Ever see a beautiful cheese board display and wonder how they curated it to look a certain way? I’ve got all of my best Charcuterie Board Styling Tips & Tricks so you can build your own creation at home for the holidays or for any occasion! Let’s be honest, cheese and crackers need no occasion and should be enjoyed upon demand.
Charcuterie Board Styling
Charcuterie Boards are basically a trendy art form at this point, but what’s so fun about them is that no matter what, you can’t mess them up! You can customize the layout as well as the food that hits the board so it can fit whatever dietary needs you or your group may have. On Whole30? Avoid crackers or meats cured with sugar. Vegetarian? Skip the meat. No matter what your taste, you can’t go wrong!
Now, let’s move onto my best Charcuterie Board Styling Tips & Tricks, from the planning to the prepping to the assembling.
Shopping List
As mentioned, you can pick whatever you’d like to fill your board with, but here are the staples I usually pick out at the store for mine:
- 1-3 different crackers/pretzels/bread
- favorite brands: Simple Mills, Quinn, Mary’s Gone, Hu
- 1-3 pieces of fruit
- apples & pears, sliced thin, make a great alternative to crackers
- pomegranates add great texture and color
- whole oranges/clementines look great, especially when you find one with leaves attached!
- small berries are great for garnishing cheese or filling small gaps
- 3-5 cheeses
- aim for varying shapes, varieties and textures
- when possible, I reach for raw, grass fed, organic cheeses
- 1-3 spreads/toppings
- honey, jam, fruit spreads, mustard, to name a few
- 1 dip
- hummus with roasted chickpeas, EVOO and fresh dill is a crowd pleaser
- 3-5 cured meats
- again, aim for a variety of meats and fold them differently for contrast across your board
- 1-3 veggies (especially if serving hummus)
- stick to a color scheme or select three different
- 1-3 small bites
- various nuts are great for filling small gaps
- olives and/or co*cktail pickles in small bowls
Charcuterie Board Styling Tips & Tricks
Consult the guest list. Before heading to the store, think about who will be enjoying the board. What are their food preferences? Do they have any dietary needs/restrictions?
Work with uneven numbers. When building your board, you’ll achieve a more organic vs. perfect look by working with odd numbers instead of even numbers. That being said, aim to grab three types of cheeses instead of two, for example.
Keep organized. From the shopping list to the prep to the assembly, staying organized will prevent overwhelm.
- Shopping- make an organized list before you hit the store so you don’t find yourself confused in the aisles. Also, don’t hesitate to ask store associates for recommendations!
- Prepping- once you get home from the store, organize your items into their categories (cheese, meat, fruit, etc.) then wash/chop/prep any items that need to be. From there, keep all of your items in baking trays to keep organized and mobile.
- Assembling- keep a towel and trash been nearby to keep tidy.
Start with your bowls or round shapes. Begin styling by arranging your bowls or round shapes, like soft cheeses or big bowls/dips, on your board. Don’t put them next to each other, though. You’ll want them spread out. Also keep in mind, work in odd numbers! If you don’t have round shapes, move onto the next step.
Next, move on to your biggest pieces and arrange by category. Grab your larger cheese blocks and things of that nature and place them where it feels right. Once your cheeses are placed, move onto a new category, like crackers or fruit.
Avoid same category items touching. While placing your cheeses, for example, be sure they aren’t touching. You’ll want to separate like categories so that you build contrast in texture and color across the board.
Move and adjust as you go. You’ll likely want to move things around as you go, and that’s okay! Tweak and adjust as needed to achieve the look you want. Also keep in mind, you can have items hanging over the edge to achieve even more of that natural and effortless look.
Fill final empty spaces with nuts. Once you’re about done, you’ll probably notice that there are some open gaps and spaces. No problem! Fill them with sprinkles of your favorite nuts.
Abundance is key. Not only will filling your board with overlap and to maximum capacity look prettier, but it also means you won’t have to restock it as often. Win-win!
Eat Seasonally
Did you know that eating what produce is in season is good for both you and the environment? It also makes finding specific produce much easier to find.
Click here to find a list of what is in season and when!
Boards for every occasion
Boards are not just for hosting during the holidays or to snack on at a winery, y’all. I LOVE to craft a board for any theme. Whether you’re celebrating Valentine’s/Galentine’s Day, heading to a picnic or need a spread for game day, use your imagination and by following my above tips and tricks, you’ll be on your way to a beautiful themed board!
FOLLOW ALONG
Be sure to follow me onInstagramto be the first to know about new recipes and watch how to videos and head over toPinterestto save any of my recipes for safe keeping. See you there!
PS – if you make a board using my tips and share it to Instagram, be sure to tag me so I can see it and share your results! I’d also be so grateful if you shared your experience and feedback in the comments below. Happy styling!
