan your Charcuterie Board
Charcuterie Boards for every occasion means that you can change your boards to fit your theme or Holiday or even season. So, here are a few tips.
- First decide on a theme according to the occasion
- Next choose your board or platter
- Then decide what kind of board you are planning to do such as meats and cheeses, desserts, other appetizers etc.
- After that choose your foods
- Use small dishes to make the boards look more appealing to the eye
- Fill in the gaps with small foods such as nuts, chocolates or dried fruits
- Make meat flowers first
- Last but not least let go of perfection and be creative
How to make Pepperoni Flowers
- First choose a round a stem glass
- Next fold pepperoni over the side of the glass in half
- After that go around the whole glass
- Then repeat 6-8 times
- Remember to set these on your charcuterie board first and then arrange everything around them
What foods can be used?
- Meats- Pepperoni, salami, deli meats, prosciutto
- Cheese- Brie, gouda, cheddar, goat cheese or any other cheese you enjoy.
- Crackers
- Jelly- red pepper or fig are great choices
- Olives
- Pickles
- Dried or fresh fruits
- Dips
- Nuts
- Vegetables
Dessert Boards
Dessert boards are really fun and easy to make. They are very beautiful and add to your meal. In the one pictured above, first, we put whipped cream in a dish in the center. Next, my daughter cut the angel food cake into bite-size pieces and arranged it in one corner. Last, she filled in the rest of the board with fresh fruit including strawberries. Finished it off with cookies. It was a hit and so easy to make. Furthermore, I have made some others that used only cookies or chocolates.
Charcuterie boards are wonderful for feeding a large number of people. Most importantly they make a beautiful setting and you have a large variety of food to please everyone’s palette. They are perfect for weddings, showers, holiday celebrations, birthday celebrations, and even just a night at home with your family. Best of all, these boards are very versatile, creative, beautiful but most of all delicious.
Charcuterie Board for every occasion
Equipment
- 1 Wooden Cutting Board or Tray
- 3 small glass dishes
Ingredients
- 3 packages Meat of your choice, three different types
- 3 packages cheese- two hard cheeses one soft cheese
- 2 or 3 packages 2 different types of crackers, pretzels or bread
- 1 jar jelly such as red pepper or fig
- 1 or 2 packages nuts of your choice
- 1 small jar olives- your favorite
- 1 small jar sweet pickles
- 1 or 2 kinds fruit- fresh or dried
- 1 container favorite dip
- 1 kind small tomatoes
Instructions
- Firstly, choose the board you will be arranging this on. Secondly cut up your ingredients. After that, if you are making meat flowers, make those next and arrange that on your board. In addition to that add cheeses and glass bowls for your dip and jelly. Finally, arrange your crackers or bread. Lastly fill in your board with all of your other ingredients, make sure you don't have any board showing through.
Enjoy!
Danelle
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These are such fun ideas, especially the flower. Thank you for sharing this.
Thank you for your sweet comment! I hope you will try it.
I LIVE charcuterie boards!!! What great tips and tricks you have given here. I never thought about a dessert charcuterie board! Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for reading and commenting! I am glad you enjoyed it.
I love making charcuterie boards. I always wanted to learn how to make flowers and I cannot wait to try your tips!
Thank you for reading and commenting! I would love to see how your flower comes out.
I have a new obsession with charcuterie boards, and I loved this post!! I like to make themed boards. So, for the NYE board, I drew a clock face on a round piece of cheese that I placed in the center. Then I used a cookie cutter to cut out star-shaped cheese slices. I also sliced up a starfruit! So fun! I want to try the meat flowers next time!
Thank you for reading and commenting! Your NYE board sounds amazing! I will have to try that. Thanks for sharing.
Your boards look DELICIOUS! I have yet to make one but my daughter-in-law brought one as part of our Thanksgiving weekend family meals and I loved it! I had not seen dessert boards and think that would be great too.
Thank you Vicki!! How yummy that your daughter-in-law brought one for Thanksgiving. You will have to make one!