The Secret To The Perfect Charcuterie Board + Bonus Tips!

Have a VARIETY: You can use a little bit of everything. Give it a theme or “go ham” (great idea! use real ham, too). The beauty of a charcuterie board is that it can be different every single time and totally customized to your tastebuds!

Mix it up - SWEET & SAVORY: You can make a sweet charcuterie board or a savory one! Or you can do both sweet and savory on the same platter. Things like chocolate and honey go very well with a savory board, and salted nuts and certain cheeses are great for a sweet board. (Savory ideas: variety of meats, cheese -- we prefer dairy free, dip, spreads, nuts, veggies, etc. Sweet ideas: honey, fresh berries, cookies, chocolate, chocolate covered nuts, etc.)

Use what you ALREADY have: Check out your leftover cut veggies, those extra berries you have and the 1/2 a package of salami in your fridge. You might have 3 different almost-empty boxes of crackers - use all of them for a fun variety. They are perfect for a charcuterie board. Add a spoonful of honey or a dip and sprinkle on a few chocolate chips or a leftover chocolate bar and BOOM! You used what you already have availabe in your kitchen.

FILL bare spots: You may have your platter ready to go, but there’s still a few bare spots that need some attention. Consider adding some chocolate, grapes or even small handfuls of nuts to fill in the empty spots.

Add CHOCOLATE: Yes! Adding chocolate is always a great idea when it comes to a perfect charcuterie board. Even if you only have one chocolate bar in the house, cut it or break it into small pieces for a fun texture, and add it to your masterpiece!

You don’t need an expensive PLATTER: I have seen some gorgeous wooden platters that would be so amazing to have and use (and love), but I really don’t need them and neither do you. You can use a cutting board, a large plate or even a baking sheet lined with parchment paper (see first photo above)! Don’t spend the big bucks — just use what you already have and no one will even pay attention to that because of all the gorgeous food you’ve plated.

THEME ideas: Make it all vegan or paleo or gluten free or Whole30! Make it red white and blue! Consider a Christmas theme or maybe a dessert platter. How about a Disney theme like my platter below? I made a few Mickey chocolates and turned it into a little bit of Disney magic — oh boy!