Here’s how to make a lovely, fall Charcuterie Board!

Okay, you got me. Technically, it’s not a charcuterie board. Charcuterie means “cold, cooked meats.” This particular board has none of these. It could very accurately be called a “cheese board,” however, I’m finding that most people use these terms interchangeably. Feel free to add some pepperoni or salami roses if this is important to you!

“Bonfires and Brews” was the name of the party that inspired me to create this board. The month of October brings cooler weather which is the perfect opportunity for a bonfire. And what could be more fun then sitting around one with friends surrounded by a variety of local brews. Oranges and neutrals were a great fit for colors when it was time to decorate, and a fall themed charcuterie board just seemed to fit the bill.

If you’ve never made a charcuterie board, I would recommend you start here. This includes some great tips for making one at a good price.

A fall themed charcuterie board is a perfect appetizer for your fall showers, dinner parties, and celebrations! It’s also a great appetizer for Thanksgiving.

Cheeses Needed:

Cracker Cuts gouda
Brie
8 oz sharp white cheddar, crumbled
1 cup cheddar cubes, or 8oz cheddar block, cut into cubes
Another brie or smoked gouda ring
8 oz havarti

Keep in mind that the cheeses are interchangeable. These are what I used for this large board, but you can adapt the cheese to your taste. And part of the trick of arranging a beautiful board is to cut, slice, and crumble the cheese differently. Leave one or two cheeses whole and place a cheese knife nearby. Crumbling a cheese is basically just tearing it apart with your clean hands.

One special thing I did with this board is I cut one of the Brie’s to resemble a pumpkin. I pulled out a pumpkin cookie cutter so I could copy the shape, took a sharp knife, and trimmed off a few pieces. I then took the knife and “drew” a few lines down it to make it resemble a pumpkin. It turned out to be a cute addition to this board!

Other Items Needed:

Box of Crunch and Munch caramel popcorn
5 oz bag Nestle White Chocolate Flipz
A box of your favorite Ginger Snaps
Water Crackers
One box of another type of crackers. (I used Nut Thins because I had a gluten free guest.)
One small pumpkin for decoration
6 oz bag of Pepitas (Roasted pumpkin seeds)
1 cup candy corn
2 cups of almonds (or your favorite nut)

Putting the almonds, candy corn, and seeds in separate little bowls, adds to the fanciness of it all!

To arrange your board, start with the larger items, like bowls, pumpkin, and larger cheese chunks. Then fill in the open areas with crackers, popcorn, and ginger snaps. Variety is key! So place a few pretzels here and a few pretzels there. Same for the popcorn and crackers.