15 Sweet Dessert Charcuterie Board Ideas (2024)

FAQs

15 Sweet Dessert Charcuterie Board Ideas? ›

Creating Interest with the 3-3-3-3 Rule

Choose three cheeses, three meats, three starches, and three accompaniments for a perfect and balanced board, every time!

Creating Interest with the 3-3-3-3 Rule

Choose three cheeses, three meats, three starches, and three accompaniments for a perfect and balanced board, every time!

Be prepared to get asked again and again to bring charcuterie! Your board should allow for roughly 3 ounces of meat and cheese per person, an optimal serving size amount if it's served as an appetizer. Double the serving size to 6 ounces per person if the board is meant to be a main course.

Briny, pickled or marinated: olives, co*cktail onions, cornichons, dill pickles, pepperoncini. We love green olives stuffed with garlic or feta, and I also like including olive tapenade and bruschetta. Savory Dips and spreads: Whole ground mustard, hummus, ranch, balsamic dip. Veggies – cold cut, if desired.

Though there are many easy charcuterie board ideas out there, the process is somewhat formulaic. Start by adding structure with little dishes, then place your ingredients on the board starting with the largest elements like the cheeses and meats, followed by smaller items like crackers and fresh produce.

In general, a good charcuterie board will have 2-3 types of meat, 2-3 cheeses, 1-2 fruits, 1-2 crackers, nuts, bread, pickles, mustard and a dip or spread. The deliciousness of your board depends on the quality of your ingredients. Buy USDA Organic when possible and look for meats that are free from nitrates.

Many ingredients used in charcuterie boards are high in sodium, including deli meats, dry sausages, cheeses, salted nuts, pretzels and crackers. The recommendation for daily sodium intake for adults is 2,300 milligrams or less. To reduce the sodium load on your board, add more fresh or dried fruits and raw veggies.

How do I make my charcuterie board stand out? ›

Incorporate fresh and dried fruits, such as figs, grapes, or apple slices, to add a natural sweetness and refreshing element that balances the richness of the meats and cheeses. To balance out the bread-based vessels to hold your bites, consider including bell peppers or celery to serve as your base as well.

Making Ahead of Time

Arrange the meats, cheeses, nuts, crackers, and jams, then cover and store in the fridge for a couple of days. When you're ready to serve, set the board out on the counter for 30 minutes or so, add on the fresh fruit, and dig in!

A dessert charcuterie board is a fun and festive way to enjoy Valentine's Day at home this year! Fill up a big board with your favorite sweet treats, fresh berries, chocolate candies, homemade treats like brownies or truffles, and satisfy your sweet tooth!

I've found the following ratio works great: 4 types of cheese, 4 types of meat, 3 types of bread/crackers, 1 type of chocolate, 2-3 different nuts, 1 jam, 1 honey, and 1-2 types of olives.