Charcuterie Board Basics
Shandra Martinez
| 5 min read
Here are some tips to consider when creating a charcuterie board:
Flavor: Include an assortment of flavors, including salty, spicy, savory and sweet. Also, take into consideration your guests and choose foods they will enjoy eating.
Texture: Create interest by including a variety of textures and elements in your boards. Cheese is creamy, meats are stringy, crackers are crunchy, dried figs and apricots are chewy and sliced apples are crispy.
Color: Create visual appeal by adding a variety of colors to your boards.
Details: You can change the look of your board by adding fun details, like sprigs of rosemary, sage, thyme, edible flowers, interesting serving utensils, ornaments and holiday bowls.
Serving size breakdown:
2 to 9 people
2 kinds of cheese (1 soft, 1 hard), 1 meat, 1 spread, 1 fruit/veggie
10 to 20 people
3 kinds of cheese (1 sweet, 1 pungent, 1 hard), 2 types of meat, 1 spread, 2 fruits or vegetables, 1 pickled item
21 to 30 people
4 kinds of cheese (1 sweet, 1 pungent, 1 hard, 1 semi-soft), 2 to 3 types of meat, 2 spreads (1 sweet, 1 sharp), 2 fruits or vegetables, 1 pickled item 31 to 40 people 5 kinds of cheese (1 sweet, 1 pungent, 1 hard, 1 semi-soft, 1 other), 3 types of meat, 2 spreads (1 sweet, 1 savory) 3 fruits or vegetables, 1 pickled item, mixed nuts
Breakfast board
You can also add pancakes, scrambled eggs, bagels, cheese and vegetables to your breakfast boards. The options are endless when it comes to making charcuterie boards. This board can also be enjoyed cold or warm. Ideas include:
- Pumpkin spiced waffles
- Sausage
- Hard-boiled eggs
- Cherries
- Strawberries
- Banana
- Blueberries
- Smoked salmon
- Raspberries
- Blackberries
- Kiwi
- Date balls
- Bacon
- Yogurt parfait
- Honey and maple syrup
Brunch board
Coffee with a friend or family member can be enjoyed over a brunch board with fresh fruit, biscotti and brain-boosting foods like almonds and blueberries. It also pairs well with the breakfast board. Adding the top of the pineapple to the board creates an element of interest. Options include:
- Biscotti
- Lemon pomegranate date bites
- Almonds
- Blueberries
- Dark chocolate pizzelles
- In a bowl, add cantaloupe, cherries and pineapple
Fall-inspired board
Consider using fall-inspired fruits, vegetables and garnishes when creating charcuterie boards this Fall. Try using two boards layered to add space and elevation adding a nice visual aspect. A pumpkin cookie cutter can be used to cut out pumpkin-shaped mozzarella cheese to add a little seasonal appeal to the board and be fun for children. Try including:
- Carrots and cucumbers
- Dates
- Fig
- Colby jack cheese
- Guinness marbled cheese
- Unsalted cashews
- Caramel apple
- Baby portobello mushrooms
- Pumpkin yogurt-covered pretzels
- Smoked peppered salmon
- Date and walnut crackers
- Apricots
- Date and nut balls
- Pistachios
- Sage Derby marbled cheese
- Sugar snap peas
- Dates
- Salami roses
- Brie cheese
- Pear
Winter board
Add interest to your boards this holiday season by pairing green and red items, adding cookie-cutter cheese trees and stars along with a dill garnish. The tree- and star-shaped items add a little seasonal appeal to the board and fun for children. Ideas include:
- Purple grapes
- Cherries
- Carambola (star fruit)
- Kiwi
- Broccoli
- Cherry tomatoes
- Rep peppers
- Dates
- Dark chocolate sea salt bark
- Purple carrots (sliced and diced)
- Multi-grain crackers
- Prosciutto ribbons
- Sage Derby marbles cheese
- Radishes
- Beets
- Guinness marbled cheese
- Cherry yogurt-covered pretzels
- Dill garnish
Party board
Adding herbs and edible flowers to your boards are details that add interest and creativity. Options include:
