It’s Cheeseboard 101. Let me show you my favorite tips and tricks for making a gorgeous (and easy) cheeseboard that is begging to be devoured.
Disclosure: I received product in exchange for this post. All opinions are 100% my own.
A gorgeous cheeseboard (also known as a charcuterie plate) can be the centerpiece of any get-together. Piled high with meats, fruits, nuts, spreads and, well, of course CHEESE – cheeseboards make a great appetizer or simple dinner.
Cheeseboards are great for a gathering of any size. You can make it for 1-2 people (dinner, anyone?!?!) or a crowd of 20+. Just adjust the amount of cheeses and other items to suit your needs.
What Is a Charcuterie Plate?
A Charcuterie Plate is just a fancy term for cheeseboard. It’s a selection of cured meats, cheeses and other nibbles piled high on a board or platter. Charcuterie Plates are all the rage on Instagram because they’re so customizable. The possibilities are endless when it comes to what you can include.
In case you’re wondering how to say it, the charcuterie pronunciation is shahr-ku-tuh-ree.
How to Make a Cheeseboard – Step by Step
- STEP 1: Select 4-5 different cheeses. Select one that is fresh and mild (I chose mozzarella balls), one that is surface ripened, like brie or camambert, a semi-soft or semi-firm variety, like Colby or Monterey Jack, a bold hard cheese like a sharp cheddar and a cheese with a dominant flavor, such as a nice bleu, gorgonzola or stilton. (Photo 1 below)
- STEP 2: Add height and sweetness with fresh and dried fruits. I used strawberries, grapes and dried apricots. (Photo 2 below)
- STEP 3: Place small containers of spreads, olives and/or honey. I included dark chocolate hummus, fig jam and mini peppers. (Photo 3 below)
- STEP 4: Begin filling in larger spaces with crackers or breads. I used a round multi-grain cracker.(Photo 1 below)
- STEP 5: Add a selection of cured meats. I used soppressata and salami. (Photo 2 below)
- STEP 6: Fill in empty spaces with nuts and fresh herbs. I used pecans, almonds and thyme. (Photo 3 below)
More Cheese Board Ideas
One of the best things about cheese boards is that no two will ever be the same. You can easily swap items for other flavors and to suit your tastes. The goal is to provide a variety of flavors and textures so your guests can create the perfect bite every time. Here are some more cheese board ideas to consider:
- Fresh Fruit: Strawberries, grapes, blackberries, pomegranate arils, apple slices, orange wedges, plums and figs
- Dried Fruit: Apricots, cranberries, cherries, pineapple or mango
- Cured Meats: Prosciutto, salami, cured ham, smoked sausage, soppressata
- Spreads and Jams: Mustard, fig jam, honey, caramelized onion spread, chocolate hummus, bacon jam, beer cheese spread
- Crackers and Breads: Baguette slices, various types of crackers, homemade ranch crackers or breadsticks
- Other Nibbles: Seasoned olives, mini peppers, Prosciutto Asparagus, nuts, pickles and fresh herbs
I just love Cabot cheeses Cabot cheeses for my cheeseboards. I know I can always count on the perfect flavor.
I recently made a cheeseboard on WNEP (my local ABC affiliate) Home & Backyard program. You can check out the segment here. On that cheeseboard, I included Prosciutto Asparagus, Caramelized Onion Spread and Homemade Ranch Crackers. All three recipes are easy (and affordable) to make.
What to Serve a Charcuterie Plate on?
You don’t need to get fancy when creating a gorgeous cheese board. In fact, if you do it right, you shouldn’t have any of the serving platter showing at all. You can use a fancy tray, like this one
, a piece of slate 
or even a large serving platter. You can also use a wooden cutting board.
Expert Tips for Making the Best Cheeseboard
Here are some of my favorite tips and cheese board ideas:
- Fill the board: The goal is to completely cover the entire surface with cheese and other nibbles.
- Think about texture: Include a variety of soft, hard, chewy and crunchy options.
- Think about flavor: Choose options that will pair well together, like cheddar and apples.
- Assemble the cheeseboard where you are serving it: The last thing you want to do is try to move a completed cheeseboard to another location.
- Slice cheese on a separate cutting board: If you’re pre-slicing cheese, make sure you cut it on another cutting board so your serving platter stays neat.
- Visit the deli bar: Your grocery store’s deli bar may have some great nibbles to include on your cheeseboard. And, you can buy as much or little as you want.
- Add height: Include something with height to add dimension to your cheeseboard.
Wondering what wines to serve with your cheeseboard? Check out this article.
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Ingredients
CHEESES (select 4-5 varieties for 1-2 ounces total per person)
- Mozzarella
- Brie
- Camembert
- Goat Cheese
- Monterey Jack
- Colby
- Cheddar
- Swiss
- Stilton
- Bleu
- Gorgonzola
- Muenster
MEATS (select 2-3 varieties for 1-2 ounces total per person)
- Soppressata
- Salami
- Prosciutto
- Ham
- Smoked sausage or kielbasa
OTHER INGREDIENTS
- Crackers or baguette - 2-3 varieties
- Fresh vegetables and fruits
- Dried fruits
- Nuts
- Olives
- Pickles
- Jams
- Mustard
- Honey
- Fresh herbs
Instructions
- Begin by arranging the cheese on the board. I usually try to have one in each corner.
- Add fresh fruits and vegetables and dried fruits.
- Next, add small bowls of jams, mustards, honey, etc.
- Add crackers and breads.
- Fill in the gaps with nuts and fresh herbs.
Notes
- Fill the board: The goal is to completely cover the entire surface with cheese and other nibbles.
- Think about texture: Include a variety of soft, hard, chewy and crunchy options.
- Think about flavor: Choose options that will pair well together, like cheddar and apples.
- Assemble the cheeseboard where you are serving it: The last thing you want to do is try to move a completed cheeseboard to another location.
- Slice cheese on a separate cutting board: If you're pre-slicing cheese, make sure you cut it on another cutting board so your serving platter stays neat.
- Visit the deli bar: Your grocery store's deli bar may have some great nibbles to include on your cheeseboard. And, you can buy as much or little as you want.
- Add height: Include something with height to add dimension to your cheeseboard.
- Want to scale a recipe up or down? Simply type in a new serving amount and the recipe will automatically adjust!
- When a recipe call for House Seasoning Blend, you can use this recipe or substitute salt and pepper to taste.
- I always use unsalted butter in my recipes.
- I always use a meat thermometor to test for doneness when cooking meat. This one is my favorite.
- When a recipe is made in the oven, it should be pre-heated to the temperature in the recipe, unless otherwise noted.
- The nutritional information provided in this recipe is an estimate. Learn more on how I calculate nutritional information for my recipes.
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