Charcuterie boards leapt into public interest in the early 2020s and, to the surprise of exactly nobody, their popularity is only growing every year! The best thing about charcuterie is how versatile they are; you can customise them as much as you want and experiment with different foods, combinations and layouts.
Charcuterie boards make a fantastic housewarming present – even if your hosts haven’t unpacked the cutlery or moved in the furniture, it’s the perfect excuse to stop for a break as you help them get settled. Bring a charcuterie board with all their favourite snacks, and don’t forget a new home card to welcome them to their new place!
What is a charcuterie board?
Charcuterie boards originally came from the French term ‘charcuterie’, referring to cooked, cold and cured meats like chorizo, braised ham and saucisson, and a typical charcuterie board will feature these meats along with cheeses, crackers and breads.
Sometimes referred to as a ‘grazing plate’, a modern charcuterie board can include almost anything, so long as it’s bitesize nibbles, served on a board and laid out all fancy. Think picky bits for tea, but elevated!
What to put on a charcuterie board
Now that you’re all clued up on the technicalities, let’s dive into some different charcuterie board ideas!
Classic
As we’ve mentioned, a classic charcuterie board is primarily made up of cured meats and cheeses, but you really can’t go wrong. Typically, you might find things like salami, prosciutto, coppa, mortadella and saucisson, and a mix of cheeses like brie, sharp cheddar, burrata, Wensleydale, or even some Gorgonzola or Stilton if your guests are adventurous!
Then you can add in your favourite accoutrements – fresh and dried fruits, spreads, dips, crackers and biscuits, and breads.
Simple
Buying everything you need for a fancy charcuterie board can add up quickly, but there’s no rule saying you have to remortgage your house for cured meats! Keep it simple with bits from the fridge – one great option is to pick just one nice meat and cheese option, and bulk out the board with cheaper extra bits that will complement them.
Try starting with saucisson and brie, slicing some crusty white baguette, adding grapes, apple slices and figs, and offering some honey for drizzling for a sweet, simple and utterly delicious board.
Vegan
Not a meat or cheese eater? There are plenty of ways you can create a delicious vegan charcuterie board. You might like to replace the classic cured meats with vegan-friendly alternatives, or lean away entirely and focus on creating the same experience with other foods; to do this, prioritise your dips and pair with your favourite crackers or bread, along with plenty of fruit and vegetables for colour and brightness.
A bowl of olives or a dip like hummus or tapenade can make a great centrepiece to your charcuterie board, with your choice of vegan cheeses to help fill the space. Bulk it out with berries, dates, celery and carrot sticks, and add your favourite crackers and bread. If you want to go the extra mile, try marinating some tofu in your favourite oils and spices and bake in the oven for a delicious and filling addition.
Sweets
Whether for a party or a snackable dessert option after dinner, a sweets-based charcuterie board is a guaranteed winner. You could pick a theme like gummies, sour sweets, chocolate or fruity, or just lay out all your favourite sweet treats.
A sweet charcuterie board is the ideal addition to any kid’s birthday party, and you can always give away any extras in their party bags. While you’re here, you may as well check out our wonderful range of kid’s birthday cards too!
Every event is a charcuterie moment!
We’ve already mentioned that charcuterie boards are a great housewarming idea, but every occasion is better when you bring along food. With this in mind, here’s some inspo for a few more occasions!
Pregnancy or new baby
Are you planning a baby shower or gender reveal for your friend? You could do a pink or blue themed charcuterie board for the baby’s gender, or use only mini versions of foods.
For new parents, a charcuterie board might be the perfect pick-me-up gift! They’re exhausted, they’re focused on the baby, they’ve got no time to do dishes – and then you appear, with a board full of their favourite finger foods that you can take away when you leave, no clean-up required.
Birthdays
What better way to demonstrate how well you know someone than to fill a charcuterie board with all of their favourite things? There are plenty of ways to celebrate someone’s birthday with a charcuterie board – some of the best we’ve seen include a board full of the birthday person’s favourite foods, a board with food that all starts with the same letter as the person’s name, or a board shaped like the numbers of the age they’re turning.
Celebrating a loved one’s special day soon? Grab a birthday card and get super prepared!
Christmas
Fill your festive charcuterie board with all your favourite Christmas foods. As a starter, after-dinner cheese board or holiday party staple, you could even add some themed touches to keep your charcuterie board in the spirit of the season!
Cranberries will lend any charcuterie board a vibrant pop of colour and flavour, or you could include some peeled roasted chestnuts. While Christmas is typically a time for hearty, heavy meals, a charcuterie board is the perfect way to bring in fresher, brighter flavours.
Anniversary
As a fun anniversary date idea, why not make up a mini charcuterie board each with all of the other person’s favourite things? Then, load up a movie you both love, swap your boards and enjoy a personalised film snack from the person you love most. Oh, and don’t forget to pick up an anniversary card too (you’re welcome).
Top tips for charcuterie success
1.Bite-sized is best
One of the best things about charcuterie boards is that it’s finger-food friendly – it’s up to you if you want to give each guest a fork or just provide some shared serving utensils for spreads or soft cheeses, but aim for everything to be laid out in slices or cubes where possible. It helps with presentation too!
2. Variety is the spice of life
If there’s one thing that takes a plate from a chopping block with snacks on it to a charcuterie board, it’s variety! For your components, you want to make sure you have a variety of textures and flavour profiles – creamy soft cheeses and sharp cheddar, soft prosciutto and chewy salami, soft baguette and crisp crackers – to create a sensory eating experience.
3. Keep it organised
Think carefully about what you’re planning to put on your charcuterie board and how you’ll arrange it. Dips and spreads are usually best held in small bowls or ramekins, as are anything that might roll about when you pick up the board, like olives. Keep smaller items to the end and use them to fill in any gaps on the board; ideally, the surface should be completely covered.
We hope you’ve enjoyed finding some ideas for your next charcuterie board – check out the thortful blog for more ways to celebrate special occasions, including housewarming hampers, what to bring to a dinner party and last minute gifts.