- Brie cheese
- Lemon blueberry goat cheese
- Radishes
- Date and walnut crackers
- Sardines
- Fresh green beans
- Dried apricots
- Asparagus
- Red beets
- Dark chocolate acai berries
- Gruyere cheese
- Soppressata
- Pistachio crackers
- Golden beets
- Luffa
- Hummus
- Broccoli
- Yellow peppers
- Salami rose
- Blue cheese
- Mixed olives
- Baby corn
- Sweet pickles
- Sugar snap peas
- Purple grapes
- Carrots
- Caviar
- Green onions
- Cucumbers
- Sourdough flatbread crackers
- Prickly pear
- Red grapes
- Fresh honeycomb
- Figs
Children’s board
Some children might not eat dates, but they may eat a fig cookie. The cookies used on this board are whole grain and offer a healthier alternative. Don’t forget fruits and vegetables. Grab your cookie cutters and let them cut out fun shapes in cheese slices. Try including:
- Carambola (star fruit)
- Tangerine
- Kiwi
- Carrots
- Golden beets
- Whole-grain fig cookies
- Cherry yogurt-covered pretzels
- Goldfish pretzels
- Red, green and purple grapes
- Crackers
- Colby jack cheese
- Dark chocolate sea salt bark
- Sugar snap peas
- Cucumbers
- Dried apricots
- Crostini cheese crackers
Christmas tree fruit skewers
Your boards do not always have to be flat. For a Christmas family gathering one year, try making a Christmas tree foam cone, covered in plastic wrap, then place fruit skewers at an angle to create the design. You can also use cheese and vegetables. Use a cookie cutter to make a cantaloupe slice into a star. Clusters of grapes and strawberries can be used at the base of the cone. Alternate placing fruit or cheese and tomatoes on a toothpick and then secure in the foam cone. Start at the top and work your way down, making larger and longer skewers as you do. Ingredient options include:
- Grapes
- Kiwi
- Cantaloupe
- Strawberries
- Blueberries
- Pineapple
Fruit-cuterie board
For your next party, choose fresh fruits in season and create your own unique design based on the board. Options include:
- Oranges
- Kiwi
- Red and green grapes
- Pineapple
- Blackberries
- Blueberries
- Strawberries
- Watermelon
- Yogurt-covered pretzels
3-foot veggie charcuterie board
The next time you are asked to bring a veggie tray, think outside the box. One option is making an arrangement on a 3-foot board. A variety of colors creates an appealing board. Try adding:
- Radishes
- Broccoli
- Orange peppers
- English cucumber
- Asparagus
- Red grape tomatoes
- Celery
- Green onions
- Baby portobello mushrooms
- Yellow peppers
- Beets
- Parsnips
- Carrots
6-foot party charcuterie board
This is a favorite board when hosting more than eight people because it holds lots of favorite snacks. Items to consider include:
- Hummus
- Salami roses
- Celery
- Pasta salad
- Orange peppers
- Crackers
- Red peppers
- Black grapes
- Cubed Colby cheese
- Venison
- Cubed cheddar
- English cucumber
- Black olives
- Dark chocolate acai berries
- Pickles
- Raspberries skewered to cubed Swiss cheese
- Orange cherry tomatoes
- Peanuts
- Cubed smoked turkey
- Cubed Swiss cheese
- Dried apricots
- Dates
- Red grapes
- Yellow peppers
- Green onions
- Asparagus
- Red cherry tomatoes
- Sliced radishes
- Sliced zucchini
- Cauliflower
- Baby portobello mushrooms
- Broccoli
- Parsnips
- Garlic stuffed mushrooms
- Green olives
- Turnips
- Bitter melon
- Sliced beets
- Pickled beets
- Sliced carrots
- Soppressata
- Sweet peppers stuffed with goat cheese
- Dill dip
Learn more about charcuterie board basics in this Blue Cross Virtual Well-Being℠ webinar. You can also sign up for future employer-focused and general interest webinars here, where you’ll find past sessions and resources.
Photo credit: Getty Images
