Fruit And Cheese Charcuterie Board Recipe

A Fruit And Cheese Charcuterie Board is a delicious option for holidays, parties, and even movie nights. It’s an easy way to decorate a table with a variety of healthy, organic, and whole-food ingredients. It is perfect for get-togethers, and it tastes great.

What Is A Charcuterie Board?

A charcuterie board is a collection of foods that pair well together as snacks, served on what could be called a cutting board, traditionally one with a handle for easy serving.

Best Cheese For A Cheese Board

• brie
• blue cheese
• cheddar
• goat cheese
• gorgonzola
• manchego
• fresh mozzarella
• camembert
• stilton
• roquefort
• cream cheese
• gouda
• swiss
• burrata

Best Fruit For A Cheese Board

Both fresh fruit and dried fruits will work on a charcuterie board.

• grapes
• apricots
• berries such as strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, and raspberries
• apple
• cherries
• pears
• pineapple
• peaches
• kiwi
• mangoes
• oranges
• watermelon

Best Vegetables For A Cheese Board

• olives
• carrot sticks
• celery sticks
• cherry or grape tomatoes
• pickles

Best Nuts For A Cheese Board

• almonds
• cashews
• pecans
• brazil nuts
• walnuts
• pistachios (these are best served in a small bowl)

Best Meats For A Charcuterie Board

While I don’t promote the use of processed meats here, the fact is, when you entertain, it will sometimes be expected. So do with this list what you will.

• salami
• roast beef
• turkey breast
• prosciutto

Best Extras For This Fruit And Cheese Charcuterie Board

Still have some space on your board? Here are some extras to fill them in.

• fresh herbs
• chocolate

Fruit And Cheese Charcuterie Board Supplies

You’ll want to give people some utensils to serve themselves with. Try some of the following:

• cheese knife
• fondue fork
• butter knife

What Is The 3 3 3 3 Rule For Charcuterie Boards?

There is a prevalent theory in the world of charcuterie that says a charcuterie board should have a certain balance of ingredients to be done well and to have a good balance between the ingredients. The 3 3 3 3 rule references the need for three types of meat, three starches, three cheeses, and three complementary items such as fruits, nuts and veggies.

How To Make A Fruit And Cheese Charcuterie Board Look Nice

For some people, it can actually be hard to figure out how to make a charcuterie board look great. You can chop ingredients all day, but arranging them to look nice for the people you are serving is a whole other ballgame.

1. Meats

While this isn’t necessary for the recipe below, you can certainly add meats if you wish. Please note that there really aren’t any deli meats that are considered “clean and healthy.” But I’m a realist, and we often serve people who don’t eat like we do. So here’s how to do it.

Start by dividing your board into four sections, placing one type of meat at the center of each section.

2. Cheeses

Place each cheese in a different section next to the meat. If you have a soft cheese that needs a knife, try to position it close to the edge of the board so that people don’t drop crumbs of cheese over other foods.

3. Condiments:

Choose small bowls for condiments and place them next to the meats and cheeses. Consider things like date caramel, honey, mustard, and fruit spread.

4. Filling In The Spaces

Fill empty spaces with fruits, nuts, and vegetables. Consider the balance of colors when placing these items. Little pops of red from cherry tomatoes usually add visual appeal.

5. Breads And Crackers

Weave bread and crackers in between all the other elements already on the board. While you can certainly serve these on the side if your board is full, this is a great way to fill in more empty spaces if you have them.

Do You Serve A Charcuterie Board Chilled Or At Room Temperature?

While you definitely want to store a charcuterie board in the fridge, you don’t really want the charcuterie elements to be super cold at serving. If you have the time, set the board on the counter about 30 minutes before serving to bring the temperature closer to room temperature. The overall flavors tend to be better that way.

What To Serve Your Fruit And Cheese Charcuterie Board On

In my experience, a cutting board works best. But there are so many hard surfaces you can use, such as a piece of marble, or even just some parchment laid down on your countertop or a large platter will do the trick.

Prep Ingredients

Remember that this is essentially finger food. Ingredients should be cut to a size that is manageable by hand.

About The Fruit And Cheese Charcuterie Board Ingredients

Apples – While the recipe below calls for Honeycrisp apples, you can use any apples you prefer to use that have good flavor.

Pears – Here again, you can use any type of pear you like. Opt for firm pears and avoid the mushy ones.

Grapes – Red grapes are great for a pop of color, but you can use green grapes too.

Date caramel – Date caramel is served as a dip and is quite good.

Apple butter – Apple butter is a great spread with brie cheese on some crostini.

Walnuts – Opt for walnut halves instead of pieces. They are easier to pick up.

Dried apricots – No sugar added. You can also use fresh apricots if they are available.

Pistachios – You can use shelled or unshelled. It’s up to you. Either way, small things like this are best placed in a bowl with a small spoon for easy serving.

Brie cheese – Firmer brie cheese may be easier to work with, but creamy is easier to spread. So, base your choice on what you think is best for your guests.

Manchego cheese – Cut this into thin triangles, wedges, or slices. Anything that makes it easy to pick up.

Sharp white cheddar cheese – Here again, cut it to make it easy to pick up.

Honey goat cheese – This is one of those cheeses you’ll want close to the edge of the board for easy serving, but it pairs well with fruit.

Whole grain crackers – It’s good to have an assortment of about four different types of crackers if you can.

How To Make A Fruit And Cheese Charcuterie Board

Gather all the needed ingredients.

Cut apples and pears into individual slices.

Slice cheese.

Assemble board.

How To Store A Fruit And Cheese Platter

The best way to store this before serving is to cover it in plastic wrap. Make sure all the sides are covered.

Storing leftovers is simple. I recommend disassembling your board and storing everything in it’s own container. Never store produce and meat together or produce and cheese. They will go bad much faster if you do. Keep all your apples in one container, all your brie cheese in one container, etc.

How Long Does A Fruit And Cheese Platter Last?

A platter like this will last you about 3 days, possibly 4 if you pack things very well.

Freezing A Fruit And Cheese Charcuterie Board

Do not freeze this or any charcuterie board unless it is a frozen dessert board.

Reheating A Fruit And Cheese Charcuterie Board

Never heat a charcuterie board. Simply let it sit on the counter for about 30 minutes before serving.

More Board Recipes

• Mediterranean Charcuterie Board
• Daily Snack Tray

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